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Icilio Federico Joni Book Covers

An inventory of the collection at Syracuse University


Finding aid created by: MRC
Date: 10 Jun 2024



Biographical History

Icilio Federico Joni (1866–1946) was an Italian artist and forger. Trained in a gilding shop in Siena, Italy, Joni originally had a restoration business but eventually turned his talents to forgery as a faster way to make money. Skilled in working with wood, plaster, and paint, he focused on replicas of Medieval and Renaissance works of art such as panel paintings, triptychs, wooden caskets, and tavolette di Biccherna. Tavolette, from the same root as the Latin "tabula" and the English "tablet," were small panels or tablets painted or engraved on small wood, stone, or metal panels. Common in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, they were used for various purposes including as covers for books.


Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Icilio Federico Joni Book Covers consists of two separate wooden panels, painted and decorated with metal details and brass bosses. The style imitates fifteenth-century tavolette di Biccherna book covers.

Note: The panels were identified as Joni's work by Nancy Turner of the Department of Paper Conservation at the J. Paul Getty Museum. We are grateful for her assistance.


Arrangement of the Collection

No order.


Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advance notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.


Subject Headings

Persons

Joni, Icilio Federico.

Subjects

Art forgers.
Art, Medieval -- Italy -- Forgeries.
Art, Renaissance -- Italy -- Forgeries.
Artists -- Italy.
Bookbinding -- Specimens.

Genres and Forms

Boards (binding components)
Tavolette (visual works)

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Icilio Federico Joni Book Covers,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Unknown.


Table of Contents

Book covers


Inventory