"Sculpture Of A Female Cellist In White Clay, Signed Banchelli, 20th Century"
A decorative sculpture in white clay, known as pipe clay, here patinated, depicting a young woman playing the cello, in a neoclassical/romantic style, signed “Banchelli, Italian sculptor.” Pipe clay (a fine white earthenware similar to bisque) was widely used in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the case of pipe clay, this is likely the sculptor's original model. The signature, incised into the clay, is clearly visible: “B. Banchelli” (or simply “Banchelli,” with a stylized “B” above). The fact that it was incised directly into the clay before firing confirms that this is indeed an original signed piece.