CIRCA 1900

The back of the drawer is inscribed with 'PPR' painted inventory marks. These have been suggested to stand for 'Principe Piemonte Racconigi' or 'Proprieta Privata Racconigi' or 'Proprieta Privata Reale' - suggesting an Italian provenance of the Savoia family. Further pieces of furniture marked 'P.P.R.' with links to the Royal House of Savoy include a Royal Louis XVI harpsichord, which was a gift from the city of Turin to Umberto, prince of Piedmont (later King Umberto II), on the occasion of his marriage to Marie-José of Belgium in 1930; a writing table by Pietro Piffetti, sold from the Estate of the late Giuseppe Rossi, Sotheby's London, 10 March 1999, lot 45; and a pair of commodes sold by the di Savoia family, Christie's London, 11 December 2003, lot 40.