A NORTH ITALIAN ROSEWOOD, WALNUT, KARELIAN-BIRCH AND EBONISED BUREAU CABINET

MID-18TH CENTURY

细节

A NORTH ITALIAN ROSEWOOD, WALNUT, KARELIAN-BIRCH AND EBONISED BUREAU CABINET
Mid-18th Century
Inlaid overall with chevron banding and pewter cartouche, the moulded domed cornice centred by a hinged mirrored panel enclosing a shelf, above a pair of arched mirrored doors enclosing a central concave door with a monogram 'RM' beneath a crown and a shelf, four pigeon-holes above four variously-sized doors and two pigeon-holes, flanked by three folio racks on each side, the bureau writing-slope inlaid with a crowned eagle inside a scrolling cartouche, enclosing tulipwood-cartouche interior with four small serpentine drawers and nine variously-sized pigeon-holes, above a serpentined lower section, three small drawers and a slide above three long drawers, the side similarly inlaid in pewter with scrolling cartouches, on a moulded plinth and bracket feet, restorations to the interior fittings, probably Piedmont
98½ in. (250 cm.) high; 42½ in. (108 cm.) wide; 22 in. (56 cm.) deep

拍品专文

The fashion for pewter-inlay was most popular in German and Dutch furniture production, although this bureau cabinet is essentially of Italian shape, having a domed mirror plate above a pair of arched mirrored doors. A closely related japanned version is illustrated in G. Morazzoni, Il Mobile Veneziano dell '700, Milan, 1958, plate CDVIII.

The monogram to the interior door is below an Italian Marquess' coronet. This bureau cabinet was probably made for the occasion of a marriage and the initals refer those of both parties. It is therfore nearly impossible to determ the exact families.