Late 18th Century Italian Chest of Drawers
£12,000
A late 18th-century Italian chest of drawers, veneered in walnut and threaded with boxwood inlay. The plain top with canted corners sits above two short and three long drawers, all raised on simple bracket feet. The lower edge is delicately decorated with a triangular inlaid motif or Dragons Teeth, adding refinement to an otherwise restrained form.
Product Description
A late 18th-century Italian chest of drawers, veneered in walnut and threaded with boxwood inlay. The plain top with canted corners sits above two short and three long drawers, all raised on simple bracket feet. The lower edge is delicately decorated with a triangular inlaid motif or Dragons Teeth, adding refinement to an otherwise restrained form.
Italian furniture of this period is noted for its sobriety and elegance. The aristocracy favoured measured classicism in their interiors-a continuation of Renaissance ideals that lingered well into the 18th century. Unlike the richly carved furniture of France and Spain, Italian makers often emphasised the beauty of the wood itself, enhancing it with subtle inlays and uninterrupted surfaces. This example highlights that aesthetic preference through its unusual absence of handles.
At the time, furniture was used less frequently in daily life, and household servants would have operated the drawers for their owners. Functionality was therefore secondary to appearance. The key and its escutcheon were considered sufficient for opening, while the smooth, handle-free façade preserved the chest's quiet elegance. Such case furniture was intended to impress visitors and harmonise with interiors, rather than serve the rigours of daily use.
Italian, circa 1780
Italian furniture of this period is noted for its sobriety and elegance. The aristocracy favoured measured classicism in their interiors-a continuation of Renaissance ideals that lingered well into the 18th century. Unlike the richly carved furniture of France and Spain, Italian makers often emphasised the beauty of the wood itself, enhancing it with subtle inlays and uninterrupted surfaces. This example highlights that aesthetic preference through its unusual absence of handles.
At the time, furniture was used less frequently in daily life, and household servants would have operated the drawers for their owners. Functionality was therefore secondary to appearance. The key and its escutcheon were considered sufficient for opening, while the smooth, handle-free façade preserved the chest's quiet elegance. Such case furniture was intended to impress visitors and harmonise with interiors, rather than serve the rigours of daily use.
Italian, circa 1780
Code:
10614
Further Information
Details & Dimensions
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H 99cm x W 123.5cm x D 59cm
H 38.99" x W 48.64" x D 23.24"
H 38.99" x W 48.64" x D 23.24"
