Early 16th Century Carved Walnut Coffer of Small Proportions

A large 16th century Venetian cedar. wood Cassone is an exquisite example of the craftsmanship characteristic of the Italian Renaissance period, featuring beautifully detailed scenes dating to circa 1550-1580. Made from cedar wood, the chest has a deep, rich patina. Cedar wood was prized during the Renaissance for its durability and resistance to decay, making it an ideal choice for fine furniture intended to last for generations. In Renaissance Venice, cassoni were a standard part of a bride's dowry among the nobility and wealthy merchant classes. Venice was a thriving trade hub with a population of about 150,000 in the mid-16th century, and the upper classes commissioned these chests . The decoration of the chest is particularly breathtaking. Its surface features intricate figural panels that depict various scenes, which include historical, mythological, and symbolic representations. Among these are 16th century knights, chariots, mythical beasts, and lions. The designs are expertly silhouetted against a recessed ground, giving a three-dimensional quality that enhances their visual impact. The use of punch-work, a decorative technique involving the stamping of the wood with a mesh-like pattern, adds texture and depth to the surfaces. This technique is indicative of the meticulous attention to detail for which artisans in Italy were known during this period. Overall, this Venetian Cassone...

An extremely rare 17th-century inlaid walnut geometric chest of drawers dating to 1660, featuring two short drawers, one large central cushion drawer, two lower long drawers, and one...

This 17th-century Spanish carved walnut chest is an exquisite example of Baroque furniture, showcasing intricate craftsmanship and the rich aesthetic traditions of the period. Made f...

A beautiful and robust Spanish trunk, the carvings on the front façade are large and vibrant, accented by a deep brown patina. The trunk was hand-carved in the 1600s by a master craftsman, using both oak and walnut woods. Large dovetail joineries, visible on the sides, add character to the trunk, without taking away from the magnificent carvings. Two large, pierced iron straps support the massive trunk lid, which is embellished with several thin moldings. Both sides have an ovate handle affixed by a pierced floral mount, above an arbalete apron. The sinuosity continues on the front apron, but in more dramatic fashion, with a series of counter curves. Above the apron is a raised area (also seen on the sides) adorned with a winged angel mascaron inside of a shaped console, flanked by a large rosette atop a vine that is surrounded by a foliate border. A similar foliate carving can be seen on the recessed section of the façade, encircling another well-carved cartouche. The upper scene consists of a heart surmounting flowering leaves (beneath a shaped escutcheon), flanked by a pair of niches filled with sunbursts over flowering vines, which are in turn flanked by larger sunbursts personified with a mascaron center. All four sunbursts are incorporated with a cross, which, when depicted with the heart, symbolizes “love for all mankind”. Our richly carved Spanish trunk...