Located in Morristown, NJ
This delightful Venetian painted side cabinet exemplifies the enduring appeal of Italian vernacular Rococo revival furniture. Finished in a warm yellow-ochre ground, the cabinet is ornamented throughout with hand-painted teal foliate scrollwork, arranged in lively asymmetrical cartouches across the top, drawer, door, and sides. The decorative painting retains a charming, freehand quality typical of Venetian workshop production, emphasizing surface decoration over formal carving.
The cabinet features a single drawer over a cupboard door opening to an interior storage compartment, raised on elegant cabriole legs with a shaped apron. Brass pulls accent the drawer and door, adding subtle contrast to the painted surface. The piece is unmarked, as expected for provincial Italian furniture of this period.
The softly undulating form, curvilinear legs, and scrolling ornament reflect Rococo influences filtered through later 19th-century and early 20th-century revival tastes, often produced for domestic interiors and export. Its scale and function make it ideal as a bedside cabinet, small side table, or accent piece.
Dimensions:
27"h x 17"w x 15"d
Condition:
Good/Fair. General discoloration, surface marks, and staining throughout consistent with age and use. Visible ring stains to the top, along with cracking to the top and drawer. Paint wear and minor surface imperfections are present and contribute to the cabinet’s authentic patina and character.
Provenance:
The Iris Apfel Collection
Remarks:
A highly decorative and characterful example of Venetian painted furniture...
Category
1890s Italian Antique Rococo Cabinets