An exceptional Art Moderne walnut chest from Italy c.1940

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About the Item

An exceptional Art Moderne figured walnut chest of drawers from Italy c.1940 with the original brass hardware. This chest of drawers features the amazing cabinet making skill available in small artisanal workshops during the early part of the twentieth century across Europe especially in Italy and France. Both countries were leading innovators in design and production of the most advanced furnishings for interiors as they built upon centuries of experience and desire for the best quality. The Art Moderne movement grew out of the machined perfection of the Art Deco period that burst upon the world in 1925 with the notable exhibit in Paris called "The International Exposition of Modern and Decorative Arts". The term "Art Deco" was first introduced in the 1960's by historians seeking to name the shift in taste ushered in by this fair. The sleek modernism of the 1930's soon evolved into the more sensuous lines of the Art Moderne. As seen in this chest of drawers the somewhat severe lines of Art Deco have been softened and a return to a mixture of straight and curved lines as well as a reference to the classical past seen in the feet. The major influence on the Art Moderne style was the architectural innovations of the german Bauhaus movement with its emphasis on simple rounded shapes and a horizontal line without ornamentation. This chest embodies these influential design sources yet has a unique appearance because of the way these disparate elements are combined. The front of the chest is divided into four drawers each still retaining the original brass hardware. Notice how the handles have been fitted onto the chest at a distinctive angle in order to flow with the pattern of the wood grain. The black walnut used across the entire facade of this chest is resplendent in its powerful sense of repetitive movement that imparts an organic symmetry to the entire chest. The top drawer features the original brass escutcheon and interior lock with key that enables this drawer to be secured when the lock is engaged. Note also that the top drawer is more slender than the bottom three drawers that all have the same dimension. This subtle variation in size is a small detail that adds to the visual appeal of the chest. There is a recessed band of ebonized wood that surrounds and outlines the perimetre of the four drawers. This band changes the profile of the facade and the black colour emphasizes the dark bands of the black walnut in contrast with the lighter areas. The top of the chest has a flat surface until it reaches both the left and right sides where its straight edge falls vertically to the rounded curve that continues down to make the sides of the chest. This flat top is also sheathed in the most beautifully grained walnut that has been laid in a "butterfly" or "book match" arrangement that doubles the impact of the grain. The curved edges of each side at the top are solid timber as opposed to the extravagance of the figured walnut seen on the front that is repeated on the top and each side. Both the left and right side of the chest also repeat the paired walnut panels that showcase the mesmerizing movement of the walnut. The use of this striking timber on all of the flat surfaces of the chest are evidence that the chest was designed to be seen from all directions. It was surely an essential part of the original design of an important room where the sculptural impact of this chest was enhanced by the chosen timber. The chest stands upon a pair of feet in the front that are a stylized claw and ball derived from the Imperial Dragon seen on porcelain imported from China in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The upper section of each foot features an elegant curve that features a seven lobed scallop carved into the solid timber. The glossy curved surfaces of these scallops are situated adjacent to the figured grain of the walnut and present an unexpected contrast. This elegant chest of drawers has an alluring power that is as desirable today as when it was first created.

Dimensions:
Height: 38 in (96.52 cm)Width: 49 in (124.46 cm)Depth: 22 in (55.88 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Walnut
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
1940-1949
Date of Manufacture:
c.1940
Condition:
Seller Location:
Houston, TX
Reference Number:
Seller: DO11stDibs: U1204238668676