Neoclassical Three-Drawer Painted Chest, Original Iron Lock, Italy circa 1790

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Neoclassical Three-Drawer Painted Chest, Original Iron Lock, Italy circa 1790

About the Item

This unique chest of drawers features a raised panel on each drawer front enhanced by the contrast of paint colours. The restrained and symmetrical balance of the painted finish is Neoclassical and demonstrates the desire at the end of the eighteenth century for a considered approach to design after the bountiful exuberance of the Rococo period. The top drawer features a band of circular medallions including lions similar to the Medici Lion as well as the Four Horses seen atop St. Marks in Venice. What is particularly appealing is the hand painted nature of the work with its slight imperfections and almost naive quality. Please notice that this band as well as the raised bands across the middle and lowest shelf have concave corners and are raised slightly from the surface of the chest. This slight change in elevation was quite noticeable in the eighteenth century as the light available for illumination came from candles and fireplaces casting dramatic shadows when encountering different depths around an interior. Both sides of this antique Neoclassical Italian chest of drawers circa 1790 also feature a painted design with a unique placement toward the bottom of each side as opposed to a perfectly central placement in the middle. Obviously with this choice of placement the chest was created to be seen and approached from all directions and needed to be attractive on all sides. Even the four tapered legs that elevate the chest have a distinctive shape with a flared square base. The most unusual aspect of this chest is the locking mechanism. The iron key actually is inserted from the side and when engaged the lock turns and secures all three drawers at once from the side. Please take a look at the photograph showing the open drawers to see the notches cut into the drawer to allow the iron bolts to move backward and forward. The creator of this chest wanted to make the drawer fronts as visually clean as possible so the circular drawer pulls blend into the surface. The texture of the painted surface is quite attractive and tactile to the touch.

Dimensions:
Height: 35.5 in (90.17 cm)Width: 43 in (109.22 cm)Depth: 23 in (58.42 cm)
Style:
Neoclassical (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Pine,Painted
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
1790-1799
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1790
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Houston, TX
Reference Number:
Seller: DR71stDibs: LU86683147362