18th Century Italian Neoclassical Wood Dresser Attributed to Francesco Bolgiè

18th century Italian neoclassical carved, lacquered and gilded wood dresser attributed to Francesco Bolgiè (1752?-1834). The fine and elegant commode is made of finely carved, lacquered and gilded wood. It presents several stylistic and material elements characteristic of the wooden works and of the furniture present in the Piedmont area, between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. The richness of the ornaments, the gold leaf, the iconographic program and the significant level of cabinet making that characterizes this furniture are testimony of a wealthy client and the valuable work of a sculptor at the service of noble and royal families. Stylistically can be attributed to the famous italian sculptor Francesco Bolgiè (1752-1834). The front of the furniture and the two side are characterized by a complex decorative architecture. Two horizontal perimeter bands show gilded carved geometric patterns and palmettes on a blue lacquered backdrop. The low frame, in the centre and on the front, has a half-moon element inside which is finely carved a lion with two cupids and laurel branches. Near the corners, at the top, are carved a female faces, while at the bottom are some bees. The fretwork of the vertical bands draws strings that support a bunch of grapes with vine leaves. The side walls are lacquered in ochre yellow and, at the centre, a frame with acanthus leaves outlines a lacquered space in the tones of the ancient rose violaceous, with in the centre an ornate leaf with fine girali. On the four sides of this frame four large golden flowers harmonize the together. The front, similar in composition, has a yellow ochre background, internal frame with palmettes and four flowers. The large internal space, lacquered in antique pink, shows in the center a woman’s fece with a composition of grapes and wheat ears; from the face depart fine phytomorphic girals with racemes, bunches of grapes and vine leaves. The nozzle of the original lock, placed on the front of the cabinet and on top, is in gilded bronze, chiselled with ribbon motif. The front panel opens downwards. The interior of the cabinet, entirely lacquered in red, has a shelf and therefore two compartments. The red color cinnabar deliberately recalls the characteristic Chinese lacquer, at the time much loved for the decorations to cineseria furniture. The special folding lock system, which allows the opening and closing of the front door, is the original one. The commode rests on four conical wood legs witch are carved with acanthus leaves and small ramage, gilded and lacquered. The top of the furniture is in grey marble bardiglio valdieri, lithotype that had great success in Piedmont, in the north of Italy, since the middle of the 18th century. On it were usually exposed bronzes, candlesticks, watches and sculptures. The sculpted subjects refer to a precise iconographic programme. The female head is identifiable in Ceres, Mother Terra, which in classical iconography is depicted with the head surrounded by a sert of wheat ears and a cluster of grapes. Ceres or Demeter in Greek, sister of Zeus, in Greek mythology is the goddess of fertility, the guardian of crops, protector of agriculture and wheat, constant nurse of youth and of the green earth, author of the cycle of seasons, life and death, protector of marriage and sacred laws. The representation of Ceres, and its meaning, are linked to bees, symbol of virtue and chastity, allegory of Mother Earth, rebirth, mercy and justice. Just as the leaves of the vine and its fruits: in many cultures, from Greco-Roman to Christianity, the vine is a symbol of well-being, fruitfulness and blessing; it represents an abundant life and the joy that flows from it; it reflects the desire for fertility and beauty. It is also a sign of devotion to the fruits of the spirit and protection from evil. Fullness, wisdom, youth, maturation, prosperity are all images associated with the vine. Sacrifice, faith and good will are the qualities required for the vine to bear fruit. The inverted bezel shows the iconographic image of Amor Vincit...

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