Italie - XVIIe siècle Lot n° 7

CABINET ON STAND Blackened wood, gilded bronze, marble and hard stone Cabinet - H. 89 cm, W. 132 cm, D. 41 cm Legs - H. 84 cm, W. 151 cm, D. 51 cm Total height: 173 cm Posterior period legs, probably added marble and hard stone decoration This cabinet in blackened wood opens on the front with eight drawers and a secret flap revealing a theatre. The frame of the flap is surrounded by two antique columns supporting an entablature surmounted by two gilded bronze figures. It has a marquetry of hard stones and marbles known as commesso in blackened wood frames of various geometric shapes. This technique consists of assembling elements of the same thickness laid and glued on a slate or wood support. In the 16th century, Florence improved this technique, which was called Florentine hard stone marquetry, and was exported to France by Domenico Gucci, who worked at the Gobelins Manufacture and supplied many cabinets for the royal collections.