Results 25 to 48 of 112

«« « 123 4 5 » »»

TABLE FOR SPANISH WRITTING DESK (BARGUEÑO) WITH “SAINT ANTHONY” LEGS. ...

Bargueñera table with “San Antonio” leg. Wood and rosewood, wrought iron fasteners. Spain, 18th century. Rectangular table top decorated with simplified geometric motifs combining woods of different colours in a symmetrical arrangement. Two straight legs, open downwards and joined with a jamb, have been secured by two curved fasteners with a disc in the centre made of forged metal in a coloured finish. clear. While the curves of the fasteners and discs may recall examples from the Baroque, the simple geometric decoration of the upper board, the absence of movement and the straight lines of the legs, of the typology known as “San Antonio” (which also (found in examples from the 17th century), suggest the 18th century, already under the influence of Neoclassicism. Compare, for example, with the magnificent example of a dining table from the Royal Workshops dating from the second third of this century and preserved in National Heritage. Typically, this type of table, made to support desks, whether Spanish or Italian, had smooth tops without any type of marquetry because they would hardly be visible with the furniture and only the two iron fasteners would remain on the front. that this example has or, alternatively, that they were dressed with rich fabrics to highlight the wastepaper baskets, leaving little more than the legs in sight. They were works made for high-class homes just like these desks, so only outstanding private collections and important museums preserve similar examples: one in the Sorolla (inventory 30023) in Madrid has a board with pyrographed white resin plates with mythological scenes, another from the 17th century in the National Museum of Decorative Arts (CE02068) with geometric motifs in marquetry, or Another one very similar to the one present in the Daroca Regional Museum (00038) but of contemporary date, made inspired by law firms like the present one.

· Size: 176x70x79 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: Z4858
SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA WITH JESUS, MALINAS. WOOD. MECHELEN, 16TH CENTU...

Saint Anthony with the Infant Jesus. Wood. School of Malines, 16th century. A carved wooden sculpture, worked, as was usual in this centre, on the front part because it was intended to be placed on an altar, representing Saint Anthony of Padua with the Child Jesus sitting on a book, in one of the most common iconographies for this Franciscan saint. The relationship with the school of Malines is evident in the physiognomy of the figures, the remains of the polychromy, etc. The "poupées malinoises" or "Malines dolls" are small sculptures of saints made in the late 15th century and early 16th century in the workshops of Malines (Flanders) and were known by these names because of the similarity of their faces to those of dolls or peponas ("poupins"); they were sometimes also called "cutlet sculptures" because they were finished only at the front, being flat at the back, depending on the depth of the bottom of the niche where they were to be placed. They were made for small domestic altarpieces - normally containing three statuettes or "dolls" - rectangular in the shape of a box and with painted wings or doors. The best-known example is perhaps the altarpiece preserved in the Mayer van den Bergh Museum in Antwerp.

· Size: 8,5x3,5x28,5 cms
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: ZF0907
VIENNA TABLE CABINET. WOOD, ENAMEL. 19TH CENTURY.

Viennese tabletop jewelry box or chest. Wood, enamel, bronze. Austria, second half of the 19th century. Requires restoration. Rectangular table or writing desk with four rectangular projecting corners and a finial projecting from an openwork railing, forming an architectural composition and ending in a gilt-bronze child figure. The four corners of the piece feature semicircular arches with gilt-bronze twisted columns, sheltering bronze female figures in a dancing pose, with other children above. In addition to a series of gilt-bronze appliqués throughout the piece, there are a series of hand-painted enamel plaques with mythological scenes in pastel tones. Two doors on the front give access to three interior drawers, with handles and enamel plaque decorations depicting landscapes. Note that the doors are also decorated with scenes inside. These types of cabinets were highly prized in courtly settings, and were used in private women's homes to store jewelry or other valuables, while also being highly decorative. The shape, materials (ebony or ebonized wood, bronze, etc.), and enamel plaques follow the style of the 19th-century Viennese school, which specialized in this type of cabinet (the most important were made in Vienna). It was unusual to feature corners with architectural shelters, as can be seen in this example (there are two other examples in private collections, one with plain bronze columns and the other with porcelain and twisted columns, both dating from around 1880).

· Size: 47x44x56 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: ZE433
GILT WOOD CONSOLE WITH LIONS’ HEADS. MARBLE, WOOD. 18TH CENTURY.

Console table with lion heads. Carved and gilded wood, marble top. Possibly Italian school, 18th century. A console table with four legs joined by a jamb that ends in a central piece, made of carved and gilded wood, designed to stand against a wall and completed with a light-toned veined marble top that follows the lines of the furniture (curves on three fronts and straight lines on the legs). The slender, molded waist features a raised edge of leaf garlands that join the lion protomes that crown the legs and the flowered scallop shell at the front; the legs, with architectural lines, with volutes at the ends and leaf garlands, are topped with lion heads; the aforementioned jamb also features carved leaves and flowers. Stylistically, both the waist and tabletop lines, the elements of the rest of the furniture, and the material used in it can be linked to 18th-century European works. The lines of the legs (straight compared to other Rococo pieces from, for example, the French school) are reminiscent of pieces based on designs by Daniel Marot (1661-1752), a Dutch architect, furniture designer, and engraver, who were also pieces from the Dutch school. However, it should be noted that his designs influenced numerous creations throughout the continent. It is also worth noting the presence of an 18th-century console table in the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, whose general lines (though not so much the decoration, as this is more Rococo than the present one) are reminiscent of this work in some details. Compare also with those of the Church of Santa Maria Nova in Naples (Italy), with those of the Castello Sforzesco in Milan, etc.

· Size: 100x60x84 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: ZF1128
Special Offer! - Off

EXTENDING TABLE (6 M). MAHOGANY, METAL, ETC. ENGLAND, CIRCA 1930.

Extendable table (6 meters). Mahogany wood, metal, leather, etc. England, circa 1930. Rectangular mahogany wood table carved with rectangles of another material in green (leather) edged in gold on the top, which has eight legs ending in rollers and a "worm screw" system under the tabletop that allows its extension up to six meters thanks to a manual action crank that attaches to one of the shorter sides of the piece. The paw motif is already quite common in 18th-century English examples (a type known as "claw and ball" with a cabriole paw, a form that, although more of a French tradition, spread rapidly throughout Europe). The leading theory among experts is that it is a design derived from Chinese art (a dragon's claw grasping a pearl or similar object) and that it reached the West through the trade of porcelain, silk, etc., first appearing in English silverware and, from there, spreading to other arts. English cabinetmakers are credited with transforming the dragon's claw into a lion's paw, this animal symbolizing English authority. Thus, the "claw and ball" motif was popular in England between approximately 1710 and 1750 (later reappearing as past styles came back into fashion), with variations in shape and lines (shape of the claw, details of the nails and "fingers," proportion between the sphere and the limb, etc.) depending on the region where this decorative element was used. The decoration present towards the waist of the furniture and on the edge of the upper board, in slight relief and leaving the wood in its color, is of architectural and vegetal theme and shows an influence of ancient classical models (Greek and Roman) both in its motifs and in the composition (symmetry in the sides of the furniture, harmony, etc.). Regarding the fabric upholstery on the tabletop, this is more common on conference tables, desks, or gaming tables than on dining tables (which typically have wooden tops), although this detail doesn't preclude any function for the latter. It's also worth noting the preservation of the leg casters, an element that was often removed or lost with use and the passage of time. 428x160x86 cm. Extended 700x160x86 cm Height to ball 75 cm.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: Z5694
WROUGHT IRON GRILLE. SPAIN, 17TH CENTURY.

Gate with pass-through. Wrought iron. Spain, 17th century. Rectangular iron railing with a half-height railing, a frame and supports to keep it upright. The vertical bars have opposing balustrade shapes and a series of discs and small smooth mouldings, all arranged symmetrically around this horizontal railing. On the sides, two square bars have a series of smooth mouldings and architectural decoration with a strong classical influence. Compare, for example, with the works preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, or the confessional in the Metropolitan Museum in New York dated 1629 (inv 57.137.51) and with another from the same museum, the work of Francisco González (inv 56-234.12 Ad).

· Size: 194x61x294 cms
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: ZF1308
DINING ROOM WALNUT TABLE WITH SOLOMONIC LEGS

Dining table in walnut wood with Solomonic leg, 20th century. Dining table with a two-piece topped top on legs with Solomonic turning and chambrana joined to it with curved wrought iron fasteners, following Baroque models

· Size: 219x96x82,5 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: Z5591
Special Offer! - Off

SPANISH WOODEN TABLE WITH LYRE LEGS AND IRON FASTENERS, 18TH CENTURY.

Spanish table with lyre-shaped legs and iron braces, 18th century. The two lyre-shaped legs supporting the piece feature undulating lines at the bottom and shapes on the sides reminiscent of French cabriolet guitars. They are joined by an iron brace and support a single-piece tabletop with carved edges. This type of leg, called lyre-shaped because of its resemblance to the musical instrument, was widely used in the Renaissance, and its use continued later due to the movement that its curved profiles brought to the furniture.

· Size: 73x103x220 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: Z6146
GILT WOODEN NICHE, ROCOCO, 18TH CENTURY.

Niche in carved and gilded wood, Rococo, 18th century. A niche formed by a back decorated with a moulding and a support for a sculpture decorated with a mask and plant motifs and topped by a split pediment with a central motif worked on its lower part resembling a cloth. Engraved cornucopias and leaves appear throughout the back. The work would have been part of an altarpiece or could have been created as it has been preserved for a private chapel.

· Size: 216x74x40 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: Z3413A
MARQUETRY AND BRONZE SHOWCASE. FRENCH SCHOOL, 19TH CENTURY.

Louis XVI style display case. Wood, gilt bronze, etc. French School, 19th century. A wooden display case decorated with marquetry plaques with figurative motifs in the lower area and gilt bronze appliqués. It has three glass fronts that reveal the interior. It is upholstered in red textile and has two glass shelves. These marquetry scenes depict figures in landscapes, reminiscent of oriental works. The bronze appliqués and the "bombé" shape of the lower area demonstrate Rococo influences. The Louis XVI style is considered, in France, a movement within Neoclassicism and spans from around 1760 to around 1789 (although works inspired by it would be created in the 19th century). It was succeeded by the Directoire style. It is characterized by its influences from Ancient Rome and Enlightenment thought. In the French school, the style that presents Rococo influences is known as Louis XV, and it also inspires works in the 19th century, which receive the same name.

· Size: 43x63x172 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: ZF0656
Special Offer! - Off

WALNUT WOOD AND IRONWORK CHEST, XVII CENTURY.

Chest in walnut wood and wrought iron fittings, 17th century. Rectangular chest with base and lid featuring moldings, metal fittings, and corner pieces in wrought iron on a red fabric background, all made from stylized and simplified plant and architectural elements. Key lock on the front. Single-piece boards in excellent condition. The characteristic prototype of these pieces is followed in the Spanish examples for chests, which would have a civil or religious use, being used to store clothes, tableware, etc.

· Size: 75x190x80 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: Z6357
THREE LOCKS CHEST. WOOD, WROUGHT IRON, LEATHER. CA 1600.

Three-lock chest. Wood, leather, wrought iron. Circa 1600. Rectangular chest with a flat lid made of carved wood and covered on the outside with leather and wrought iron fittings (three bolts, corners, two handles, decorations, hinges). Inside, it has a red fabric covering both on the body of the chest and on the lid (an area in which there is embroidery based on geometric elements arranged in a symmetrical composition, including missing details). The type of piece (rectangular box with a flat lid) is one of the most common in Spanish chests and coffers, with examples of this shape being found as early as the early Middle Ages. As for the use of textiles, it was common in Spain as early as the 15th century to make chests lined on the outside and inside, usually in red (the most expensive dyes were red and blue), both to enhance the piece and to protect the contents. Covering the wood with leather on the outside was also common, again to enhance and protect the chest. As for the fittings, the lobed spear-shaped forged iron pieces are reminiscent of examples from the late Gothic period, already influenced by the Renaissance, with some more advanced forms. The three locks have openwork shields decorated with waves and simplified plant elements, and the presence of all three in the same chest refers to a type known as “town hall” or “council” (as there were three keys, it was necessary for the three authorities who had one to come together and agree to access the contents, adding an element of security). It is not very common for this type of piece to be preserved in good condition, and similar examples can be found in some important private collections and in institutions such as the Museum of the Cathedral of Valencia, the City Hall of Los Palacios y Villafranca, the Military History Museum of Seville, etc.

· Size: 125x48x57 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: Z2316
Special Offer! - Off

COMMODE (TAQUILLÓN). WALNUT, WROUGHT IRON. SPAIN, 17TH CENTURY.

Sideboard. Walnut wood, wrought iron. Spain, 17th century. A low rectangular cabinet made of oak with wrought iron elements, raised slightly on four legs. It features a slightly projecting, straight top and fronts decorated with carvings. Inside, beneath two drawers, are two doors, all lockable by key (the lock shields are decorated with simple lines only on the doors). Opening the doors reveals a space divided in two by a shelf decorated with a series of cut lines along its lower edge. At the top, beneath the tabletop, are carved corbels with volutes, tongues, and simple architectural elements; along the sides of the front, fluting recalls architectural motifs. The exterior of the doors and drawers, as well as the sides of the piece, are decorated with panels of varying sizes and shapes (crosses, squares, rectangles), following a tradition deeply rooted in Spanish furniture. This allows for comparisons with works such as the 17th-century alcaje (upper section with lattice doors) made of walnut, pine, and iron, now in the National Museum of Decorative Arts in Madrid, or the 17th-century alcaje with turned balusters in the Cervantes House Museum in Valladolid, for example.

· Size: 113x52x86 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: Z5279
GOTHIC CHEST. PINEWOOD, METAL. 16TH CENTURY.

Gothic chest. Carved pine wood, iron. 16th century. Rectangular chest with a flat lid made of carved wood and decorated on the outside with a series of divisions into rectangular spaces using smooth mouldings. On the front, these spaces have been decorated with a relief of the type known as “napkin” or “folded cloth” or “parchment”. The rectangular and simple legs still retain some carved detail. In the centre of the front there is a metal lock shield (probably wrought iron) to secure the contents. The relief of folded cloths was common in Gothic furniture, originating in Flanders in the 15th century and commonly used in Spain until well into the 16th century, although there are examples from the 17th century that retain this decorative element. As for the wood, although walnut is common in Spanish furniture, it is not unusual to find examples carved in pine wood. Gothic chests can now be found in several prominent museums: the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid has four Gothic chests from the 15th century (with Gothic architectural decoration and other carved elements); the Lázaro Galdiano Museum has an Italian example from the 15th century with skylights and arches reminiscent of Muslim diamond-shaped panels (Inventory 2141); the Museum of Navarra has a wedding chest made of wood and embossed and polychrome leather from the last third of the 15th century (inventory CE000115); etc. The National Museum of Decorative Arts has an oak sideboard (CE01616) decorated with carved panels “of folds” or “of scrolls”, dated around 1500, and a chest with similar decoration dated between 1476 and 1525 (CE19287).

· Size: 189x62x90 cms
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: ZE148
NEOGOTHICH CUPBOARD. OAK. 19TH CENTURY.

Neo-Gothic wardrobe. Carved oak wood. 19th century. A tall piece of furniture made of carved oak with a dark finish, consisting of a hollow lower body decorated with “napkin” or “parchment” plaques, bands of linear motifs and thin columns, and an upper body with two doors (which give access to shelves with two spaces); between them there are two drawers with fronts carved with plant motifs. Raised on legs decorated with plaques on the front, the doors have a symmetrical composition of stems with grapes (around Gothic-type letters) in a setting of smooth mouldings, decorated ironwork and human figures on pedestals; the sides of this area have “parchment” decoration. The piece is finished off with a prominent smooth moulding. Typologically, the present piece follows a form that recalls certain Renaissance works (especially buffets) with variations that were already common in pieces from the 19th century. As for the decoration, focused on the front, the influence of Spanish Gothic works is clear both in the subject matter and in the composition: sculptures on pedestals and the clothing of the figures, the compositions of the drawers, the presence of those panels with “napkin” carvings, the panels with the stems and grapes, the letters, the thin columns, etc. Likewise, it is possible to appreciate a certain air from Neoclassicism, a common style in the 19th century. At this time, it was common to draw inspiration from styles of the past to create outstanding furniture, such as the present one. Although Neo-Gothic was more frequently used for ecclesiastical works, it was not absent from important residences and other institutions, as it was one of the favourite styles at the time. It is possible to find examples that recall this cabinet in museums such as the Romanticism Museum in Madrid, the National Museum of Decorative Arts in the same city, etc.

· Size: 50x132x170 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: Z4866
Special Offer! - Off

FOLDABLE MAHOGANY TABLE, 17TH CENTURY.

Mahogany dining table with straight folding leg, 17th century. The four legs, joined together by straight stretchers and fixed to the tabletop with stretchers, have no notable decorative elements, but they do feature a series of metal fittings that allow it to be folded for storage. Despite belonging to the Baroque period, it displays little movement or decoration, as befits a strictly functional piece of furniture.

· Size: 188x133x79 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: Z6208
MAHOGANY AND METAL EXTENSIBLE DINING TABLE. ENGLAND, 19TH CENTURY.

Extendable table. Mahogany wood, metal. England, 19th century. Rectangular extendable table with boards and a mechanical system manually operated by crank, made of carved mahogany wood and with metal elements (leg ends, mechanism, rollers). The top board has been left smooth, with a slight recess towards the edges that curves the area and extends to the corners of the piece of furniture, contributing to the comfort of its use as a dining or conference table; the legs have outstanding carving and turning work, with a stipe shape and a reminder of architectural columns due to its combination of mouldings, highlighting the polygonal base and the fact that it retains the small metal wheels or rollers that help move the piece of furniture. Both the wood chosen for the table (mahogany) and the lack of decorative elements (which highlights the quality of the material and the lines) are common characteristics of antique English furniture. Note the similarities with English Victorian style pieces.

· Size: 150x180x71 / 150x320x71 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: ZE229
ENGLISH REGENCY MONOPODIA CONSOLE. ROSEWOOD, BRONZE, MIRROR. FIRST HAL...

English Regency console table. Rosewood, gilded wood, bronze, mirror. First half of the 19th century. Console with a rectangular top with smooth wooden edges, featuring a waist decorated with gilded bronzes and a band of black architectural elements. At the front, it rests on two gilded legs with a feline head (leopard or panther), plant decorations and a lion's claw finish; the back features a rectangular mirror. The base repeats the pattern of the upper area, and is also decorated with gilded appliqués. Although the model shows the influence of the French Empire consoles common at the time, details such as the wooden top, dark lines, felines on the front, etc., are more reminiscent of English examples from the Regency period, so called because it was set at the time when the future George IV was Prince Regent (1811-1820). Compare the feline legs with illustrations by Charles Heathcote Tatham (1772-1842) and Thomas Hope (1769-1831), and with furniture designs by George Smith (1756-1826).

· Size: 99x38,5x93 cms
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: ZF1097
WALNUT CUPBOARD. 19TH CENTURY.

Wardrobe. Walnut wood. 19th century. A two-body, carved walnut cabinet with three lockable doors at the top, a space in the centre, and two drawers and two doors with metal handles at the bottom. On the outside, it displays a series of carvings (architectural elements, coats of arms, plant motifs, vases, bands, smooth mouldings, etc.) with a classicist influence and others that recall elements of a strong tradition in Spanish cabinetmaking (“scrolls” on the doors at the top that recall the Gothic tradition, pearls, etc.). The 19th century was a time in European cabinetmaking when a number of influences and styles were mixed together to create new pieces that were rooted in tradition. This example features Renaissance-style reliefs (vases, mouldings, etc.) and other details with a medieval influence (scrolls, etc.), together with a composition (distribution of doors and central space) that was very common in this century.

· Size: 60x160x275 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: ZE284
CASTILLIAN CHEST. WALNUT, WROUGHT AND POLYCHROMED IRON. SPAIN, 17TH CE...

Castilian chest. Walnut wood, wrought iron and polychrome. Spain, 17th century. Rectangular chest with a flat lid, slightly raised on spheres, decorated on the outside with smooth mouldings on the top and bottom, and fittings (handles on the sides and lock shield) cut out to form vegetal and geometric elements. It is worth highlighting the presence of a “space” inside, on one side, with a lock closure and an iron decoration on the outside that retains polychromy (like some of the other fittings on the piece), and presents a drawing of volutes and vegetal elements with a certain Renaissance reminiscence and marked classicist influence.

· Size: 166x64x81 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: ZF0265
GROUP OF 6 CHAIRS AND 2 FAUTEUILS, WALNUT AND EMBOSSED LEATHER, 19TH C...

Chairs in walnut wood and embossed leather, 19th century. Set of 6 chairs and two matching armchairs, made of walnut wood and with seats and backrests in embossed leather (some leathers require restoration). The structure is based on traditional models of the Spanish armchair, adding decorative details from various artistic styles, such as wavy arms (Rococo) or carved and curved chamfers, or lentil-turned fasteners (Baroque). It was common in the 19th century to make furniture by combining elements from different artistic traditions, using highly successful local models as a base in Spain. Embossed leather on seats and backrests is another characteristic element of the Peninsula, widely used throughout the centuries.

· Size: 54x44x128 / 63x59x138 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: Z0358
PAIR OF BRACKETS, GILT WOOD, ROCOCO, 18TH CENTURY.

Pair of carved and gilded wooden corbels, Rococo, 18th century. Pair of corbels with a curved lower profile and polygonal section decorated on their fronts with rocailles in relief and engraved plant and scale motifs. The movement of their profiles and the decoration place the works within the Rococo style.

· Size: 94x43x119 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: Z3412
CABINET OR CUPBOARD OR TWO TIERED BUFFET. WALNUT. SPAIN, 18TH CENTURY.

Two-body wardrobe. Walnut wood. Spain, 18th century. Two-body wardrobe made of carved walnut wood with doors (two pairs, top and bottom) and drawers (four, towards the centre of the piece, arranged in pairs) and slightly raised by disc-shaped legs. The upper part is finished off by a series of mouldings of different widths (the largest with small fluted corbels, elements also present flanking the drawers); doors (with simple inlays or marquetry in lighter wood) and drawers are also enhanced by similar mouldings; the corners of the door areas are enhanced by smooth-capital Solomonic columns; below, on the legs, another moulding-shaped finish, thinner than that of the upper part, frames the piece of furniture. The sides have simple recessed carvings differentiating the different areas mentioned. The careful study of the composition and its details (and therefore the quality) can be seen in the joints of the wood, in the care with which the elements are used (the door hinges are left out to provide a little more decoration), etc. The presence of the Solomonic columns and the delicate use of fluted corbels placed opposite each other to add some more movement show the influence of the Baroque in the cupboard. The general lines of the piece correspond to a common composition in Spain (compare with wastepaper baskets, the sacristy cupboard of the Burgos Cathedral from the 18th century, etc.), and the wood is also the most common in cabinetmaking in this country. Compare the piece with the archimesa in the Lázaro Galdiano Museum in Madrid (first half of the 17th century, note the corbels); the well-known panelled cupboards; Louis XIII style pieces (noting the usual differences); etc.

· Size: 161x75x218 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: ZF0485
MAHOGANY COMMODE EMPIRE STYLE WITH GILT BRONZE, CA 1880.

Empire style chest of drawers in mahogany and gilt bronze, circa 1880. Chest of five drawers with garland fittings, key locks and decorated lock shields, on semi-spherical legs and a top in dark stone. The front is flanked by two stipes with a female capital under a plant motif and a base resembling women's feet. It is made of mahogany palm and the fittings are in high-quality gilded bronze. Details such as the purity of the furniture's lines, its clear geometric shape, the angles, the presence of the caryatids on the front and the smooth back, the centralisation of the relief in the gilded bronze appliqués, the use of mahogany and the inspiration from classical antiquity (Greek and Roman) place the chest of drawers within the Empire style. This dominated all French arts at the beginning of the 19th century during the government of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), and was one of the most important inspirations for the Second Empire style, which was born under the government of Napoleon III and was very successful between approximately 1860 and 1880. The work stands out for the high quality of its wood and the perfection of its bronzes, both in its reliefs and in the gilding. These French metal ornaments were the most highly regarded in cabinetmaking for their quality, due to the strict control established by the central power over the guilds responsible for their production, in which the specialization of the different workshops necessary for their creation and subsequent sale to master cabinetmakers in particular or to other merchants who, on occasions, exported them, stands out. Although it is true that it is not a commissioned piece of furniture but one made following a system somewhat more similar to mass production, in all cases they were important works destined for the houses of the main families both for the materials used in them and for following the aesthetic novelties of the time.

· Size: 110x58,5x90 cms.
ANTIQUES
FURNITURE

Ref.: Z3393