CARVED GOLDEN WOOD CHEST. 18TH CENTURY

Chest from the 18th century. Carved and gilded wood. Chest from the 18th century with a still clearly Baroque structure, with a wavy profile with bulges in elevation, but already decorated with Rococo details, even organized in an asymmetrical composition unthinkable in the Baroque. It has a chest structure, with cut skirts, volute feet curled inwards (still baroque, in Rococo they will curl outwards) and a vaulted lid. The decoration is carved in bas-relief, the different motifs highlighted on a nuanced, irregular background, which enhances its relief. This type of work is inspired by silversmithing, a decorative resource widely used in baroque silversmithing, precisely to reinforce the three-dimensional impression of the motifs worked in very low relief. Although these motifs are rigorously organized in boxes, in the Baroque manner, they are now clearly Rococo. Thus, on the front of the base we see a totally asymmetrical composition, composed of rockery crests, “S” braces and plant details, perfectly framed within the Rococo style. On the sides we see similar motifs that, although simpler, respect the compositional asymmetry that is a hallmark of full Rococo. The lid also presents rich Rococo ornamentation, in this case worked with a less obvious asymmetry.

· Size: 46x25x34 cms.