Description
This rare chest with a beautiful patina is made of carved and pyrographed cedar wood. The flap, of a rare thickness and in one piece, opens thanks to hinges. The reverse offers a decoration of mythological scenes with cut-out contours and applied in relief on a matte background representing two scenes from the story of Diana and Actaeon, with a surround of signs of the zodiac. In the center, a cartouche is supported by winged children framed by a foliage surround.
The façade presents a decoration of scenes of military and maritime conquests with characters in Spanish and American Indian dress. The sides with their wrought iron handle are decorated with chimeras.
Tito Miotti, the author of the reference work: Nobilta del mobile friulano, lists twelve chests similar to this one and firmly suggests locating this small series of furniture with very particular decoration in the Friuli region in the north-east of Italy.
This rather convincing proposition is based essentially on the places of conservation or discovery of the small number of chests known to date.
Bibliography :
Tito Miotti, Nobilta del mobile friulano, Udine, sd, p. 66-81
This rare chest with a beautiful patina is made of carved and pyrographed cedar wood. The flap, of a rare thickness and in one piece, opens thanks to hinges. The reverse offers a decoration of mythological scenes with cut-out contours and applied in relief on a matte background representing two scenes from the story of Diana and Actaeon, with a surround of signs of the zodiac. Au centre un cartouche est soutenu par des enfants ailés sont encadrés par un entourage de rinceaux.The façade presents a decoration of scenes of military and maritime conquests with characters in Spanish and American Indian dress. The sides with their wrought iron handle are decorated with chimeras.
Tito Miotti, the author of the reference work: Nobilta del mobile friulano, lists twelve chests similar to this one and firmly suggests locating this small series of furniture with very particular decoration in the Friuli region in the north-east of Italy.
This rather convincing proposition is based essentially on the places of conservation or discovery of the small number of chests known to date.
Bibliography :
Tito Miotti, Nobilta del mobile friulano, Udine, sd, p. 66-81