Lot Essay
This commode, with its central tablet depicting a ribbon-entwined medallion of the festive vine-wreathed Bacchus, is the pair to a commode in a private collection in Milan. The pair is appropriately decorated with a central medallion of the harvest-goddess Ceres, and together these deities of Wine and Food recall that 'Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus will starve', a suitable motto for a bedroom apartment.
The pair, illustrated in G. Beretti, Giuseppe e Carlo Francesco Maggiolini, L'Officina del Neoclassicismo, Milano, 1994, pp. 150-152, is signed Maggiolini Fece and dated Parabiago 1799. The commode forms part of a group of commodes made in variations from 1790 onwards. It was a popular model and the first instance where Maggiolini repeatedly executed one design with minor variations. The high quality of the marquetry indicates that this pair was probably executed for an important unidentified commission.
There is a related design for the frieze and bottom panels of the front and sides in the Raccolta del Fondo Maggiolini, Castello Sforzesco, Milan, (A Coll. 251) (illustrated in G. Beretti, op.cit., p. 153, illus. 189) although it is not as elaborate as the actual execution in marquetry. Interestingly, there is an exact design for the Bacchic head of the central medallion, believed to be the work of Giuseppe Levati (d. 1828) (Raccolta del Fondo Maggiolini, B Coll. 198), illustrated in G. Beretti, op.cit., p. 144, illus. 174. It further relates to a pen drawing, probably executed in his workshop, in the same collection (B Coll. 223) (illustrated in G. Beretti, op.cit., p. 144, illus. 176).
The same Bacchic head and head of Ceres face each other on the lower doors of a secrétaire in the Palazzo Isimbardi, Milan, which is based on a design dated 1796 (G. Beretti, op.cit., pp. 118 and 121, plate XV and illus. 147 respectively).
A further commode with nearly identical overall decorative scheme, including the Bacchic head, but with marble top and varying middle section of the side panels, signed Maggiolini and Parabiago was in the collection Consonni, Malgrate in 1938 (G. Beretti, op.cit., p. 144, illus. 175)
For a short biography of Giuseppe Maggiolini, please see lot 271
The pair, illustrated in G. Beretti, Giuseppe e Carlo Francesco Maggiolini, L'Officina del Neoclassicismo, Milano, 1994, pp. 150-152, is signed Maggiolini Fece and dated Parabiago 1799. The commode forms part of a group of commodes made in variations from 1790 onwards. It was a popular model and the first instance where Maggiolini repeatedly executed one design with minor variations. The high quality of the marquetry indicates that this pair was probably executed for an important unidentified commission.
There is a related design for the frieze and bottom panels of the front and sides in the Raccolta del Fondo Maggiolini, Castello Sforzesco, Milan, (A Coll. 251) (illustrated in G. Beretti, op.cit., p. 153, illus. 189) although it is not as elaborate as the actual execution in marquetry. Interestingly, there is an exact design for the Bacchic head of the central medallion, believed to be the work of Giuseppe Levati (d. 1828) (Raccolta del Fondo Maggiolini, B Coll. 198), illustrated in G. Beretti, op.cit., p. 144, illus. 174. It further relates to a pen drawing, probably executed in his workshop, in the same collection (B Coll. 223) (illustrated in G. Beretti, op.cit., p. 144, illus. 176).
The same Bacchic head and head of Ceres face each other on the lower doors of a secrétaire in the Palazzo Isimbardi, Milan, which is based on a design dated 1796 (G. Beretti, op.cit., pp. 118 and 121, plate XV and illus. 147 respectively).
A further commode with nearly identical overall decorative scheme, including the Bacchic head, but with marble top and varying middle section of the side panels, signed Maggiolini and Parabiago was in the collection Consonni, Malgrate in 1938 (G. Beretti, op.cit., p. 144, illus. 175)
For a short biography of Giuseppe Maggiolini, please see lot 271