AN ITALIAN IVORY-INLAID EBONISED AND TORTOISESHELL CHEST-ON-CABINET

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN

Details

AN ITALIAN IVORY-INLAID EBONISED AND TORTOISESHELL CHEST-ON-CABINET

The rectangular foliate cornice above a frieze of three mahogany-lined drawers mounted with pairs of embracing putti and centred by a gilt cartouche, the open front of the cabinet with eleven drawers inlaid with foliate scrolls flanking a pedimented niche inlaid with a figure of Pomona and a gentleman, with a mirror lining, the apsidal interior and several secret drawers, the bottom drawer with simulated shell basin, the base with three frieze drawers above a pair of doors inlaid with engraved ivory panels of figures on a tortoiseshell ground, the angles of both parts mounted with free-standing embracing figures, the naturalistic feet carved with wailing masks, the back with paper label inscribed in ink Pringle, one interior drawer with paper label inscribed in ink This cabinet was bought by G. Baden Crawley about 1870 in Malaya. The V. & A. curator said it was made by Portuguese in Malaya approx. 1700, constructed in the 19th Century using an earlier Italian late 16th early 17th Century tortoiseshell and ivory bambocci cabinet
43in. (110cm.) wide; 74in. (188cm.) high; 26½in. (67cm.) deep

Provenance

According to family tradition and labels purchased by G. Baden Crawley, Esq., in Malaysia in 1870
Thence by descent

Lot Essay

With its decoration 'a bambocci', this cabinet belongs to a closely related group of studiolos originating from Liguria or Tuscany (G. Rosa, I Mobili nelle civiche raccolte artistiche di Milano, Milan, 1963, pp. 40-42)

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