A NORTH ITALIAN POLYCHROME-PAINTED PASTIGLIA COMMODE AND MIRROR

TURIN, IN THE MANNER OF GIUSEPPE MARIA BONZANIGO, LATE 18TH CENTURY, THE PAINTED DECORATION LATER

Details

A NORTH ITALIAN POLYCHROME-PAINTED PASTIGLIA COMMODE AND MIRROR
TURIN, IN THE MANNER OF GIUSEPPE MARIA BONZANIGO, LATE 18TH CENTURY, THE PAINTED DECORATION LATER
The mirror with an urn-carved finial and fruiting vines above a mask and scrolling vines, the sides with floral and leaf-carved decoration and urns with leaves at the bases; the commode with a shaped 'alabastro egiziano' top above the three drawers with floral and fruiting scrolling vine decoration and with floral-carved fluted legs and leaf-carved feet
the mirror: 81 in. (206 cm) high and 46 in. (117 cm.) wide; the commode: 37 in. (94 cm.) high, 48 in. (122 cm.) wide, 23¾ in. (60.5 cm.) deep

Lot Essay

The delicate, lush carving on this elegant commode and mirror relate it to the circle of the celebrated Turinese cabinet-maker Giuseppe Maria Bonzanigo, appointed sculptor to the Royal court of Turin in 1787 by Vittorio Amedeo III. Skilled craftsmen and intagliatori such as Francesco Tanadei, Giuseppe Marchino, Francesco Novaro and Francesco Bolgih were working around Bonzanigo on the numerous royal commissions for the residences of Stupinigi, Moncalieri, Venaria, Rivoli and most of all the Royal Palace in Turin. The jewel-like, naturalistic quality of their work can be seen on the drapery swags issuing from the urn form cresting on the mirror and the carved panels. A related commode with carved paneled drawers in the apartment of the Duchess d'Aosta in the Palazo Reale is illustrated in G. Ferraris,Guiseppe Maria Bonzanigo, Turin, 1991, p.110. An armoire, by Bonzanigo with a related pastel color scheme and carving is illustrated in S. Colombo, L'Arte del Mobile in Italia, Milan, 1975 fig. 294.

More from Important European Furniture, Works of Art, Ceramics, Carpets, And Glass

View All