Suite of dressers and nightstands. Milan, early 19th century
Description:
Suite composed of a pair of chests of drawers with three drawers and two bedside tables that open with a door, one of which with a removable compartment; veneered in quadripartite bois de violette with borders in bois de rose, walnut and with medallion reserves inlaid in maple, stained maple, olive and boxwood.
The uprights, the feet as well as the connecting shelves are inlaid on a burnt stucco background with candelabra composed of phytomorphic elements and vases, bluebells and rosettes; even the border of the reserves of the fronts and sides is inlaid with leafy frets on a stucco background. In the band under the top there are inlaid reserves with fretwork and floral elements. The pair of chests of drawers houses allegorical figures inserted in medallions on the front and sides, those on the sides repeated on the front of the bedside tables. Tops in gray bardiglio marble, truncated pyramidal feet. Partially replaced hardware.
Dresser dimensions: 89.5 x 125 x 61 cm; Dimensions Nightstands: 75.5 x 59 x 39.5 cm.
Code: ANMOCA0203635
Historical-stylistic analysis:
The suite comes from that Lombard production which is traditionally attributed to Giovan Battista Maroni. It is a pupil of the well-known cabinetmaker Giuseppe Maggiolini, who had a workshop in Milan and produced furnishings of excellent workmanship alongside a more serial production in which the furniture in question must be inserted. There are several similar pieces of furniture passed on the market or in a private collection, including a group on which GBM’s signature was found in full.
This simpler production is characterized by a repetitive arrangement of the decoration, a rich band under the top, inlaid roundels in the center and candelabras in the uprights. The use of burnt stucco underlay instead of wood, although much appreciated by the market, was a cheaper solution, even if not simpler, which made it possible to save wood but at the same time give an almost marble effect to the underlay.
The pleasantness of these productions emerges in the chromatic arrangement of the precious woods and inlays and in the harmony of the proportions of the furniture.
Comparison bibliography
- Giuseppe Beretti, Laboratorio, ed. in limine 2005; Giuseppe Beretti, Il monogrammista G.B.M. Ovvero Giovanni Battista Maroni, articolo online, 18 aprile 2019 (http://laboratorioberetti.eu/ricerche/il-monogrammista-g-b-m-ovvero-giovanni-battista-maroni/);
- Enrico Sala, Maggiolini & Co., ed. Anticonline 2020.
- Suite of dressers and nightstands. Milan, early 19th century
Antiques, Art and Design
FineArt is the new ambitious Di Mano in Mano project that offers an exclusive choice of antiques and design works, presenting them for their singularity and uniqueness.
