- Bedroom set. Production by Carlo Zen, 1902
A skillful and, for the time, extremely modern architectural design characterizes the production of these furnishings, where straight or curved inclined planes overlap, with surfaces that may be smooth, fluted, or inlaid. The architecture of the furniture is enriched by precious materials, such as Verona yellow marble set into figured mahogany, highlighted by fine inlays.
The floral inlays are of two types, both made of maple wood with mother-of-pearl inserts, set within a square section: in one case connected by mahogany ribbons, in the other by thorny maple branches.
The same floral motif appears in the finely chiseled bronze elements used for the drawer pulls and keyhole escutcheons. The interiors are made of oak.
The bedroom set consists of a wardrobe, a chest of drawers with mirror, a pair of nightstands lined inside with white marble, a bed, and three seats: a small tub armchair and two extremely slender and elegant chairs, ending with modern brass feet. In several places, a metal plaque engraved with “CARLO ZEN MILANO” is affixed.
Dimensions (cm):
Wardrobe: 220 × 120 × 58
Chest of drawers with mirror: 172 × 120 × 53
Nightstands: 94 × 44 × 41
Bed: 130 × 164 × 215, internal dimensions 155 × 200
Chairs: 80 × 45 × 40
Tub armchair: 70 × 51 × 51
CODE: ANMOAR0280197
Carlo Zen (1851–1918), originally from Verona, began his career as a producer of eclectic-style furniture with his first company, “Zara e Zen,” of which he soon became the sole proprietor.
By the end of the 19th century, he started to move toward the new Art Nouveau style, while continuing to produce eclectic furniture. As he embraced the new taste, he demonstrated the ability to adapt to various international trends, offering not a single distinctive style but rather a wide variety of designs.
At the 1902 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Arts in Turin, Carlo Zen furnished an entire pavilion in collaboration with the Viennese company Haas, a producer of fabrics and carpets, which later became Zen’s regular supplier for textiles.
In the exhibition catalogue from Turin, second volume, plate 39, a bedroom set very similar to the one described here is illustrated, with only minor variations in the marquetry.
The chromatic scheme of the two rooms is identical, with the dark color of the mahogany contrasting against the light wood inlays.
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