17th Century Italian Ebonized Inlaid Milanese Table Cabinet

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17th Century Italian Ebonized Inlaid Milanese Table Cabinet. Cabinet is an exceptional rectangular box-form cabinet veneered in richly toned ebony … Read more 17th Century Italian Ebonized Inlaid Milanese Table Cabinet. Cabinet is an exceptional rectangular box-form cabinet veneered in richly toned ebony and rosewood, lavishly inlaid with intricately hand-carved and engraved natural bone and ivory filets, marquetry plaques, and decorative banding. The exterior doors are adorned with bold panels featuring floral, foliate, animal, and soldier engravings. Upon opening, the interior reveals an elaborate arrangement of nine small drawers, each hand-engraved with lion's head pulls, all surrounding a central cupboard door. The central door opens to a storage compartment, a traditional feature of cabinets of curiosities intended for precious or private objects. The engraving work demonstrates the highly skilled craftsmanship associated with Milanese workshops. There are two large exterior doors that close fully over the drawer configuration, protecting the interior and transforming the piece into a sculptural, architectural object when shut. These cabinets used to house jewels, important documents, coins, relics, and rare natural specimens. The engraved classical figures and architectural motifs reflect the Renaissance fascination with antiquity.
Today, this cabinet functions both as a museum-quality decorative object and highly functional storage piece. It is ideal as a focal point in a library or study or in a bedroom as a jewelry or keepsake cabinet. The interplay of dark exotic woods and luminous engraved inlays makes it compelling in traditional, transitional and modern interiors. See less