Alpine Painted Chest with Birds and Flower Vases

Details

Description

Alpine Painted Chest with Birds, Flower Vases, and Village View

Technical Information:
Period: early 19th century
Origin: Tyrol
Wood: Fir
… Read more Alpine Painted Chest with Birds, Flower Vases, and Village View

Technical Information:
Period: early 19th century
Origin: Tyrol
Wood: Fir
Height: 50 cm
Width: 127 cm
Depth: 64 cm

:
Alpine softwood chest, decorated on the front and sides. The front feature three recessed panels framed by moldings and separated by green stiles, flanked by two turned posts topped with finials, painted in red.

The facade is punctuated by the brick red of the side panels, the teal background, and the ochre yellow of the central medallion. Both side panels share the same decorative scheme: a pair of birds with orange-yellow and blue plumage, facing each other on either side of a blue star-shaped flower. Below them sits a stemmed vase adorned with festoons and garlands, accompanied by small sprigs with orange, blue, and white flowers. The motif repeats with slight variations, typical of hand-crafted work.

In the center, the ochre medallion features a village view. Multi-story houses with orange-red roofs, windows, and doors rendered with swift strokes, dominated by an onion-domed bell tower, and the foliage of a tree on the left. The scene, highly striking, carries the charm of folk village landscapes. A wrought-iron keyhole escutcheon with scrollwork profiles is fitted on the medallion, complete with its original key.

The sides are also decorated with a large red panel featuring a bouquet of flowers, tulips, and leafy sprigs, enclosed by a painted border. The frame consists of a light band with a blue wavy ribbon motif running along the edges, and white corner squares with dotting. The side is equipped with a wrought-iron handle, making the chest easily portable.

The decoration is executed in casein paint applied freehand over a uniform background. The design is simplified and the brushwork confident, with a vibrant use of complementary red and green colors that accentuates the decorative elements. The lid, featuring a shaped "tray" edge, opens on wrought-iron hinges and shows only traces of its original decoration. The light wood interior reveals a small side compartment.

Interventions carried out on all our furniture:

– Structural restoration: restoration of small missing parts, filling of any cracks on the back panel, consolidation of deteriorated areas, inspection and repair of ironwork.
– Thorough woodworm treatment.
– Cleaning and sanitization of the interior.
– Exterior finish with natural beeswax.
– Interior finish with shellac, a natural alcohol-based varnish. See less