Offered by Franck Baptiste Provence
Rare and precious middle box in ebony veneer, blackened wood, bronze and hard stones.
It rests on four ball feet topped with a discreet cornice; the lower body is decorated with bronze spandrels decorated with cherubs, it has four rectangular reserves garnished with a decoration of vine leaves in gilded bronze finished with fruits in multi-colored hard stones.
These stones are of different varieties such as carnelian, rock crystal, aventurine or agate.
The flap of the box simulates a dome-shaped roof; its edges are also protected by spandrels decorated with cherubs and each face has the same decoration of vines and stones as in the lower part.
The top part includes a small secret compartment that opens by operating the carnelian simulating a pumpkin which actually hides a push button.
The interior is covered with old green velvet.
Very good state of conservation, small lacks and restorations of use.
Florentine work of the 18th century around 1720-1730.
Dimensions:
Width: 36 cm; Depth: 28 cm; Height: 20cm
Probably in suite with the Florentine cabinet that we present.
Our opinion:
The precious cabinet that we present is characteristic of the work of the Florentine lapidary artisans who worked the semi-precious stones to make paintings, trays and some small pieces of furniture.
The origin of this craft is the establishment of the grand ducal workshops by Ferdinando 1st de Medici (1549-1588) who inaugurated in 1588 his "galleria dei Lavori" which would become in the 19th century "the office of hard stones of Florence".
If the 17th century remains the golden age of the technique with an exclusively princely production, generations of craftsmen will then succeed one another to offer luxurious goods to the European nobility who came to Italy to make the grand tour.
Our cabinet is characteristic of this production, with two true symbols of the Tuscan countryside that are the vine and the olive tree and with small busts of emperors that symbolize the glory of ancient Rome or even hard stones, true symbols of the Florentine renaissance.
It is obvious that this type of cabinet at the exorbitant price was not designed to be used but more to adorn the magnificent cabinets and other "studiolos" of the great nobility.
Because of their great price and their fragility few of these pieces have reached us.
Our cabinet which is presented in very good condition, is in our time a piece of the most extreme rarity, especially since it is accompanied by a jewelry box from the same workshop.
