Golfieri Faenza - Credenza - Wood - Art Deco Buffet






Art historian with extensive experience working at various auction houses in antiques.
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Imposing Italian Art Déco sideboard made in the 1930s by Golfieri Faenza, veneered in walnut burl with a central glass display and solid side bodies, measuring 230 cm wide, 150 cm high, and 46 cm deep, weighing about 100 kg and finished in dark brown and black tones.
Description from the seller
This imposing sideboard constitutes a pinnacle of Italian cabinetmaking from the 1930s, bearing witness to the stylistic transition between the decorative luxury of Art Deco and the geometric purity of Rationalism. Made by the prestigious Ebanisteria Vincenzo Golfieri & Figlio of Faenza, the piece showcases craftsmanship of another era. The structure is clad in precious walnut burl, selected to create mirrored figures of natural grains that dignify the broad surfaces. The design is characterized by a dynamic play of volumes and exaggerated heights (up to 150 cm). The central glass-front section, with crystal shelves, serves as the visual focal point, while the solid side bodies offer strict symmetry.
The lines are clean and sharp, devoid of superfluous applied decorations. The character of the piece lies entirely in the geometry and in the quality of the materials. The chromatic contrast between the burl and the dark plinth at the base is particularly striking, elongating the silhouette despite the monumental dimensions (maximum width 230 cm). The handles together with the central-section glass emphasize its origin in a high-end production intended for the enlightened bourgeoisie of the era, who sought modern furnishings yet firmly anchored to Italian constructive tradition. In sum, it is a collectible piece that defines the space, capable of uniting the functionality of a large container with the visual impact of an architectural sculpture.
This imposing sideboard constitutes a pinnacle of Italian cabinetmaking from the 1930s, bearing witness to the stylistic transition between the decorative luxury of Art Deco and the geometric purity of Rationalism. Made by the prestigious Ebanisteria Vincenzo Golfieri & Figlio of Faenza, the piece showcases craftsmanship of another era. The structure is clad in precious walnut burl, selected to create mirrored figures of natural grains that dignify the broad surfaces. The design is characterized by a dynamic play of volumes and exaggerated heights (up to 150 cm). The central glass-front section, with crystal shelves, serves as the visual focal point, while the solid side bodies offer strict symmetry.
The lines are clean and sharp, devoid of superfluous applied decorations. The character of the piece lies entirely in the geometry and in the quality of the materials. The chromatic contrast between the burl and the dark plinth at the base is particularly striking, elongating the silhouette despite the monumental dimensions (maximum width 230 cm). The handles together with the central-section glass emphasize its origin in a high-end production intended for the enlightened bourgeoisie of the era, who sought modern furnishings yet firmly anchored to Italian constructive tradition. In sum, it is a collectible piece that defines the space, capable of uniting the functionality of a large container with the visual impact of an architectural sculpture.
