Decorative ornament - Italy - Venetian Parade

Antique decorative panel in wood with gold leaf. Carved in the early 1700s in Venice, this panel belonged to an old Venetian regatta parade boat. It embodies exactly the Baroque style of 18th-century Venice, with inlaid acanthus leaves, flowers and grape clusters of the era. The inlay is a hand-carved bas-relief with sections where gold leaf has been applied. The color is very dark, as this treatment was done at the time to resist water corrosion. A unique museum-quality piece, superbly preserved, rich in history and charm.