Atelier Venitien - Cassone - With floral scrolls. - Walnut, Intarsia

What a splendid cassone, emblematic trunk of Italian tradition, dates from the 17th century, with later restorations and modifications, and comes from the Venetian workshops of the incipient Baroque era.

At that time, Venice, a rich mercantile city and major artistic center, excelled in the production of luxurious ceremonial furniture destined for the aristocracy and the great patrician families. The cassone, often called a “bridal chest” or “dowry chest,” occupied a central place in domestic life: it was used to store precious linens, jewelry, family documents and valuable fabrics offered during marriages, while symbolizing wealth, prestige and the alliance of lineages. Beyond its utilitarian function, it could serve as a bench or ceremonial seat in palaces along the Grand Canal, bearing witness to the refinement and taste for chiaroscuro typical of the Serenissima.

Made of walnut wood, this chest showcases an exceptional root-wood inlay, a technique favored by Venetian cabinetmakers for its swirling, organic effects. The five front panels display stylized floral motifs, arabesques, volutes and symmetric scrolls, set within geometric inlays, on a warm orangey-brown background that superbly contrasts with the structural elements. These elements—frames, protruding moldings, substantial base and sculpted feet—are stained with Judæan bitumen of the period,

The molded base with multiple steps rests on originally sculpted feet in foliate consoles: S-rolled volutes paired with stylized acanthus leaves and scrolls. This motif, characteristic of the transitional period from late Renaissance to the Venetian early Baroque, raises the chest from the floor while giving it sculptural majesty.

The flat molded lid completes this harmonious ensemble.

The structure remains very solid, and the natural wear (traces on moldings, feet and sides) is harmonious and a testament to its historical use. It has benefited from discreet and respectful period restorations.

Given its dimensions, this piece will be shipped via Brenger (Belgium/Netherlands).

Free pickup at my residence is of course possible.