Pair Of Important 19Th Century Venetian Cabinets On Stands

An Important Pair of Early 19th Century Venetian Cabinets on Stands with Marble Tops.

This magnificent and highly unusual pair of Venetian cabinets on stands are clearly the result of a bespoke commission. They have slightly outset column supports and this inverted breakfront outline is mirrored in the shaping of the original white and mottled marble tops, always a sign of quality. The tops also have a stepped moulding to the front. The columnar supports have gilt carved wood mounts of the highest quality. Between the columns are the doors which are made from bookmatched olive wood of beautiful figure that has attained a fine colour.

The stands for the cupboards have splendid and interesting winged lion supports, almost certainly designed to reference the lion of St Mark's cathedral in Venice, one of the island's most famous landmarks. The two lions stand on simple supports, joined by an H-form stretcher, and the whole of the cabinets are supported on fluted and gilt flattened toupie feet.

Inside the cupboards are single shelves but the interiors have been japanned or lacquered in the oriental taste. This form of japanning, or lacca povera as it is known in Italy, is unusual for this period and particularly when only used for the interior of a cabinet and not for an area that would have been on permanent display. This is a further sign of attention to detail.

The strong marble tops allow these pieces to be used to support heavy objects such as valuable porcelain or bronze vases. They also retain their original elaborate gilded keys for the cupboard doors. The cabinets were undoubtedly designed for a grand, turn of the 19th century interior with their unusual decoration and fine proportions.