187 - A 16TH CENTURY PALLADIAN RENAISSANCE WRITING CABINET, MONETARY CHEST

A 16TH CENTURY PALLADIAN RENAISSANCE WRITING CABINET, MONETARY CHEST A mid to late 16th-century Palladian Renaissance writing cabinet or monetary chest. The furniture piece most probably is from Veneto or Lombard origins. The simple overall design might point to its lesser aristocratic origins in a rural estate. Interestingly, the architectural Palladian presence of the piece contains the clues for dating and places it in a historical context. The pedestal that sustains the cabinet is created with a group of Doric order columns in an odd number of six units. The main body of the cabinet has on both sides paired Ionic order columns with a modified capital due to the inclusion of floral garlands. The frontal locked and hinged folding table gives access to a hierarchically arranged group of 18 drawers and two side compartments with independent locks. Overall, the structure is firm. The main lock is working properly with its original skeleton key. Dimensions: H: 65 1/4 in., (165.5 cm.); W: 48 3/8 in., (123 cm.) Condition: Expected surface wear and age, especially on edges and corners. The upper decorative cornice has mass loose on the center part as well as a crack. Wood presents signs of an early woodworm infection, not active. Please make all inquiries before bidding. All statements contained in the catalog, condition reports, invoices, advertisements, or elsewhere concerning the authorship, attribution, origin, date, age, period, culture, source, provenance, authenticity, genuineness, condition, rarity, importance, or value of any lot are statements of opinion only and shall not be construed as representations, warranties, or statements of fact. All lots are sold "as-is", refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions does not offer in-house shipping. We will provide a list of recommended shippers upon request.