An impressive and most elegant Italian 18th century Louis XVI period walnut, maple, Scagliola, and white Carrara marble commode. The chest is raised by fine square tapered legs below the lovely scalloped shaped apron. The extremely decorative central panel displays... — Read More

An impressive and most elegant Italian 18th century Louis XVI period walnut, maple, Scagliola, and white Carrara marble commode. The chest is raised by fine square tapered legs below the lovely scalloped shaped apron. The extremely decorative central panel displays beautiful and extremely well executed inlaid maple wood swaging floral garlands flanked by striking circular blue john colored scagliola reserves. The central panel unlocks and lifts upwards in a very unique manner via a mechanism, originally invented by acclaimed 18th century ébéniste Giuseppe Maggiolini, to reveal two drawers. The two interior drawers are 'sans traverse' (without crossbar) showcasing the cabinet maker's high skill set and decorated with fine foliate and hoop bronze pulls. The top drawer also displays the same intricately inlaid and most charming swaging floral garlands with a fine central inlaid urn shaped keyhole escutcheon. The sides are also decorated in the same wonderful manner as the front. Above is the original white Carrara marble top.

Scagliola (from the Italian scaglia, meaning "chips"), is a technique for producing architectural elements that resemble inlays of marble. The Scagliola technique came into fashion in 17th century Tuscany to mimic Pietra Dura works created for the Medici family in Florence. Scagliola includes natural pigments, imitating marble and other hard stones. The combination of materials and technique provides a complex texture, and richness of color not available in natural veined marbles. — Read Less