ITALIAN EARLY 19TH CENTURY CARVED WALNUT CASSONE

Description

ITALIAN EARLY 19TH CENTURY CARVED WALNUT CASSONE CIRCA 1800.

BEAUTIFUL QUALITY RENAISSANCE REVIVAL ITALIAN CASSONE MADE IN WALNUT.  CASSONE’S WERE OFTEN PRESENTED AS MARRIAGE DOWRY FOR STORING CLOTHES AND LINEN INSIDE.

PLAIN WALNUT LID TOP WITH OBVIOUS SURFACE MARKS AND FADING WHICH YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE, ORIGINAL HINGES WHICH HAVE BEEN FITTED WITH SOME LATER SCREWS.  ORIGINAL LOCK AND KEY, WITH LATER METAL LATCH TO THE LID.  FRONT WITH ORIGINAL PATINA, WITH LARGE CARVED ROUNDELS FLANKED EACH SIDE BY ACANTHUS CARVED SUPPORTS WHICH LINK TO THE SCROLLED FRONT LEGS AND SUPPORTS.

TOP SURFACE WITH EXPECTED WARPING FROM SHRINKAGE, BUT THE TOP DOES LOCK.  CLEAR LOSSES AND SURFACE STAINING TO WOODWORK, SUCH AS RING MARKS, FADING AND SCUFFS.  LATER BACK LEGS WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE DUE TO WORM DAMAGE.  EVIDENCE OF DEAD INACTIVE TREATED WORM TO BACK AND SMALL AREA TO TOP.  STRUCTURALLY SOUND, THIS STUNNING PIECE OF FURNITURE IS READY FOR EVERYDAY USE.