Drop-Leaf Secretaire Walnut Olive Liguria Italy Mid 18th Century

Drop-Leaf Secretaire Walnut Olive Liguria Italy Mid 18th Century

Features

Age: 18th Century / 1701 - 1800

Year: Metà '700

Origin: Genova, Liguria, Italy

Main essence: Walnut , Olive

Description

An elegant drop-leaf secretaire, serpentine front and sides. Two drawers, wide skirt and two drawers aligned under the top. Small drawers and a shaped drop-leaf door hide a glass cabinet with six drawers, compartments and a door with mirror. Olive threads. Manufactured in Genoa, Italy, mid 18th century.

Product Condition:
The item shows signs of wear due to age. Any damage or loss is displayed as completely as possible in the pictures. It may require restoration and polishing.

Dimensions (cm):
Height: 109
Width: 131
Depth: 56

Additional Information

Age: 18th Century / 1701 - 1800

18th Century / 1701 - 1800

Main essence:

Walnut

Walnut wood comes from the plant whose botanical name is juglans regia , probably originally from the East but very common in Europe. Light or dark brown in color, it is a hard wood with a beautiful grain, widely used in antique furniture. It was the main essence in Italy throughout the Renaissance and later had a good diffusion in Europe, especially in England, until the advent of mahogany. It was used for solid wood furniture and sometimes carvings and inlays, its only big limitation is that it suffers a lot from woodworm. In France it was widely used more than anything else in the provinces. In the second half of the eighteenth century its use decreased significantly because mahogany and other exotic woods were preferred.

Olive

Extracted from the plant called olea europaea which lives in all the Mediterranean lands, it is a hard and compact wood. It has a characteristic light color, greenish yellow, with particular dark veins. It is widely used in cabinet making both as a solid wood for entire furniture, and for inlays, veneers and decorations. As it is very hard, it is also suitable for round work and for the manufacture of small objects.