An elegant drop-leaf secretaire, serpentine front, three drawers and drop-leaf doors. Inside, a glass cabinet with six small drawers and partly removable top with a compartment below. Upper part with a drop-leaf opening top. Ebonized frames, cathedral walnut veneered and walnut burr veneered reserves. Manufactured in Italy, mid 18th century.
Product Condition: Fair condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Any damage or loss is displayed as completely as possible in the pictures.
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.