Umbertino Dresser

Style: Umbertino (1870-1900)

The name of this style is due to the ruler of the time Umberto I appointed King of the Kingdom of Italy on January 9, 1878 and assassinated on July 9, 1900.

The Umbertino style is typically Italian and belongs to that Eclectic period that characterized the second half of the 19th century, which lasted just under twenty years. The Umbertino style spread around 1880 and ended around 1895 when a new style called Liberty and universally known as Art-Nouveau took over, followed by Art-Decò.

In this style, predominantly eclectic and monumental, Gothic and Baroque elements originally belonging to the Renaissance but also adorned with large masks, frames and decorations were re-proposed in furniture, from the bedside table to the large wardrobe or sideboard.

Find out more about the Umbertino style with our insights:
An Umbertine secretaire dedicated to Dante Alighieri
A comparison between a Louis Philippe console and an Umbertina

INSERT ADDITIONAL LINKS:
The Austrian taste of Baroque
A guide to Art Nouveau
Discovering Art Deco

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.

Material: Solid Walnut