This walnut roll-top desk was made in the Lombardy region around 1790/1810, a time when interest in the Louis XVI style remained alive in Italy. A typical feature of this type of furniture can be identified in the high narrowing of the foot and the vents with a circular handle with an upper attachment that show a decorative leaf element in the center, of which a detail is proposed. The cylinder desk, which first appeared around 1750, began to spread and establish itself in Italian noble homes around the end of the 18th century: this is a magnificent example. The desk, which is quite large, can also be placed in the center of a room, as the back is very well finished. The roll-up shutter conceals four small drawers on the sides of the writing surface. Under the tablet that serves as a writing surface is an additional drawer; two more small drawers on each side form the central space to accommodate the knees. The desk, supported by four truncated pyramidal legs, is simple and essential in its form and decoration. What makes it special is a small secret compartment that is difficult to find. These small compartments were often present in many desks to hide coins, letters, jewelry, and precious and intimate trinkets. The extraordinary aspect of this desk lies precisely in that small compartment and in the skillful craftsmanship that conceived and created such a device. You can see the slight grooves created by the frequent opening of the drawers: the signs of wear become precious traces of the time and history of the furniture.
It measures 113 cm / 80 cm in height, 131.5 cm in width and 68 cm in depth. The price refers to the furniture carefully restored in a conservative manner and hand polished with shellac applied with a wad.
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