SOLD - Chest of drawers in carved and inlaid walnut with various woods.

Caniana workshop, Bergamo, early 18th century. Dimensions: 103.5 x 69 x 138.5 (h x d x l) Solid walnut top with elegant ogee edge, underlined, on the front and sides, by a dense dentil. Front divided into 4 drawers separated by carved chains with lanceolate successive leaves. Each drawer, having the original bronze knobs and antique locks, is framed by a mixtilinear frame, and embellished with three octagonal tiles with horizontal development inlaid in maple, representing vegetal and animal ramage that run among the trees. Base with richly sculpted scale basin, resting on two splendid feet shaped to represent tritons. The same is centered by a double baroque curl that faces each other and ends on the sides in two elegant leaves. Sides with double framing, centered by an elliptical mixtilinear tile, with a maple base inlaid in walnut, depicting vegetal ramage that support an angel (guardian?) with folded arms and spread wings. About the Caniana workshop The Caniana family was a workshop of architects and inlayers active from 1559 to around 1825 in the province of Bergamo. The most important temporal phase, in reference to wooden inlay, was the one between the last part of the 1600s and the entire 1700s; a period that also saw the creation of the chest of drawers presented here. The most prominent artist was certainly Giovan Battista Caniana (Romano di Lombardia, May 8, 1671 – Alzano Lombardo, May 5, 1754) who had several children, four of whom (Caterina, Giovanni Antonio, Martino Bonifacio and Giuseppe) successfully continued their father's business. The Caniana family carried out a large number of works both related to inlay and architecture; they collaborated with other important artists of the time (see for example Andrea Fantoni with whom Giovan Battista, in particular, had several important cooperations). Regarding wooden inlays, various studies have been carried out on the works created by the family to discover the sources from which the models were extrapolated, then used in the creation of the decorated tiles. If interested, we will be happy to elaborate on the topic. The work, like all our other objects, will be sold accompanied by certificates of authenticity and legal provenance. We personally take care of and organize the packaging and shipping of works of art with insurance all over the world.