Mazzarina desk veneered in violet wood, Turin, early 18th century

Mazzarina desk veneered in violet wood, Turin, early 18th century Dimensions: cm L 120.5 x H 83.5 x D 62 Price: confidential negotiation Item accompanied by a certificate of authenticity This Mazzarina desk was made in the Baroque period, in the early 18th century, in Turin, inspired by the models of furniture widespread at the court of Louis XIV. The piece of furniture is made of wood completely veneered with the precious violet wood essence. It has moving lesenes in carved wood that continue vertically in two pairs of four truncated pyramid legs. The double cross that connects the four feet gives a particular balance and harmony to the compositional structure, as well as giving it stability. The rectangular top, the front of the drawers and the sides of the cabinet are decorated through the simple placement of the veneer that exploits the color and grain of the wood and creates precious chromatic effects. The desk has, as usual for this type of furniture, the tripartite front, with convex side sections and equipped with three drawers on each side. In the center of the Mazzarino we find an under-counter drawer and a recessed door. Original spouts in finely chiseled and gilded bronze embellish the furniture. This type of desk, still very popular today for its practicality, is very decorative and refined. It can be inserted in different furnishing contexts, combined with antique or modern furniture and also used as a console. It can be used in a study or in a living room, but also in an entrance hall or a bedroom. The Louis XIV style in furniture is characterized by compact and symmetrical shapes and sumptuous decorations. The Sun King, who also flaunted pomp and splendor in furniture, wanted it to be grand, demanding formal rigor in its execution. The interiors of the royal residence of Versailles influenced the furnishings of the residences of the ruling houses and European noble palaces. This type of furniture, the bureau Mazarin (derivation from the surname of Cardinal Giulio Mazzarino, who succeeded Richelieu after his death in 1642), began to develop already in the period of the Regency of Queen Mother Anne (1643–1661). It is a desk with two series of drawers on the sides and a central compartment, supported by eight legs joined, four by four, by means of X-shaped crosspieces. The furniture has undergone a conservative restoration intervention which has consolidated the veneer without however restoring some wooden gaps still present. The intent was to preserve its antique patina without expropriating it from the charm of time passed.