Italian ebonized wood and tortoiseshell coin cabinet, Lombard-Venetian, early 18th century

Height x width x depth: 54,5 x 105 x 36

with a walnut structure, adorned with tortoiseshell (hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, Cheloniidae) veneer panels framed by ebony fillets and moldings.
The cabinet’s architecture features a tripartite façade with a central door designed with an architectural motif, including columns supporting an entablature, flanked by six drawers (three on each side) equipped with their original locks.
The quality of the tortoiseshell surfaces suggests high-level craftsmanship, with a vibrant chromatic effect due to the characteristic tonal variations of this material.
The central compartment conceals a space lined with marbled paper, a decoration often used in period furniture to enrich and protect interior surfaces. The back panel features a movable mirrored section, serving both to amplify internal brightness and to enhance the depth of the hidden space, where three secret drawers, similarly lined, can be found.

The architectural structure of the coin cabinet, with its rigorous design enriched by striking decorative details, reflects the influence of Italian Baroque, characteristic of the Lombard-Venetian craftsmanship that flourished between the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

This lot, accompanied by an expertise issued by Ce.S.Ar Centro studi archeometici, is only available for sale with shipments within the European Union.