Description
Two-piece trumeau in lacquered, gilded, and painted wood. Venice, first half of the 18th century.
Made entirely of finely lacquered and gilded wood with Chinoiserie motifs. A wavy front and an elegantly carved cornice. Interiors are lacquered and painted in imitation tortoiseshell.
Introduced in 18th-century Venice, the trumeau, a two-piece piece of furniture, represents an era of sophisticated elegance and refinement. Characterized by sinuous lines and sumptuous decorations, these pieces embody the fusion of the mastery of Venetian cabinetmakers and oriental influences, particularly the chinoiserie trend. Chinoiserie decorations, inspired by Chinese and Japanese design, revolutionized the furniture market of the time, lending an aura of exoticism and charm to the furnishings of 18th-century Venetian palaces. These pieces of furniture were not only functional, but also works of art that reflected the cosmopolitan spirit and the search for new aesthetics of the time. The piece in question is a two-piece trumeau made in Venice around the 1740s and 1750s, particularly prized for its exceptional black lacquer finish with gold leaf decorations featuring typical Chinoiserie motifs. The lower section features a front with three shaped drawers and a drop-down door concealing a series of small drawers and secret compartments. The upper section, with two mirrored doors, opens to a series of compartments and shelves used for holding porcelain and documents. The finishing touch is provided by the stunning cornice, also decorated in the same style as the piece but embellished with an exquisite carving that rivals the finest gilded mirrors of the period. A further touch of exoticism is provided by the interior of the piece, entirely lacquered and painted in imitation tortoiseshell, an extremely rare and unusual detail.
