CHEST WITH BACKREST (LETTUCCIO)
walnut wood with certosina inlays
This rare chest, in terms of typology and state of preservation, is a splendid example of a “lettuccio”, namely a type of day bed, which was characteristic of private rooms of Renaissance stately homes. The rigorous and elegant structure of this piece features a tall backrest divided in panes inlaid with vegetal garlands encircled by fluttering ribbons. The overhanging frame is decorated with an inlaid Chartusian-style band (certosina) featuring a geometric pattern; the same design is repeated along the upper edge of the chest, which has a rounded front, and whose seat tilts on antique hinges.
The seat features two tall armrests with sculpted central panels on the sides, with their upper borders defined by a frame ending on the front with two short scrolls. The front of the armrests shows two late-16th century panels in an evident Mannerist style with intaglio carved in relief, while the plinths below are decorated with two light wood inlaid rampant lions facing each other; the latter are almost certainly related to the lineage of the family, for whom the chest was originally made.
The sides of the lettuccio have central panes with smooth background, framed by Chartusian-style inlays featuring three different geometric designs.
Comparisons have been made with a lettuccio at the Horne Museum for the crowning volutes on the armrests, and with a chest from the same museum for the linear lozenge pattern of the Chartusian decoration, while the vegetal scrolls with bands are comparable to those on the backrests of the Duomo of Perugia, executed by the workshop of Giuliano da Maiano and the Del Tasso brothers.
Please note that this work has been notified with Ministerial Decree of 18 November 2008 and has been declared of exceptional artistic interest. This work may not be exported from Italy.
Florence, late 15th – early 16th century
cm 116x217x58
