MONEY CABINET
Ebony and Lebanese cedar wood with inlays in ivory.
This highly sophisticated cabinet, which was most likely made in Lombardy in the early Seventeenth century, but according to the stylistic features of late Renaissance, is characterized by a sober parallelepiped structure supported by flattened onion feet. The sides of the small cabinet are decorated by bands, while the front that serves as a tilting door is characterized by an elaborate decoration with an architectural motive depicting two aedicules placed side by side; inside them there are grotesque figures inlaid in ebony against a background of ivory bands embellished by tiny engraved images of human faces and floral motifs. Similar finishing touches, but this time with ivory images against an ebony background, decorate the front of the interior, which is visually articulated in a series of ten drawers arranged in three columns. The three bottom drawers are really a single one, decorated with trompe l’oeil technique. The central door vaunts an aedicule decoration similar to the one on the front, decorated with hunting scenes among plant volutes, which gives access to a secret compartment.
Lombardy, first half of the 17th century
46x54x35 cm
