SAN FILIPPO TABLE-DESK
walnut wood and root
This elegant “San Filippo” desk, crafted from precious walnut wood and burl, is a magnificent example of 17th-century cabinetry.
The name “San Filippo” refers to a particular type of writing desk characterized by an upper surface accompanied by a riser with numerous small drawers and compartments. Two main variants can be identified: the “closed” type, where the upper section is concealed by a flap-front, and the “open” type, as in our piece, where the “scarabattolo” (the body of the upper section containing the drawers) is entirely visible, slightly recessed from the main surface and often flanked by sloping or curved sides.
The origin of the name “San Filippo” for these desks is a matter of debate. It is commonly accepted that it derives from Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595), although his lifetime predates the period of the widespread popularity of these pieces of furniture. As in many other cases of historical furniture denominations, it is more plausible that the name emerged from an indirect association, perhaps linked to their intended use in religious or study settings, at a time when the saint’s figure was still highly influential.
Our refined writing desk is further embellished with ebonized profiles that create a chromatic contrast, and with geometric patterns suggested by fruitwood inlaid stringing, which enhance the beauty of the wood grain.
The upper part of the desk is structured in two rows of drawers, symmetrically arranged and elegantly separated by pilasters – a configuration that maximizes storage functionality.
The desk rests on four truncated pyramidal legs, which terminate in inverted bracket feet, which provide stability and a solidity. The legs are connected by elaborately shaped crossbeams, although the decorative pinnacle element that centres them does not appear to be coeval with the rest of the cabinet.
Rome, end of the 17th century
cm 115x191x88
