This is really the kind of piece to make you salivate – it has a natural elegance to it, incredibly detailed without bragging about it. The inlay is masterful, but what I really like is the wood selection and how they’ve centered the interesting part of the grain (is that…burl walnut?) smack in the middle of the front curves. The feet are also lovely; a bit staunch, but they fit the overall scale quite nicely. So refined and so understated, this is exactly the kind of item I’d like to pick up one of these days. Leave it to the Italians…
Available until April, 1st as Lot 101 in the Fine European Furniture including Tapestries, Silver, Ceramics and Carpets Auction at Sotheby’s New York Offices.
