ORIGINAL ITALIAN 1890 RENAISSANCE CABINET 2 DOORS AND TOP DOOR Bottom of This richly sculpted Italian cabinet, along with the table it accompanies and the two other  More »

ORIGINAL ITALIAN 1890 RENAISSANCE CABINET 2 DOORS AND TOP DOOR Bottom of This richly sculpted Italian cabinet, along with the table it accompanies and the two other cabinets, fit perfectly with the recent trend for executives to opt for a table and “credenza” in their office rather than a desk with drawers, in the traditional sense. But even if purchased separately, the cabinet is a beauty in its own right and would work well in any setting. Its origins are in the Renaissance cabinet called a credenza because people locked away precious food in it with confidence (credere meaning “to believe” or “trust”). It is typically a low cabinet (waist high) with a drawer (or two) in the frieze and one to three doors below. The credenza should not be mistaken for the French adaptation called a crédence, involving a design derived from a cupboard atop a table and eventually unified as one piece with a pot board as the base. In keeping with Italian Renaissance tradition, this cabinet is made of oak, although some parts are impiallacciatura. We hesitate to call it “veneer” because it is far thicker than in the modern sense and is used sparingly on the unadorned horizontal and vertical surfaces. Like solid wood, it boasts a warm and pleasing patina. This cabinet offers a cornucopia of Renaissance design motifs. What initially attracted us to this cabinet was the intricately carved romane head. Popularized by Northern Italian Renaissance artists such as Carlo Crivelli with his enormous decorative vocabulary and used as a visual effect to separate the viewer from the picture plane, the cascade is particularly pleasing because it draws the eye from top to bottom, to focus on the virtuosity of the carving. It is also a reminder of the agricultural bounty of the countryside from which the design of this credenza sprang.Although a bit more elaborate in its decoration, this cabinet reminded us of the magnificent 16th century credenza we saw in the Sitting Room during our visit in 2005 to Bernard Berenson’s Villa I Tatti outside Florence, just as he was photographed with it in 1903 (as shown on the cover of Ernest Samuels’ Bernard Berenson -- The Making of a Connoisseur). As its Renaissance forebears did, this cabinet locks with a key (of which we have two) in order to give the modern owner a credenza that whatever is inside is safely tucked away. Antiquités et Objets D’Art 10, Le Mobilier Italien (Editions Fabri, Paris, 1990); Costantino Fioratti, Helen, Il Mobile Italiano (Giunti Editore, Firenze-Milano, 2004); Rousseau, Francis, Le Grand Livre des Meubles, (Copyright Studio, Paris, 1999). This cabinet is versatile and would do well in just about any room of a home or in an office. Condition: Very good Year: 1890 Country: Italy Dimensions: W58 x D22 x H40 Style: Renaissance Materials: Oak Other: 2 doors and top door   « Less

MAHOGANY FRENCH DIRECTOIRE COMMODE Circa1880 BEAUTIFUL MAHOGANY FRENCH DIRECTOIRE COMMODE 19th Century French Directoire commode, in Mahogany with original black  More »

MAHOGANY FRENCH DIRECTOIRE COMMODE Circa1880 BEAUTIFUL MAHOGANY FRENCH DIRECTOIRE COMMODE 19th Century French Directoire commode, in Mahogany with original black granit top, having three large dovetailed drawers offering spacious storage. Simple lines and elegance, original brass hardware, and fluted legs. Overall in fabulous condition with the original patina. A fine piece to complement any motif. Dimensions : 45W x 22D x H34. Circa 1880 The black granit was broken in two pieces and was re-counter by a marble specialist   « Less

BEAUTIFUL 1850 FRENCH WALNUT SECRETARY, WITH ORIGINAL BLACK MARBLE TOP ORIGINAL LEATHER ON THE WRITING DESK DOOR ORIGINAL INSIDE WRITING DESK DOOR, MADE WITH A  More »

BEAUTIFUL 1850 FRENCH WALNUT SECRETARY, WITH ORIGINAL BLACK MARBLE TOP ORIGINAL LEATHER ON THE WRITING DESK DOOR ORIGINAL INSIDE WRITING DESK DOOR, MADE WITH A BEAUTIFUL LIGHTLY WOOD DIMENSIONS : WIDE 37.5 x DEP 17 x HIGH 60 4 DRAWERS AND A WRITING DESK DOOR CONDITION : ORIGINAL FROM 1850   « Less

FRENCH PROVENCAL DINNING SET VOLCANO STONE RARE PROVENCAL DINING SET FROM SOUTH OF FRANCE TABLE WITH 4 CHAIRS TOP OF THE TABLE MADE WITH WOOD AROUND REAL VOLCANO  More »

FRENCH PROVENCAL DINNING SET VOLCANO STONE RARE PROVENCAL DINING SET FROM SOUTH OF FRANCE TABLE WITH 4 CHAIRS TOP OF THE TABLE MADE WITH WOOD AROUND REAL VOLCANO STONE ENAMEL PAINT ON THE VOLCANO STONE, FROM THE FRENCH PROVENCAL ARTIST MONSARD PICARD, WITH SIGNATURE ROBUST AND STRONG QUALITY   « Less

ORIGINAL FRENCH CHERRY BOOKCASE Beautiful French Cherry Bookcase ORIGINAL 3 High doors with glass and 3 wood doors Dimensions : + - 60 x h 83, deep 19 Books  More »

ORIGINAL FRENCH CHERRY BOOKCASE Beautiful French Cherry Bookcase ORIGINAL 3 High doors with glass and 3 wood doors Dimensions : + - 60 x h 83, deep 19 Books are not included   « Less

Beautiful Original French Oak Bookcase 3 High doors with glass and 3 wood doors Dimensions : + - 70 x h 83, deep 19 Books are not included

Beautiful Original French Oak Bookcase 3 High doors with glass and 3 wood doors Dimensions : + - 70 x h 83, deep 19 Books are not included   « Less

I would guess this desk was made in the early 20th or late 19th century. It is all solid wood with no veneer. The finish is a dark red mahogany. I believe the wood is  More »

I would guess this desk was made in the early 20th or late 19th century. It is all solid wood with no veneer. The finish is a dark red mahogany. I believe the wood is mahogany, but cabinet makers often used cherry or other hardwoods as secondary woods. The finish is in very good condition, although it has some stains and blemishes consistent with years of normal use. The right side and the lid have a nice patina, possibly from years of exposure to sunlight.The inside is simple and also has its share of age appropriate marks, but it looks original to me.Everything appears to be original except for the brass fingerpull which is a reproduction that I artificially aged and mounted to prevent customers in my shop from sticking all sorts of things in it to open it.   « Less

This beautiful little serving table is in excellent condition. It was manufactured by the Imperial Furniture Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan. I would guess around 1940.  More »

This beautiful little serving table is in excellent condition. It was manufactured by the Imperial Furniture Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan. I would guess around 1940. The only real flaws are some scratches in the glass. The wood and the finish look great. The top wood surface. under the glass, looks like it may have been refinished. The rest of the finish looks original.The framed glass top measures 26-1/2" in diameter. The wood frame around the glass is 1-3/4" wide.The wood top is 25-1/2" in diameter.The table measures 17-1/2" high with the glass on and 16-1/2" high with the glass off.   « Less

This beautiful example of the Arts & Crafts Movement is in wonderful condition. Most of the finish has rubbed off the arms, and the the ends of the runners show some wear,  More »

This beautiful example of the Arts & Crafts Movement is in wonderful condition. Most of the finish has rubbed off the arms, and the the ends of the runners show some wear, but otherwise it is solid and in very nice shape. Even the cushions which look old enough to be original, are still in very good shape. They could probably use a professional cleaning, but they have no obvious stains on either side. I believe everything is there and intact.   « Less

Gently used, Delicately Carved Mahogany Tea Table This beautiful little serving table is in excellent condition. It was manufactured by the Imperial Furniture Company of  More »

Gently used, Delicately Carved Mahogany Tea Table This beautiful little serving table is in excellent condition. It was manufactured by the Imperial Furniture Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan. I would guess around 1940. The only real flaws are some scratches in the glass. The wood and the finish look great. The top wood surface. under the glass, looks like it may have been refinished. The rest of the finish looks original. The framed glass top measures 26-1/2" in diameter. The wood frame around theglass is 1-3/4" wide. The wood top is 25-1/2" in diameter. The table measures 17-1/2" high with the glass on and 16-1/2" high with the glass off.   « Less