Paire de commodes nord-Italiennes en marqueterie d'amarante, bois citronnier, bois teinté vert et bois de rose, plateaux en placage d'Alabastro a pecorella, travail Lombard ou Gênois de la fin du XVIIIe siècle, dans le goût de Giuseppe Maggiolini

A pair of north Italian amaranth, bois citronnier, green-stained sycamnore and tulipwood marquetry commodes, Lombard or Genoese, in the taste of Giuseppe Maggiolini, late 18th century


Each of rectangular form, the alabastro a pecorella top with verde moulding, above a beed and real moulding and a panelled frieze drawer above two drawers, the marquetry depicting dense scrolling acanthus foliate motifs, swags, trophies, fruited vases, profiles and and lion mask, the angles inlaid with trophies, atheniennes and floral sprays, the sides conformingly inlaid, and on tapering legs with upswept foliate motifs and husks, formerly but probably not originally with handles. , 122cm wide, 60cm deep, 91cm high (48in wide, 23 1/2in deep, 35 1/2in high).
Footnotes:
Provenance
Private Collection, Spain

The finely designed and well executed marquetry of this impressive pair of commodes relates them to the documented oeuvre of the celebrated Milanese cabinet-maker Giuseppe Maggiolini (1738-1814), Intarsiatore delle Loro Altezzi Reali. Maggiolini, was one of the most celebrated Italian cabinet-maker of the neoclassical period. He worked extensively for the Milanese court and for the aristocracy of Northern Italy, including Marchese Litta, who, along with the designer Giuseppe Levati, first recognized his talents as a talented intarsiatore in the 1760's. Maggiolini exceptional oeuvre included the lavish furnishing of the Palazzo Ducale in Milan, Villa Reale in Monza and the Palazzo Ducale in Mantova. Such was his influence, that a number of pupils, and suiveurs were working along side the master and in a similar manner in order to supply the high demand of this neoclassical style very much in favour at the end of the 18th century. Some of these talented cabinet makers were trained in the workshop of Giuseppe Maggiolini. While Maggiolini's preparatory designs are conserved in the Fondo Maggiolini at Castello Sforzesco and in the Civica Raccolte delle Stampe in Milano, and have been extensively studied (see G. Beretti, Giuseppe e Carlo Francesco Maggiolini, L'Officina del Neoclassicismo, Milan, 1994; and G. Beretti – A. Gonzàlez-Palacios, Giuseppe Maggiolini, Catalogo ragionato dei disegni, Milano, 2014), some of the designs found on our commodes are related to the designs of Giuseppe Levati, while the closely related classical profiles were equally designed by Andrea Appiani in Maggiolini's oeuvre. The attractiveness of the Maggiolini style, particularly in the last quarter of the 18th century expanded well out of Lombardy. Numerous masterpieces were to be found in Genoa following the interest of Marchese Serra Domenico Genovese and his subsequent 1780's commissions. A console in the Palazzo Reale in Genoa, was recently attributed to Maggiolini by Giuseppe Beretti on the basis of preparatory drawings for a console with the same frieze inlay. Other Genoese influent families as the Durazzo were very much interested in furnishing executed in the latest 'Maggiolini' style.
It is conceivable that our commodes were executed by a Genoese talented cabinet maker following closely the Maggiolini style, and while it has not been possible to identify such Genoese makers, a few names as Bartolomeo Degola and Gaetano Renaldi working as 'ebanista Milanese abitando in Genova Strada Novissima' could be potential candidates.
For other related commodes, see as well G. Morazzoni, Il Mobile Intarsiarto di Giuseppe Maggiolini, Milan, 1957.
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: W
W Lot is located in the Bonhams Warehouse and will only be available for collection from this location.

These superb commodes are in overall good condition.
There are the minor and expected small shrinkage cracks, marks and dents consistent with normal wear and age.
The marquetry is extremely fine and kept very well.
There is here and there very minor lifting to the veneers, but only visible under close examination and not affecting the overall condition of the commodes.
There are very few minute losses to the veneer in areas, as on the lower border of the lower drawer to one commode, and a small marble veneer chip to the lower right hand side border of one marble top.
Otherwise the colour and patina of these commodes is very well kept and attractive.
We can certainly recommend these superb commodes, which are a rare survival of the Genoese Maggiolini style type of furniture.