Cabinet; Milan; 17th century.

Cabinet; Milan; XVII century.
Exotic woods and engraved bone.
Preserves key.
Measurements: 75 x 85 x 47 cm.
This seventeenth century Milanese cabinet is a masterpiece of Italian furniture, made of exotic woods and engraved bone decorations, a technique characteristic of the Lombard workshops of the period.
The structure of the piece rests on four wooden spheres, giving it a solid and stable base. Its design is articulated around a rectangular body with two large doors that, like the sides and the upper part, present a profuse ornamentation of marquetry in contrasting materials and tones. The dark wood, possibly ebony or rosewood, serves as a background for the delicate carved bone motifs, creating a sophisticated visual effect.
The decorative repertoire responds to Mannerist and Baroque aesthetics, with a combination of stylized vegetal motifs, scrolls, urns and symmetrically arranged geometric elements. In the center of each door, a rectangular panel framed by superimposed moldings emphasizes the ornamental richness of the piece, highlighting the refined engraving work on bone, in which classically inspired motifs are observed.
The upper finial rises in a stepped level, with a continuous decorative band of alternating floral motifs and small medallions, harmoniously integrating all the elements of the design. The wrought iron side handles suggest that this cabinet was conceived as a transportable piece of furniture, probably intended to house documents, valuables or even cabinet of curiosities pieces, so prized in the aristocratic collections of the time.
This piece is a magnificent example of the refinement and mastery of 17th century Italian cabinetmaking, where the combination of precious materials and impeccable technical execution make the furniture both functional and artistic, reflecting the taste and luxury of the Milanese elites of the Baroque period.