Important Venetian psyche in lacquered and painted wood, characterized by rich polychrome floral decorations and gilded profiles, an expression of refined 18th-century Venetian production.
It features a double movement on the front and side. The front has two drawers that can be opened.
Of particular interest is also the provenance: the signature "Senator Crespi" appears inside, most likely attributable to the famous collection of Mario Crespi (1879–1962), historic owner of the Corriere della Sera and one of the most important Italian collectors of the 20th century.
Venezia acqua
The so-called Venetian "Venezia acqua" furniture, in antique dealer jargon, is much more refined and of significantly higher quality than Venetian furniture, which remains confined to the provincial styles of the area surrounding Venice.
Dimensions:
Total height 94 cm; width 64 cm; depth 26 cm.
Height of the furniture alone (excluding the mirror): 28 cm.
Provenance:
The signature present inside is attributable to Mario Crespi (1879–1962), historic owner of the Corriere della Sera, Senator of the Kingdom, and among the most important Italian collectors of the 20th century.
The famous Crespi collection, with a particular focus on 18th-century Venetian art and furnishings, included works now housed in important museums such as the Pinacoteca di Brera and Ca' Rezzonico in Venice.
The presence of the signature therefore constitutes an interesting element of historical and collecting provenance.
Authenticity of the lacquer:
As visible in the images of the surface in natural light, the lacquer and pictorial decoration still retain the original period craquelure.
These thin and irregular surface lines form naturally over time, through the slow settling of materials and ancient varnishes, and represent one of the most characteristic signs of authenticity in original 18th-century lacquered Venetian furniture.
