A Central Italian Cedar 'Pokerwork' Cassone late 16th century

carved and worked with a variety of historical and Old Testament scenes, surrounded by wild beasts, birds, masks and scrolling foliage, a gallery of musical putti on the upper section of lid and facade, the interior with an unknown inventory brand.

Sotheby's, New York, January 26 and 27, 2000, lot 148 ($17,000)

'Pokerwork' also known as pirografato was used to decorate furniture and caskets in Italy from the later 15th through the 17th century. The present lot is a fine example of this decorative motif and was particularly popular in central Italy during the later Renaissance. See Pietro Lorenzelli et al., Tra/e. Teche, pissidi, cofani e forzieri dall'Alto Medioevo al Barocco (exh.cat.), Bergamo, October - December 1984, fig. 247.