A Renaissance style carved walnut centre table

with a rectangular moulded top above a lapetted frieze and seven drawers carved with a raised grotesque mask flanked by two addorsed grotesque masks on a boldly scrolled trestle supports joined by a pierced stretcher carved with dragons, flowers, grotesques and foliage on recumbent lion supports

Old marks, chips and scratches to the top, commensurate with normal usage. There appears some old elements such as the carved raised masks on five of the draws. Evidence of old worm which appears to be no longer active. Some old restorations generally, e.g. to the stretchers which are only really visible from the reverse. Some minor patches. In overall good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Comparative Literature:
Rosanna Pavoni, La Casa Bagatti Valsecchi, L'Ottocento, Il Rinascineto, Il Gusto dell'Abitare, Firenze, 1994, page 54 and 104.
Augusto Pedrini, Il Mobilio gli Ambienti e le Decorazioni del Rinascimento in Italia-Secoli XV e XVI, Azienda Libraria Editoriale Fiorentina, 1948, p. 113, fig. 298.
Jacques Thirion, Le Mobilier du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance en France, p. 128, Dijon, 1998, p. 128 and 129.
Guidebook to Museo Bagatti Valsecchi, Milan, 1994, page 37  

This exhuberantly carved centre table of monumental proportions is loosely inspired by a table now in the Bagatti Valsecchi Collection in Milan, illustrated by Pedrini op. cit., p. 113, fig. 298 and in Pavoni, pp. 54 and 104 and the guidebook to the Museum, p. 37, reproduced here in fig. 1.

One should not however, disregard the influence of French designs on this table, see Thirion, op. cit., p. 128, for a design by Crispin de Passe for a table with lion feet, (Bibliotheque nationale de France, Est). Also see Thirion, op. cit., p. 129, for designs by A. Du Cerceau for tables of similar inspiration. Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau fig. 2.(c. 1520-1584) was a French architect and deigner who published some very influential engraved designs for furniture, silver and textiles. He may have visited Rome in the 1540's and in the 1550's he issued a set of engraved furniture designs which were very architectural in form. The strapwork and other relief ornamentation is rather thin and flat but the carved elements are boldly sculptural and often fantastical eg a bed supported at one end by a writhing snake and on an elephant's foot at the other.

A related table was offered for sale in these Rooms as lot 136, Haute Epoque, 29th October 2003.