A very fine Italian painted and parcel-gilt library table, probably Florentine late 18th century

the top painted with terracotta and black reserves in the Etruscan manner on a cream ground above two frieze drawers centred by a patera amongst rinceaux  on foliate carved composite block and tapering legs carved with swags and husks on leaf carved toupie feet

Comparative Literature:
Enrico Colle, Il Mobili di Palazzo Pitti, Il Primo periodo lorenese 1737-1799, Florence, 1992, p. 116, no. 45, p. 117, no. 46. 

The scenes on this top are designed in imitation of the Etruscan style popularised by publications such as Sir William Hamilton's `Collection of Etruscan, Greek and Roman Antiquities, published in Naples in 1766-67 and engraved by Francesco Morelli.The engravings depicted scenes from Sir Willliam Hamilton's collection of Antique vases. The contents of this acclaimed collection caused a sensation when they were published both in England and abroad and contributed to the revival of interest in classical antiquity and the development of neo-classicism. Another possible source could also have been the Collection of Engravings from Ancient Vases mosstly of Pure Greek Workmanship discovered in Sepulchres in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, also published in Naples by W. Tischbein. Furthermore, the tops are also in the manner of scagliola works by Carlo Paoletti (d. circa 1825) who was active in the early 18th century in Florence and who held the post of master of scagliola at the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Florence betwen 1801 and circa 1821.

The style of the carving on this impressive library table is reminiscent of two Florentine tables in Palazzo Pitti circa 1785. There is a table illustrated by Colle, op. cit., p.116, fig. 45, which has applied patera and scrolling foliage on the frieze as on the present table. Also see another table  illustrated by Colle, op. cit., p. 117, fig. 46, conceived in a similar vein with the crisp carving on the frieze and blocks above the legs.  

The unique style of the top on this table which is painted rather than in scagliola and the unusual colour scheme and impressive size may indicate that it was a special commission for a particular room setting.