A pair of Italian ivory painted and parcel-gilt stools, Turin late 18th century

Probably from Stupinigi (Royal hunting lodge, Turin) where a set of six, of identical design exist (see comparative literature) and fig.1.

Comparative Literature:
M. Agnellini, Mobili Italiani del Settecento, Milano, 1990, page 145.
G. Mazzariol, Mobili del Seicento e del Settecento,Milano, 1964, page 146, pl. B (from the Pietro Accorsi Collection, Turin).
G. Wannenes, Mobili d'Italia, Milan, 1984, p. 159. 
E. Quaglino, Mobili Regionali Italiani, Il Piemonte, Turin, 1966, page 173, where the identical Stupinigi example is illustrated.
V. Viale, Mostra del Barocco Piemontese, Turin, 1963, Vol.I. 201/ A.

The presence of unidentified inventory marks and Roman numbers on the present examples, the existence of six identical stools at Stupinigi and the fact that a few others have appeared on the market all with identical carving, would suggest that the present pair were part of a much larger suite comprising also armchairs and chairs.

An armchair from the same suite is recorded in the Royal Palace of Genoa (Sala degli Arazzi), where it was brought from Turin by the Savoy family (ill. by L. Leoncini, Galleria di Palazzo Reale, Genova, 1996, page 55).

Stools of this type were typical in Piedmontese interiors, especially used to furnish long galleries and therefore often made in large sets. A vast number of stools of various models are still at Stupinigi.

See for example the following identical stools sold at auctiom:

-lot 31, Finarte, Milan, 22nd February 1989
-a set of four stools, lot 55, sold in these Rooms from the Estate of the late Giuseppe Rossi, 10^th March 1999 (£54,300)
-a pair of stools, from  the collection of Evelyn Annenberg Hall,Christie's, New York, 17th May 2006, lot 341
-a banquette and a pair of stools, sold from a European Private collection, in these Rooms, 11th June 2003, lots 206 (£15,600) & 207 (£34,800).  

It is interesting to note that an identical pair of French Louis XVI stools was sold, Christie's, New York, Arts of France, 6th October 2001, lot 349, which were stamped N. Foliot. Nicholes Quinibert Foliot, received Master 1776, was one of the greatest menuisiers under Louis XVI and his work was widely appreciated not only in France but throughout Europe. It is not inconceivable therefore that the two stools by him were taken to Turin, which at the time enjoyed close relations with France, in order to be copied by local artisans as this was not an unfamiliar practice. For example, Jean-Baptiste Tilliard supplied a suite of seat furniture to the Duchess of of Parma in 1755 which subsequently was widely copied at the time by Italian craftsmen.  

The original commission for the hunting palace of Stupinigi was placed with Filippo Juvara (d. in 1736) by King Vittorio Amadeo II in 1729. Though the king abdicated in 1730 and the architect died in 1736, construction of the magnificent palace continued and was only completed at the end of King Carlo Emanuele III's reign (1730-1773). It was during this time that G. M. Bonzanigo was first employed by the Savoia family, being appointed the wood-carver to Victor-Amadeo III (1773-1796) in 1787.