An Italian fruitwood inlaid walnut bureau cabinet, Venetian mid 18th century

the upper section with a swan neck pediment centred by an urn finial flanked by identical urn finials on pedestals enclosing an engraved cartouche shaped mirror depicting an Antique figure in armour within a landscape above a pair of arched doors with later glass enclosing a fitted interior with seven niches and four drawers flanking a cupboard door enclosing a recess above two frieze drawers and a pair of candleslides, with concave sides, the lower section with a fall-front opening to reveal a fitted interior with a door flanked by two drawers and two secret drawers above a slide concealing further secret drawers, above three long bowed and concave-fronted drawers on bun feet

In overall good restored condition but in need of some minor attention Generally left and right sides of the lower section more faded than the rest and would benefit from a repolish according to taste. Old minor restorations to veneer generally. The upper section: The finials and the blocks on the cresting are later. There is a horizontal crack across the cresting above the swan neck pediment. There is an odd gap between the top of the fitted interior on the upper section and evidence of previous shelving. The front of the two frieze drawers have possibly been reveneered. Small section chipped off right side of cupboard door which is hardly noticeable. The lower section: There is a section of moulding above the fall-front which has been replaced and the section inside the fall-front is scuffed looking and the slide is stiff and needs easing. The escutcheons and handles are later. The moulding on the edge of the apron is missing in parts but can easily be restored. The bun feet are probably later. Old vertical restored crack down left side and another smaller crack opening up again and would benefit from being filled and some hairline construction cracks in places which also would benefit from some attention.
"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:
G. Morazzoni  Il Mobile Veneziano  del Settecento, Milan,1958.

The details of the cresting, the elegant proportions, the gentle serpentine design of the sides rather than straight sides make the present bureau cabinet a fine example of the Venetian repertory, several examples of which are illustrated by Morazzoni, op. cit..

Deriving its form from the Anglo-Dutch repertory, the bureau cabinet, improperly called in Italy trumeau (from the French mirror which used to stand between two windows), very soon became the most important piece of furniture in the palaces of the ancient Venetian aristocracy and the rich merchants. Although they were meant to cut a bella figura on the best wall of a salon, these pieces were supposed to be functional too. While the bureaux cabinets commissioned for the surburban villas were often lacquered or decorated in arte povera to simulate lacquer, the finest examples which are found in the most important palaces of the lagoon were veneered in walnut and the presence with engraved mirrors.  Unfortunately, due to lack of documentary evidence, very few names of cabinet-makers, carvers and gilders survive, to enable an attribution to a particular maker to be made.

Related bureau cabinets with glazed panels on the doors as on the present piece, were sold in these Rooms, lot 95, 26th May and 6th June 1989 and lot 163, 14th December 1998.