A pair of Italian carved and gilt a mecca painted corner cabinets in the manner of Pietro Massa, Piedmont, circa 1735

each with one door opening to reveal two shelves, on slender cabriole legs; decoration refreshed

This pair of corner cabinets is in reasonable conserved condition. The interior of each with light green painting. There are faint traces of old woodworm which appears to be no longer active. Some yellowing to the varnish consistent with age, and some scarcely noticeable construction cracks along the surface of both doors. Some minimal losses to the painted surface have been sympathetically restored, and this retains very attractive details. There is one limited loss to the carved floral swags of one cabinet. The decoration of both stands has been refreshed, the interior of the shelves upholstered in silk. Both stands with traces of old woodworm, no longer active, marks and scratches consistent with age and use.
"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."

Related literature

L. Caterina, C. Mossetti (eds), Villa della Regina: il riflesso dell'Oriente nel Piemonte del Settecento, Turin, 2005

The taste for Chinoiserie that swept through Europe in the 18th century found a particular resonance in Piedmont, at the royal court of Savoy. No fewer than twenty-seven documented interiors 'alla China' survive in the former royal palaces in and around Turin, created using either wallpaper or silk panels imported directly from China or by painting and lacquering Chinoiserie scenes on to boiseries, ceilings, and furniture.

In the 1730s King Carlo Emanuele III (1701-1773) commissioned the redecoration of the north-east wing of the Royal Palace of Turin, supervised by court architect Filippo Juvarra (1678-1736), and which resulted in the creation of some of the most accomplished Chinoiserie interiors of the 18th century. Pietro Massa was the artist chosen for the Chinese decoration of a number of ambiences, including the 'Cabinetto del Pregadio della Regina', or small budoir. Here the intricate boiserie is inset with eight panels depicting birds perched on branches and flowers on a gilt background that bear a striking stylistic resemblance to the present pair of encoigneures (fig. 1; discussed in Caterina and Mosetti, op. cit., pp. 466-69), so much so that an attribution to his workshop could perhaps be attempted.

Pietro Massa was certainly one of the most talented ornemanistes of his time, specializing in delightful lacche painted with exotic flowers, birds and figures. By the early 1730s his workshop was receiving important commissions from the Royal Family, most notably at the Royal Palace and the Villa della Regina - whose furnishings were sadly dispersed from the second half of the 19th century.