Italian Regency Hand Carved Maple Pier Console or Dressing Table with Mirror

This Italian Regency period pier console or dressing table with swivel mirror and marble top is made of solid and burl maple wood and it's a one of a kind piece that expresses the joint result of Italian high end cabinet-making and design mastery with its elaborate carvings with fancy animalier patterns in the form of swans and dolphins and penwork drawings throughout. Sourced in a private estate of an important Italian collector in Turin, Pendimont, this museum quality piece of furniture was probably made on commission and recalls the works of Gabriele Capello known as “il Moncalvo” on Pelagio Palagi design. Both the design and the woods used recall the furnishings of the Castle of Racconigi in Pendimont. King Carlo Alberto hired, in January 1833 , Pelagio Palagi as a supervisor for the design project of the castle's furnishings. I'm very proud to make this wonderful console table or chiffonier with swiwel mirror available for sale since it has never been on the art market before as it has been a family heritage during centuries. The carvings and decorations are the most elaborate, fascinating and whismical that I have ever seen and the architectural construction of this antique console table with psyche is simply stunning. The console is made up of 2 pieces: the console and the mirror above. The pier table with a rectangular pink marble top situated over the apron - that houses two dovetailed hidden drawers - entirely decorated with penworks foliate drawings. Under the apron open three arches that recall the oriental architectures, they are intricately deeply hand carved with naturalistic motifs and supported by four solid maple hand carved swans and stretched with a beautifully modeled lower shelf over bun feet. The center lower part of this outstanding console shows a mirror in the back divided into three sections flanked by pairs of columns. The antique rectangular mercury mirror reflects the amazing swans sculptures of the base in a fantastic way. Above the console rests an oval-shaped swivel mirror housed in a frame that is a triumph of decorations and deep carvings. The antique mirror is framed by a penwork drawn band shaped with small arches and bell-shaped ends reminiscent of Indian architecture. This rich frame is surrounded by rich scrolled naturalistic hand carvings and boasts two dolphins sculptures on the sides. The whole rests on a large plinth base housing three secret drawers. This piece of furniture, both for its provenance and decorations, is a concentrate of history. Penworks Drawings and sculptures inspired by nature according to the fashion of neoclassicism are taken from the decorative motifs of ancient Rome. The elaborate construction can be attributed to one of the most important 19th century Italian cabinetry workshops. This 19th century Italian Empire period dressing table in neoclassical style, with its whismical animalier and nature inspired details and precious material, could be a most refined acquisition for any interior, a statement and conversation one of a kind piece. Extremely good overall condition considering age and use, perfect mirrors' condition all signs of fair use and high end materials. Pen work still visible throughout with no signs of wear, dovetailed drawers all the internal structure is made of precious solid mahogany. Provenance and Literature Private Estate of an important Italian Collector, Turin, Pendimont, Italy. This is the very first time this piece of furniture is on the antique market as it has been a family heritage during centuries. Pelagio Palagi (Bologna 1775- Turin 1860) Palagi’s decorations range from the Gothic to the Etruscan and the neoclassical, in an interesting mixture of styles typical of the 1830s and 1840s. His style is often a tribute to the interior decoration of Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine, but also to the eclectic models of Claude Aimé Chenavard and his Nouveau Recueil (1833-1835) and to the highly talented Venetian Giuseppe Borsato (1770-1849), not to mention the scuola d’ornato (ornate school) from Brera, in Milan. Roberto Antonetto, Gabriele Capello Moncalvo. Ebanista dei due Re, Torino 2004 Dimensions in cm Tot. H.191, W. 123, D. 60 – Console's Top H. 86 cm.