A selection of 300 of the finest italian pieces, chosen and analyzed by one of the world's greatest experts, summarizing the history of italian furniture-making.
An overview of Italian furniture, from the Renaissance to the 20th century: from the first, rare, highly-prized Renaissance pieces, which are occasionally found on the antiques market, to the time when furniture-making moved on from the craft dimension to mass-production. The book examines Italian furniture in a broader, European context, and highlights regional developments, which, with their own particular characteristics, were used up to the time of Italian Unification. The Tuscany of the de’ Medici, a melting-pot of artists and craftsmen, and the wealth of Venice, resulted in Italian Renaissance furniture. Some of it went to France where some of our best cabinet-makers plied their trade. Divided into five chapters in chronological order, the book describes the most significant pieces from each period, all of which are reproduced in full-page photographs, and the various types of furnishings. A total of 300 pieces, photographed especially for this publication, show how Italian ebony carvers, woodworkers and gilders succeeded in achieving the highest levels of expertise and quality.