Milanese cabinet in blackened pearwood, ebony and engraved bone, Italy, 17th century

Small Milanese cabinet from the 17th century in blackened pearwood, ebony and engraved bone.

This rare cabinet of Milanese origin, dating from the 17th century, exquisitely illustrates the Italian taste for precious contrasts and the architectural complexity of collector's furniture.

Made of blackened pear wood and enhanced with inlays of ebony and engraved bone, it features a skillfully arranged facade: on either side, a series of six drawers framed with light fillets, punctuated by geometric marquetry characteristic of Lombard work.

A wide lower drawer visually anchors the composition and reinforces the structure. In the center, an arched door opens to reveal a richly decorated interior, including two small drawers and a compartment concealing two secret drawers, reflecting the functional refinement and taste for mystery characteristic of the cabinets of curiosities of this era. The interior panels of the doors, finely adorned with scenes engraved on bone, lend the piece a precious narrative and decorative dimension, transforming this piece into a true work of art as well as a utilitarian object.

This cabinet perfectly embodies the alliance between functionality, decorative sophistication and artisanal virtuosity of 17th-century Milanese furniture, intended for a learned and refined clientele.