Bridge bookcase in lacquered wood, 19th century.

Bridge bookcase in soft wood lacquered to imitate precious essences and briars. Romagna, mid-19th century.

The piece of furniture, built in solid fir and poplar, is voluminous in size, and still reflects the Empire style (as demonstrated by the large flat pilasters marked by a light molding that punctuate the front or the plinth supports). The large volume of the furniture is lightened by a lacquer that imitates exotic and precious woods and roots, while the interiors are painted in a pale blue shade. The upper part houses eight large-format glass doors, plus two, of modest dimensions, located above the arch of the cabinet, while the lower part has four solid wood doors. Furthermore, the lower part is equipped with a backrest, while the upper part already originally rested directly on the wall. The mastery of the craftsman who built the bookcase in question is denoted by the fact that it, despite its size, can be easily dismantled into five parts, connected by the apical cornice, which joins the various constituent elements and welds them together thanks to ingenious joints dovetailed, strengthened by iron hooks. The piece of furniture is original in all its parts, including the shelves, designed to accommodate the tomes, and the glass, characterized by the typical wavy surface, a peculiarity of ancient craftsmanship. The state of conservation is good, especially from a structural point of view. Some scratches and abrasions are, however, present on the contemporary lacquering, damage that can easily be remedied by subjecting the furniture to a light conservative restoration.

Provenance: Solarolo (RA), Private Collection.

A guarantee certificate is issued regarding the authenticity of the furniture and its lawful origin in accordance with the law.