A NORTH ITALIAN ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD-BANDED AND KINGWOOD BUREAU PLAT

This desk’s sinuous curved form and pierced angle mounts are characteristic of Genoese furniture produced in the mid-18th century, and emblematic of the influence of French design given Genoa’s vicinity to France. The Genoese version of the Bureau Plat or diplomatica was executed with Rosewood and either tulipwood, kingwood or rich walnut. A related Bureau Plat is illustrated in L.Caumont Caimi, L’Ebanisteria Genovese del Settecento, Parma, 1995, p.100, fig.43. A similar example of this form was sold Christie’s, New York, 22 November 2011, lot 41.