Two Neoclassical marquetry chests of drawers
Palisander, maple, and rosewood veneer on walnut and oak with fine marquetry in various stained and natural woods. With ormolu mountings (some defective or replaced) and later Carrara marble top. A rare pair of chests with finely ornamented fronts. Of angular form with three drawers on tapered square-section legs, the angles ornamented by columns. The upper drawer decorated with floral swags, the two lower drawers with round medallions depicting ruins in landscapes and a broad foliate border. Some older repairs, minor losses, the colours to one front changed. H 89 and 89.5, W 123, D 59 cm.
Attributed to Gaspare Bassani, Milano, ca. 1780 - 90.
Enrico Colle attributes these chests of drawers to Gaspare Bassani, a pupil and employee of Guiseppe Maggiolini. Little is known about his life and work, and researchers have only been able to discover more about his oeuvre and attribute specific works to him in the course of the last 20 years. Colle mentions a gaming table in the collection of the Princes of Meli Lupi di Soragna signed "Milano 1789 Gaspare Bassano fecit". A number of chests of drawers have also been found bearing the monogram GBM. Guiseppe Beretti has also attributed these pieces, worked in the style of Maggolini, to Gaspare Bassani.
The present works display unmistakeable stylistic parallels to Maggolini's style in the latter half of the 18th century. The works of this North Italian Neoclassicist are characterised by coloured marquetry depicting ancient ruins and opulent designs after the antique. This rediscovery and renaissance of the classical tradition in Italy is generally attributed to Maggolini. Gaspare Bassani, probably his most talented pupil and employee, opened his own studio in Milan in 1789.
Certificate
Prof. Enrico Colle has confirmed the attribution to Gaspare Bassani upon examination of photographs.
Literature
For this cabinetmaker, cf. his only signed work published in: Colle, Il mobile neoclassici in Italia, Milan 2005, p. 326.