Cassone Bureau Italian Hand-Carved 16th Century

We are delighted to offer for sale this Cassone desk from southern Italy, dating back to the 16th century, hand-carved, of very large size and museum-quality. This exceptional piece of furniture was likely created for an exhibition to showcase the craftsmanship of the cabinetmaker. Originally, it was probably a massive Cassone chest later adapted into a pedestal desk; the work seems to have been completed in the early Victorian era. It is truly a piece of furniture art, impressive and valuable from every angle, a unique example that will most likely never be reproduced. The condition is excellent: the piece has been carefully cleaned, hand-waxed, and polished from top to bottom. It shows some signs of use and a normal period patina, with no notable anomalies. Dimensions: height 82 cm, width 166 cm, depth 80 cm, kneehole height 63 cm, kneehole width 67 cm (measurements taken at the widest points). Please feel free to ask questions before bidding.