Period: First half of the 18th century

SOLD The French term 'trumeau' commonly refers to a double-body piece of furniture, the lower part consisting of a chest of drawers with a raised section, and the upper part of a recessed structure with two doors closed by mirrors (bevelled or engraved) or glass, and terminated with a cornice. The word originated in Gothic architecture to indicate a sculptural element that divides two openings (doors or windows). The term 'trumeau' is well known to antique enthusiasts, particularly those who love 18th-century furniture, but perhaps not everyone associates the French term with the precious piece of furniture that in Italy is sometimes called 'trumò'. The trumeau, or trumò, is a piece of furniture that in its lower part resembles a chest of drawers with a raised section, while in the upper part there are two precious doors, or more rarely only one, which conceal shelves and small drawers. The original piece of furniture is therefore formed by two distinct bodies, separated from each other by a drop-leaf top, creating a very successful combination of different pieces of furniture traditionally associated with different functions. The trumeau is, in fact, a piece of furniture that with its mere presence furnishes a room in an elegant way, sometimes discreet and in other cases baroque, given the variety of styles that inspired the master cabinetmakers of the 18th century and the skilled craftsmen who reproduce their art today. This is a Lombard trumeau in walnut, walnut burl and ebonized mouldings, measuring 280 x 125 x 60 cm, from the second half of the 18th century. The sinuous profile of the front is underlined by a base which is lower than the slightly moulded upper part which follows its perimeter and rests frontally on candlestick feet. In the lower body, the black-stained wood is found in the carved and moulded uprights that emphasize the verticality of the furniture: in the moulded lower and upper bands that close the sinuous front; in the frames that enclose and divide the three drawers, and in the strips that follow the outline of the rectangular cartouches that surround the drawer. The slightly protruding band under the drop-leaf top features a very harmonious triple squaring, while on the hinged door that conceals six drawers and a secret compartment, the decorative motif that is divided in the drawers consists of a single design. The upper part with two doors and original mercury mirrors culminates with an engraved headpiece with an arlequin with a broken and sinuous outline, surrounded by a black moulded profile. The handles and keyhole escutcheons are in chased bronze. In this Louis XV trumeau, with its particularly slender line, the typically Lombard contrast between ebonized decorations and walnut and walnut burl veneered surfaces is more evident due to the lighter tone of the latter. The slender and graceful bracket feet, which join the low shaped frame enclosing the lower perimeter, stand out in dark wood. We must admire the main features of this wonderful trumeau: on the one hand its being large and on ??the other its being agile thanks to a central and lateral movement which gives ample breath to the whole piece of furniture. The drawers inside and the candle holder are also moved. The paintings and works of art published here are my exclusive property and consequently are always available to be viewed in person, by appointment, in my exhibition venues located in Sanremo and Brescia. The work, like all our items, is sold with a FIMA photographic certificate of authenticity and legal provenance; this document identifies the object, adding value to the item. We personally take care of and organize the packaging and shipping of works of art with insurance all over the world. Dr. Riccardo Moneghini Art Historian