Italian center desk with walnut veneer, Baroque-style, dating back to Late 18th Century. An elegant and sinuous center desk, finished on all sides to be placed in the center of the room. The front of the desk features a distinctive “knee-shaped” or bean-shaped curve at the bottom, designed to comfortably accommodate a chair. It has five-drawers arranged in a faux triumphal arch: four smaller side drawers, two on each side and a large central drawer equipped with an original lock featuring a finely crafted metal keyhole. Above the central drawer is a pull-out shelf—a thin, removable panel—a typical feature of fine writing desks. The surface is entirely embellished with a splendid walnut veneer, skillfully arranged with a diagonal grain pattern on the sides, while the panels in the drawers and doors are framed by walnut trim.
The edges are slightly rounded above the legs. The piece rests on four distinctive cabriole legs (saber-shaped), which are accentuated and slender, ending in an elegant scroll or shoe-shaped foot, lending visual stability and dynamism to the entire structure.
The piece is in fair condition and is in the condition in which it was acquired in a private residence in Milan: the woodwork is solid, but the drawers and pull-out compartments need to be adjusted. It was restored in the past by removing the locks from the side drawers, filling the corresponding holes, and installing knobs. We recommend a restoration.
The piece originates from a workshop operating in northern Italy in the late 1700s.