Large Italian Carved and Polychroom Painted Oak Venetian Chest

A large carved and gilt painted Venetian marriage chest made in oak in the 16th century in Italy. The chest has a rectangular shape and is resting on 4 solid feet. The front panel has polychrome painted carving of woman masks with crowns and rich floral decorations framed with a gilt band. The lid is plain wood with beautiful patina and a simple carved frame around the borders. The bottom borders have carved and gilted decorations with the same gilt frame. The intricate carvings on the chest showcase the skill and attention to detail of the artisan who created this one-of-a-kind piece. The chest has some old restorations.

Chests of this shape, material and size, often called cassone from their Florentine Italian denomination, were often produced as bedchamber or dowry chests. Indeed, in many parts of the world, the tradition expected that gifts passed to a newly formed household for the new bride were packed into a wooden chest, typically decorated as richly as means would allow, the better to show it off as a status symbol when the bride arrived at her new home.