An Exceptional 18th Century Italian Walnut Bureau Cabinet of Small Proportions and Exceptional Colour.In the 18th century bureau writing cabinets were made in most of the great centres of European furniture making. Those made in Italy are more unusual, especially when they are of relatively small size as in the present example. Of early Italian rococo form, this lovely piece is softly serpentine throughout, from the shape of the cresting and the mirror plates to the panelling on the bureau front and the shape of the base. Aside from this shaping, the cabinet relies for its decorative effect on the striking contrast between wonderful burr walnut veneers of a glorious colour and ebonised mouldings which are applied throughout. There are three long drawers beneath the bureau and within the bureau section are six finely made small drawers, each with inlaid stringing rather than ebonised mouldings. Having large ring handles and round escutcheon plates on the external drawers. The piece ...