Baroque Table - Northern Italy, 17th Century

17th century Baroque Table

Northern Italy
Walnut and black marble
H. 80.5 × L. 114 × P. 58 cm

This finely preserved 17th-century Italian table exemplifies the Baroque taste for sculptural furniture distinguished by fluid movement and architectural presence. The single slab of solid black marble is mounted directly on four walnut legs carved in the characteristic “lira” profile—a form associated with Northern Italian workshops and appreciated for its rhythmic mixtilinear curves and structural elegance. The deep black marble, enriched with subtle white veining and fossil inclusions, provides a visually striking contrast to the warm tone of the walnut, now enriched by a refined historical patina.

Tables of this type occupied prominent positions in domestic interiors, particularly in reception spaces and studioli, where they functioned not only as useful furnishings but as statements of cultural sophistication.

Well balanced in scale and beautifully constructed, this “lira” table stands as a testament to the technical ability of Northern Italian craftsmen and to the enduring appeal of high-quality Baroque furniture.