Pair Of Antique Sycamore Burl Veneered Coin Cabinets, Early 18th Century

Pair of antique coin cabinets with sycamore burl veneer, Rome, late 17th/early 18th century.

Dimensions: 59x82x46 cm – base: 88x95x60 cm

The coin cabinets consist of a rectangular structure with two front doors that open: inside each cabinet there are six drawers with framed panels designed to simulate eight drawers arranged in columns in paired rows.
The front doors, on the other hand, feature a central square-shaped carving: one coin cabinet has a curved one, while the other has a square one.

The material chosen for their construction, sycamore burl, is of great value and makes the two pieces rare collector’s items. The technique used is that of “burl arranged in mirror-image patterns,” which involves arranging thin layers of wood so that the grain and characteristic patterns mirror one another, creating highly detailed and decorative geometric motifs. Furthermore, this technique gives the wood an incredible luster.

The coin holders rest on gilded wooden pedestals carved with elaborate curved acanthus leaves, typical of the late Roman Baroque style.