Travel Writing Desk (or "bargueno") Made Of Solid Mahogany With Marquetry, Liguria, Early 18th Century

Rare drop-leaf desk (secretary desk) or “Bargueno,” Northern Italy—probably Genoa or Liguria—first quarter of the 18th century. The outer cabinet, made of solid mahogany — a wood imported at the time through the major ports of Northern Italy such as Genoa or Livorno — is reinforced at each corner with hand-riveted wrought-iron brackets and fitted with sturdy iron drop handles, a feature characteristic of furniture designed for transport.When opened, the flap reveals a tier of drawers arranged in a row around a central compartment, with fronts adorned with a delicate inlay design of foliage and cartouches in light-colored wood against a walnut background.
The drop-down panel’s surface, in turn, features a large diamond-shaped reserve design flanked by floral rosettes and centered by a scroll-adorned cartouche—a design characteristic of Italian intarsio from this period.High-quality construction: softwood drawer frames assembled with dovetail joints, bottom made of joined planks, original forged nails. Dimensions: 102.5 x 56.5 x 41 cm (W x H x D)
Origin: Northern Italy, likely Genoa or Liguria. Materials: Solid mahogany, light wood marquetry (boxwood, lemonwood), wrought-iron hardware. Condition: In good overall condition considering its age. Some old and normal wear and tear: minor losses of marquetry veneer on the lid’s top (visible, not yet restored), an old crack on one side, a crack beneath a corner fitting. The piece does not have its original legs.
Superb original finish preserved.