What sets this walnut trunk apart from similar Italian cassones of the 1700s is the ornate façade of decorative blonde walnut inlays. Cassones, which are large wooden chests, originated during the Renaissance period, and were used for storing linens, clothing, and other household items. The more extravagant ones were sometimes considered wedding dowries, given to the bride to transport her belongings to her husband’s home.

Our cassone has a light brown hue to the walnut, with some warm, honey colored areas that mesh well with the lighter colored inlays. Two rectangular borders flank the lower half of the asymmetrical leaf escutcheon. Inside both rectangles is a bird perched on a lobed vase filled with flowers. Surrounding the aviary images is a larger border comprised of a broken rectangle formed by stylized dolphins and foliage. Our 18th-century walnut trunk with inlay can be used wherever small storage is needed, including the bedroom, a hallway, or living room.

CONDITION: Good antique condition. Minor nicks and losses. Light age separations, including small areas of raised inlay. No key.