Tags
antique, antique periods, carved wood, carving, chair, couch, craftsmanship, custom furniture, Décor, design, furnishings, furniture, handcraft, handicraft, hardwood, imported furniture, imports, interior design, Italian, leather, Old World, Renaissance, Salvatore, sectional, sofa, Solid wood furniture, style
The 14th Century’s Italian Renaissance saw the beginning of furniture design in Italy. Italian artisans have historically used the classical themes from ancient Greece and Rome—like their European counterparts. Italian furniture translated itself with the changing artistic periods of Europe: Rococo, Baroque, etc.
Like most Old World craftsmanship, despite shifting styles, something remained inherently and stylistically Italian about each piece created over the last seven hundred years. Traditionally made of grand or massive pieces, Italian furnishings have become slightly smaller and sleeker in the modern era. Named for the central region of Italy, Tuscan furniture is quite rustic, whereas Renaissance pieces are lavish and intricately ornate.
Salvatore Leather Sectional Sofa
Antiqued Gold Leaf (Gilded) Chippendale Mirror
Renaissance
With the blossoming of art and culture come more coins in the coffers. Golden Ages are named for the economic boost associated with such socially and artistically profitable time periods. The middle class (bourgeoisie) wanted better furniture, and they bought it. Typical décor and furnishings of the era included hand-carved walnut, incredibly rich designs, ornamentation, low relief, and exquisitely detailed stucco patterns.
Baroque and Rococo
Cabinetmakers and woodworkers from these periods were heavily influenced from architectural as well as artistic movements. Baroque and Rococo pieces were hand carved, painted, and even gilded, frequently decorated with scrolls, shells, cupids, and acanthus leaves (Mediterranean plant). Extant chairs from these periods often employ velvet and marble as well as other opulent materials in their creation.
Reproductions of Italian furniture are available on the market from any time period from Renaissance to contemporary. Fine furniture dealers and manufacturers like MBW Furniture offer the opportunity for customers to commission custom built furnishings from virtually any country or time period.