A LATE 16TH CENTURY WALNUT TUSCAN LIDDED BENCH.

A late 16th century walnut Tuscan lidded bench.

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A very interesting and elegant late 16th century Italian walnut long stool or bench. It has a locking hinged lid to reveal a compartment, a waste moulding and tapering end boards which form the legs and terminate in typical Tuscan arched shaping. The lid has two brass bound slots, presumably for coins or paper money and it is inlaid with the name DOMENICO MARINI. Domenico de' Marini (1599-1669) was from a prominent Genoese family although he was born in Rome. He joined the Dominican Order and taught theology in Rome and Paris before being sent by Innocent X to be Archbishop of Avignon. Interestingly this piece was discovered recently in the South of France not far from Avignon. It has lovely rich colour and patination and its narrow proportions give it great versatility - it would for example stand well in a corridor and provide useful storage for small objects such as keys. It measures 52 inches long x 9 inches deep across the top and is 26 1/2 inches high.

Ref: 10879

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A late 16th century walnut Tuscan lidded bench. A late 16th century walnut Tuscan lidded bench. A late 16th century walnut Tuscan lidded bench. A late 16th century walnut Tuscan lidded bench.