17th Century Emilian Chest of Drawers, Italy

17th century Emlilian chest of three drawers. Antique patina showing darkened wood and iron hardware. Drawer pulls depict water cherubs. The silhouette and details are aligned with classic pieces of that time and provenance. Sourced in Italy.

Emilian furniture refers to the refined body of Italian decorative arts produced in the Emilia-Romagna region—particularly Bologna, Modena, Parma, and Ferrara—during the late Renaissance through the Baroque period, roughly the 16th to early 18th centuries. Shaped by the region’s prosperity under powerful ducal courts such as the Este and Farnese families, Emilian furniture reflects a synthesis of Renaissance balance and Baroque richness. Typical characteristics include solid walnut construction, bold architectural forms, and restrained yet confident carving—often featuring scrolling foliage, cartouches, grotesques, and classical motifs—rather than the exuberant gilding seen in Roman or Venetian work. Provenance is closely tied to courtly and ecclesiastical patronage, with pieces made for palazzi, villas, and religious institutions, emphasizing durability, symmetry, and gravitas. As a whole, the Emilian era is marked by intellectual humanism, scientific advancement, and artistic restraint, producing furniture that feels grounded, scholarly, and quietly monumental—valued today for its authenticity, structural integrity, and understated elegance.