2. Italian furniture
Cassone: It was a chest or box of any kind which was used as dowry or
wedding chest and it was the most important furniture piece in an Italian
room. The lid was hinged at the top, and when the piece was closed it could
be used as a seat or a table. In the early period the chest was quite simple in
construction, but in the later period it became more elaborate with massive
carving and carved ends.
4. Italian furniture
Credenza:
This was a cabinet sideboard with doors and drawers intended for the storage
of linen, dishes, and silverware. It was made in various sizes
5. Italian furniture
Squabbles:
It was a light wooden chair with a straight narrow back heavily carved for
dining and other purposes. A sgabello is armless, with a thin back and an
octagonal seat, not so comfortable, not designed for long term seating. The
legs can be either two decorated boards with a stretcher for support, or three
separate impost legs that would be also ornamented and carved.
6. Italian furniture
Dante:
This type of chair had heavily carved arms and legs and usually had a cloth
back and seat. The front was heavily carved whereas the sides were plain. The
seats were made comfortable with velvet or decorative leather.
The arms end in scrolls and continue all the way up to the back support. It is
made to look like it can fold, but in reality it cannot. It always has a leather
seat and back support. It also has a boss where the legs intersect.
7. Italian furniture
Tables:
The tables of Italian Renaissance were massive and were supported by heavily
carved trestles. A trestle is a bar fixed on a pair of spreading legs, placed at
each corner. The small tables had hexagonal or octagonal tops and were
supported by carved turning legs. The Refectory table was a solid oblong top
supported by trestles, columns or balusters, or slab ends, with stretchers
between for support.
8. Italian furniture
Beds:
Beds were elaborate and massive, with paneled head and footboards, a tester
or canopy, and side draperies to keep out the ‘evil night air’. Enclosed beds
with wooden doors were used primarily in northern Europe.
