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Tuscan madia in solid elm, second half of the 18th century – 154 × 71 × 81 cm (H)
In the Tuscan country home, a madia was not simply a storage piece: it was the bread cupboard, built to be used every day.
This example, dating to the second half of the 18th century, is made of solid elm and retains its traditional form, with a large splayed upper body closed by a hinged lift-up lid, and a lower base with two panelled doors. The upper compartment was originally used for preparing and keeping the dough.
The construction is straightforward and robust, with substantial boards, well-balanced proportions and iron hardware consistent with the period and type. Elm—hard and tenacious, with a lively grain—acquires particular character here through a warm, deep patina that allows the grain, tonal variations and natural signs of age to remain clearly visible.
The madia is original and well restored, preserving the lived-in appearance typical of genuinely antique furniture—something a good restoration should respect, not erase.
And perhaps this is its most distinctive quality: a working piece, where wear is not something to hide, but what time has turned into beauty.
- Material: solid elm wood
- Size: Cm 154x71x81h
- Condition: Restored
- Period: Ultimo quarto del '700
- Style: FOLK ART
- State: Good conditions
