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Tuscany, Late 16th – Early 17th Century
Important aristocratic wedding cassone crafted in solid walnut and poplar between the late Renaissance and the early Baroque period.
The front is adorned with two noble heraldic inlays, still remarkably legible after more than four centuries.
On the right appears the coat of arms of the Guicciardini Family, one of the great Florentine patrician dynasties, identified by the family’s iconic three hunting horns.
The quartered coat of arms on the opposite panel — composed of a knightly helmet, armed arm with dagger, battlemented tower and olive tree — points instead to an important noble lineage from the Papal States and Marche region, likely connected to the Olivieri Family and hereditary branches associated with the Castracane Family.
This cassone was conceived as a ceremonial marriage chest celebrating a prestigious dynastic alliance between two powerful families. Pieces of this kind traditionally accompanied the bride into her new residence, safeguarding dowry documents, precious textiles and family valuables while publicly displaying lineage, wealth and social rank.
The structure remains entirely authentic and period-consistent:
- solid walnut exterior surfaces;
- original poplar secondary wood;
- carved feral lion feet;
- period-compatible hardware;
- rich untouched surface patina developed over centuries.
What makes this piece especially rare is not only the quality of its craftsmanship, but the survival of its historical identity.
The heraldry remains visible.
The families still recognizable.
The alliance still alive within the wood.
A piece that does not merely furnish a space, but instantly elevates its presence and atmosphere.
- Material: Solid walnut and poplar
- Size: Cm 182 x 58 x 58 H.
- Condition: Restored
- Period: 17th century
- Style: Renaissance
- State: Optimal conditions
