18th century, Pair of Baroque Tuscany Lacquered Wooden Benches

cm W 247 x D 38 x H 120. seat H 56 cm x D 32

This pair of important baroque benches was made in Tuscany, Italy, at the beginning of the 18th century. The lacquered wood structure has trompe l'oeil decorations and central noble coat of arms.
The back is shaped. In the centre stands a large shield, quartered and crowned, representing the noble family that commissioned the sessions, certainly designed to be placed in an aristocratic palace. The shield is inserted inside a trompe l'oil frame that simulates the golden bronze. On the sides of the coat of arms are painted trompe l'oeil in imitation stone, monochrome, vegetable-shaped decorations with acanthus leaves and volutes. The decorations are taken over the underside of the seat where the painting simulates a stone architecture composed of volutes, curls and acanthus leaves, embellished with trompe l'oeil depicting golden bronze garlands centered by a decor with volutes and ornate phyto-morphic fake gold bronze with in the center a large lacquered shell in tones of blue.
The seats are foldable through a system of eyelets, to show a compartment.
These charming benches, very decorative and large, can be placed together or individually in different environments, such as salons, corridors, entrances, also useful as a support surface of great elegance.
One of his heats has a missing curl in the foot.