A 17th c. Italian (Lombardy) ebony and ivory inlaid cabinet

Precious travel cabinet in Macassar ebony and ivory veneer and marquetry.
The fall-front reveals a series of eight drawers, the lower row constituting a single drawer, and in the center a small door revealing a niche with two drawers. The interior drawers, thanks to a system, conceal a secret drawer.
Each drawer as well as the inside of the fall front is decorated in ivory marquetry on an ebony background with running hares in frames of foliage scrolls. They have bone pull buttons.
The interior of the fall front has an identical decoration, with the difference of the marquetry made of ebony on an ivory background.
The exterior of the fall front receives a neat decoration of arabesques, scrolls, flowers, stylized animals in ebony on an ivory background.
This alternation of marquetry in part and in counterpart brings a sophisticated touch to the whole.
The sides and top are ebony veneer and ivory fillet inlays, all forming rectangles.
The carrying handles are formed with stylized lion mouths biting two dolphins.
The cabinet rests on four feet.

Great condition

Dimensions: h. 37 cm l. 43 cm, p. 32cm

early 17th century Milanese work (Lombardy)

Similar decorated cabinets are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and Museum of Decorative Arts, Milan