Lot Essay
We would like to thank Brian Kish for his assistance with the cataloguing of this lot.
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A PAIR OF ILLUMINATING BAR CABINETS, CIRCA 1948
Details
GIOVANNI GARIBOLDI (1908-1971)
A PAIR OF ILLUMINATING BAR CABINETS, CIRCA 1948
possibly produced by Quartri, central compartment opening to reveal sycamore and mirrored glass interior with one glass shelf and two sycamore drawers,
each side compartment opening to reveal one sycamore shelf;
pearwood, parchment with fruitwood inlay, carved gilt-wood, glass, lighting system
each 46 in. (117 cm.) high, 65 ¾ in. (167 cm.) wide, 17 5/8 in. (45 cm.) deep
A PAIR OF ILLUMINATING BAR CABINETS, CIRCA 1948
possibly produced by Quartri, central compartment opening to reveal sycamore and mirrored glass interior with one glass shelf and two sycamore drawers,
each side compartment opening to reveal one sycamore shelf;
pearwood, parchment with fruitwood inlay, carved gilt-wood, glass, lighting system
each 46 in. (117 cm.) high, 65 ¾ in. (167 cm.) wide, 17 5/8 in. (45 cm.) deep
Literature
G. Cavagna Di Gualdana, Gariboldi, Mantua, 2010, pp. 51 and 62 for illustrations of similar models.
Special notice
This Lot is transferred to Christie’s Redstone Post-Sale Facility in Long Island City after 5.00 pm on the last day of the sale. They will be available at Redstone on the following Monday.
Property may be transferred at Christie’s discretion following the sale
and we advise that you contact Purchaser Payments on +1 212 636 2495 to confirm your property’s location at any given time.
Further details
The function of this pair of bars is manifest, not so much in their forms, as in the hidden symbolism set in exotic wood intarsia on the front door panels. For these designs Gariboldi specifically relied on engravings by the Dutch artist M.S. Merian that were published in 1730 in the book 'The Insects Of Europe", a compendium illustrating the metamorphosis of insects and their food sources. Here Gariboldi alludes to the transformations of the grapes into what would be an array of wine, prosecco, and grappa lining the shelves of the illuminated bar just behind these doors. In turn images of nocturnal insects like moths are pointedly cued to the role of bars cabinets as objects dedicated to evening activities. One could conjecture that pairs of candelabras were placed of top of these credenzas possibly attracting all creatures of the night; insects and humans alike.