Bench seat with intarsia panel

Antique fragments were not meant to remain orphans, but to be returned to a "natural" use in a "whole": if we take this as our point-of-departure, the present of pastiches, such as this one, in the Bagatti Valsecchi collection takes on a whole new meaning. The base, albeit modified, is antique, as are the two arms, probably Venetian and of the end of the 16th century; the inlaid back panel, probably from a central Italian shop of the second half of the 15th century, was fit into an inlaid panel frame dating to the end of the 19th century. Probably purchased by the brothers Fausto and Giuseppe at the end of the 19th century, the bench seat is still displayed--as are all other objects in the museum--in its original place, thus contributing to the authentic "time capsule" ambiance.