Tyrolean polychrome pine trunk with geometric panels in cream, red and black on a dark ground, dated 1906. A folk piece sitting between a linen trunk and an entrance bench with storage, representative of Alpine folk art in the early twentieth century in its most domestic reading.
In traditional Alpine houses, the low trunk stood at the foot of the bed or near the entrance to keep blankets, bed linen and household items. The geometric polychromy — different from the floral motifs of the bridal arks — corresponds to a second generation of trunks already into the twentieth century, where the repertoire simplifies and becomes more rhythmic. The date carved on the front, 1906, anchors the piece in a very precise moment of the trade.
It is built from pine boards joined at mitre and reinforced with internal cross-battens. The flat lid opens on forged-iron hinges and retains its central lock plate. The front is organised in polychromed panels with geometric motifs — rosettes, lines, rectangular cartouches — combining cream, red and black on a brown-green ground. The feet, on a simple straight plinth, are painted to match the panels.
The patina retains all the character of the original tempera paint: the pigments have settled with time and show very noble ageing, with small losses and craquelure typical of antique tempera. The lid shows minimal wear from use, without affecting the decoration. The surface is alive, unrestored, and keeps all its documentary value.
For its compact scale and contained height, it sits naturally in contemporary rustic, eclectic, Mediterranean or country-house interiors, where it works as a trunk at the foot of the bed, an entrance bench with storage, a low table in front of the sofa or an anchor piece in a bedroom. Its geometric decoration and carved date make it a true conversation object.
Details
- Dimensions: Width: 119 cm Depth: 55 cm Height: 46 cm
- Style: Alpine folk art, Tyrolean tradition
- Materials and techniques: Solid pine; mitred construction; original tempera polychromy with geometric motifs; original forged-iron hardware and lock
- Place of origin: Central Europe (Tyrolean tradition)
- Period: Early twentieth century
- Date of manufacture: Year 1906 (dated on the piece)
- Condition / Notes: Good. Original patina and paint with minimal wear on the lid
This piece is part of the collection of Amaru Antiques, Barcelona.
ONE OF A KIND PIECE
