Carlo Zen

Exhibited by Galleria Rossella Colombari

Material Walnut wood, nacre inlays, gold, silver, brass threading.

Dimensions 220 × 102.5 × 36 cm

Status Vetted

About the Work

Carlo Zen was a leading figure of Italian Liberty, able to merge the sober elegance of the Lombard tradition with international influences to create a refined and highly personal language. At the helm of his “Fabbrica Italiana di Mobili”, already renowned in the early 1900s for its large staff of specialized craftsmen and the quality of its decorative techniques, Zen reinterpreted the codes of Art Nouveau through a modern, measured, and sophisticated sensibility. His work was also shaped by an openness toward the Orient: the Japanese aesthetic—widely rediscovered in Europe at the time—is reflected in the harmonious lines, the carefully balanced interplay of solids and voids, and the use of precious, subtly luminous surfaces.

The rare double-body display cabinet, dating to 1902, perfectly embodies this stylistic synthesis. Crafted in walnut and enriched with mother-of-pearl inlays and brass stringing, it features elongated proportions and a restrained elegance that evoke a refined sense of modernity. Its substantial dimensions (220 × 102.5 × 36 cm) and exceptional craftsmanship place it among the most representative works of Carlo Zen’s production—a rare and sophisticated testament to his ability to weave together Italian artisanal tradition, Liberty style, and delicate Eastern influences.

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Provenance

Italian Private Collection

Literature

Il Mobile del 900 pp. 86, 87, 88, 89, 90

Istituto Geografico DeAgostini in collaborazione con Sotheby Londra.

Il Mobile liberty Italiano pp 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227,228

I.De Guttry, M.P. Maino Editori Laterza

Antiquariato n. 347 (Marzo 2010), pp. 82-87.