Genoese workshop, Cabinet, fir, walnut, ebony, chiselled metal, circa 1579-1629 (inv. n. Mobili 1549)

The front of the cabinet is a reproduction of the facade of the Genoese Palazzo Doria Tursi. Made between 1572 and 1579, the cabinet is characterized by two architectural orders. Behind the elegant facade are drawers and hidden compartments, much appreciated by the sophisticated collectors of the 16th and 17th centuries. The presence on metal hinges, used to open the drawers, of the coat of arms of Ulpiano Volpi, Bishop of Chieti and Novara, has led to the hypothesis that Volpi was the intended customer of this notable work.