This Italian bench is known as a cassapanca, meaning a chest combined with a bench.  It is made of poplar and walnut, which is stained dark brown and extensively carved.  It has a hinged seat that opens for storage.  The front panel of the chest is decorated with two griffins in profile that are holding a shield between them.  On either side of the griffins are branches with foliage or fruit and narrow mask-like faces.  The back panel of the bench is similarly decorated with animals in profile holding a shield between them, surrounded by swirling branches with foliage.  The borders of these panels and the edges of the chest are decorated with a variety of geometric designs.  The arms on either side of the bench are in the form of an animal with large feet.