Italian, Veneto
Pair of Benches (Panche), early 18th century
Gilded wood, 49 x 143 x 48 cm (19 5/16 x 56 5/16 x 18 7/8 in.)
This is a pair of long rectangular benches with green-gold upholstered seat tops and carved wooden base supports with traces of original gold gilding. The seat upholstery is possibly a velvet fabric, and appears worn with use. The bench base consists of six carved pillar-like vertical wooden supports, one at each corner and one on each side in the middle. These vertical supports are joined near the floor by horizontal wooden, carved supports that cross to form an elongated "X" from the central supports out to each corner. The horizontal supports are carved in a curved, wavy manner with accolades and scrolls, as they reach from the vertical supports to join in the center of each horizontal "X".
Long Gallery
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.