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Preloved Wooden Tray, Italian Tray, Italian Wooden Tray, Italian Florentine Tray
This is a small vanity trinket tray or coaster tray.
It's in great condition and displays brilliantly.
The condition is shown in the photos. It has some minor deterioration of the centre section in spots.
This is an Italian Florentine tray. It exhibits the classic mid-century style of decorative Florentine woodware, which traditionally pairs a rich crimson red base with ornate gilded gold scrollwork.
However, this specific piece features a unique variation:
The Centre Panel: While traditional Florentine trays typically showcase completely gilded wood or central floral decals, this design integrates an eggshell crackle lacquer finish. This mosaic-like effect mimics crazed antique porcelain and provides a striking white contrast to the deep red and gold borders
This tray displays all the hallmark visual characteristics of traditional Florentine decorative arts from Italy, combining specific Renaissance-inspired design conventions:
The Colour Palette: The rich crimson/burgundy red base layer paired with extensive gilded gold overlay is one of the most iconic, highly recognizable colour signatures of vintage Florentine woodware.
The Gilt Scrollwork: The borders are adorned with intricate, Renaissance-inspired scrollwork, filigree flourishes, and stamped gold leaf patterns. This elaborate detailing is the primary artistic identifier for items produced by the historic craft guilds of Florence.
The Polychrome Finish Technique: Florentine pieces traditionally use a layered gesso or lacquer technique where colours are hand-painted, gilded, and then lightly distressed or rubbed down to allow the underlying gold or base coat to pop. You can see this slight textural relief where the gold borders overlap the red background.
While classic Florentine trays typically utilize a fully gilded or completely painted wood grain in the middle, yours introduces a variation featuring a central eggshell crackle lacquer panel to give it a mosaic, antiqued porcelain aesthetic.
It measures 25.1cm x 14.2cm, with a wall height of 3.5cm.
