When antiques dealer Matteo De Paolis of Navona Antiques in Los Angeles speaks of Italy, he summons up visions of a stunning countryside, sparkling seas and the freshest of food. But most arresting is his description of the history and craftsmanship of a handsome mid-nineteenth-century inlaid wood secretary he recently brought back to the United States.

De Paolis purchased the piece in Italy from a private collector living near Naples. The secretary had been in the collector’s family for generations, most likely the centerpiece of the family palazzo’s piano nobile, the main level used for entertaining by Italian nobility.
De Paolis, who was born in Rome, is clearly proud of his discovery: to find an original piece in such good condition is an extraordinary bit of luck, since today few Italian palaces still have their original furniture. “The country was hit hard by World War II, many areas are still recovering. So over the years the families have been selling their collections piece by piece. It’s very rare to find a palazzo in its original condition, never mind its contents. It’s expensive to maintain the properties, so often collections are sold off in auctions or dealers like myself.”

In addition to the secretary’s rare condition, the craftsmanship is impressive. The inlaid wood techniques are specific to those practiced in Sorrento and Naples and surrounding region, varying somewhat from village to village.

De Paolis explains the process: “Basically several different types of wood are used to create a mosaic effect. Typically a piece starts as a solid piece of wood such as mahogany and then a mosaic is created on a veneer that is then placed on top. The mosaic is made by cutting different types of woods and then inserting them into a pattern. In this case, the dark wood is walnut and the lighter woods are a mix of tulip and some chestnut. Only the best pieces of wood from the tree’s trunk are used.”

Once the wood is laid and additional carvings are completed, the piece is sealed with shellac and then coated with beeswax to give it a beautiful patina and protection from wear and tear.
There is plenty of storage space: in addition to the upper shelves, concealed by two mirrored doors and three drawers, there are many nooks when the secretary is opened to reveal the writing surface. Most likely the owners would often store small treasures here such as coins, photos or jewelry. One can imagine a young woman sitting at the desk in wartime Italy, writing a love letter to the object of her affection, while gazing at his photo.
De Paolis specializes in Italian art and antiques, giving buyers a chance to purchase fine antiques seldom found in the U.S.

“I only shop in Italy,” he says, adding that the secretary “is so special—just think about how time-consuming it is to inlay the woods and carve with such detail. These days it would be so difficult to find this level of artisanship. The carving alone takes hours and hours to create.” A true beauty, this romantic piece of furniture deserves a home where it will be treasured and admired.