Rare Venetian Neo Rococo Dining Set Attributed To Vincenzo Cadorin For Testolini

An important Venetian dining set consisting of one extendable dining table and six matching chairs from the same period, dating from the late 19th to the early 20th century, circa 1898–1913.

The set is a remarkable example of Venetian Neo-Rococo / Barocchetto style, enriched by early Art Nouveau—or Stile Liberty—influences. The table is crafted from solid Italian walnut, with the top and apron veneered in richly figured open-match walnut burl. Its most distinctive feature is the extraordinary sculptural carving of the four corner legs, each designed to resemble a winged swan—a highly refined zoomorphic motif of great decorative power and rarity.

The sculpture is attributed to the studio of Vincenzo Cadorin, Venice, 1854–1925. A signature in graphite pencil from that period, reading “Cadorin,” is visible on the raw wood beneath the tabletop frame. The table also retains its original commercial paper label from Maison Testolini Frères, Fratelli Testolini, Piazza San Marco, Venice, confirming its prestigious Venetian distribution.

The six matching chairs date from the same period as the table and share the same refined Venetian style. They feature elegantly shaped backs, cabriole front legs, solid walnut construction, and original dark leatherette upholstery finished with brass tacks around the edges. The underside retains the traditional structure with jute webbing and hemp twine, reflecting the cabinetmaking and upholstery techniques of the period.

The table is extendable and comes with two pull-out leaves, each 40 cm long. The wooden guide rails retain their original cabinet-making precision and operate within excellent period tolerances.

This dining set originally belonged to Giovanni Chiesura and Placida Baldan, members of a Venetian family connected to the historic Chiesura family from Chies d’Alpago, Belluno. Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the couple settled in Venice and ran a grocery and colonial goods store in Campo Sant’Angelo, in the Sestiere di San Marco. Following the commercial success of their business, they acquired this important dining suite through the prestigious Fratelli Testolini gallery in Piazza San Marco, most likely as a special commission for their Venetian residence.

Preserved within the family for over a century, the set is a rare tangible testament to Venetian master craftsmanship during the Belle Époque. It also documents the complex relationship between leading artistic workshops and prestigious commercial galleries in early 20th-century Venice.

A rare and highly decorative dining set, suitable for a prestigious private residence, a collector’s home, or a refined gallery setting.

Details

Creator / Attribution: Attributed to the workshop of Vincenzo Cadorin
Commercial Distributor: Maison Testolini Frères, Testolini Brothers, Piazza San Marco, Venice
Place of Origin: Venice, Italy
Period: Late 19th / Early 20th Century
Date of Manufacture: circa 1898–1913
Style: Venetian Neo-Rococo, Barocchetto, Art Nouveau / Liberty Style
Materials: Solid Italian walnut, walnut burl veneer, hand-carved walnut, leatherette upholstery, brass tacks, jute webbing, hemp twine
Set Includes: One extendable dining table and six matching chairs
Table Dimensions: 105 x 160 cm, H 80. Two pull-out leaves, 40 cm each
Chair Dimensions: 50 x 45 cm, H 100/48
Provenance: Giovanni Chiesura and Placida Baldan, Venice; passed down through the family; A&MYART Collections

Condition

Structurally sound and complete. The table retains its original extendable pull-out mechanism, featuring well-preserved wooden guide rails and excellent period cabinetmaking tolerances. The chairs are sturdy and retain their traditional under-seat construction with jute webbing and hemp twine. Dark leatherette upholstery with brass tacks, showing signs of wear consistent with its age and period. Signs of wear, patina, minor marks, and restorations consistent with age and historical use.

HISTORICAL-ARTISTIC CATALOGING SHEET
OBJECT: Dining set consisting of one extendable dining table (with two 40-cm pull-out leaves) and six matching chairs from the same period.

PERIOD AND STYLE
Period: Late 19th Century – Early 20th Century (circa 1898 – 1913). Style: Venetian Neo-Rococo / Barocchetto with distinct Art Nouveau (Stile Liberty) influences.Materials & Technique: Solid Italian blonde walnut frame and hand-carvings; tabletop and aprons veneered in open-match walnut burl (radica di noce). The chairs feature traditional bottom webbing made of jute straps and hemp twine.

MANUFACTURER AND MAKER
Sculptural Execution: Art Workshop of Vincenzo Cadorin (Venice, 1854–1925).Distinctive Feature: An extraordinary, masterfully carved zoomorphic motif on the four corner legs, depicting a winged swan. Proof of Authenticity: A period signature in graphite pencil, “Cadorin,” on the raw wood beneath the tabletop frame.
Commercial Distribution: Maison Testolini Frères (Testolini Brothers) – St. Mark's Square, Venice.
Proof of Authenticity: Original commercial paper label affixed to the lower inner frame of the table.

PROVENANCE AND FAMILY HISTORY (PEDIGREE) The furniture set was originally owned by: GIOVANNI CHIESURA & PLACIDA BALDAN
The Owners' Profile: Great-uncle Giovanni Chiesura, a member of the historic Chiesura family originally from Chies d'Alpago (Belluno), moved to Venice between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Together with his wife, Placida Baldan, he became the owner and manager of a historic grocery and general store (Drogheria) located in the elegant Campo Sant'Angelo (Sestiere di San Marco, Venice).The Context of the Purchase: Spurred by the economic success of the grocery store, which served the upper middle class and professionals of the San Marco district, the Chiesura couple commissioned the finest parlor set for their Venetian residence. They visited the prestigious Fratelli Testolini gallery in Piazza San Marco, where they purchased this artwork, which was handcrafted to order by the world-renowned workshop of Vincenzo Cadorin.

The Line of Inheritance: This set of furniture has been jealously guarded and preserved within the immediate family for over a century, passing down intact to the present day through a direct ancestral lineage.
TECHNICAL AND CONSERVATION NOTES
Condition of the Table: Structurally sound and complete. The top surface shows clouding and light blemishes consistent with age and humidity affecting the original shellac finish. The wooden guide rails of the extendable panels (pull-out mechanism) maintain their impeccable period cabinetmaking tolerances.
Condition of the Chairs: Six sturdy chairs with matching cabriole front legs. The under-seat structure is in good condition, featuring intact jute webbing and original dark leatherette upholstery with brass tacks around the edges.Future

DOCUMENTARY VALUE
This furniture set is a very rare and valuable material testament to Venetian craftsmanship during the Belle Époque. It provides a flawless account of the high-end art subcontracting system in early 20th-century Venice and embodies the spirit of industry and success of the Chiesura-Baldan family.

Condition report:

Good. Wear consistent with age and use.