Antique Italian Rococo Revival Giltwood Wall Bracket

This ornate giltwood wall bracket, in the Rococo Revival style, was crafted in Italy during early 20th century. Boldly carved with curling foliate scrolls, floral sprays, and asymmetrical flourishes, it reflects the enduring fascination with the Rococo aesthetic — a style that had flourished in the 18th century and was revived with great enthusiasm during the Belle Époque.

The shaped top, designed to display a vase, clock, or objet d’art, is supported by a deeply undercut framework of C-scrolls and flowers. The surface is gilded throughout, enriched with traces of red bole glowing through in areas of natural wear, giving warmth and depth to the carving.

The Rococo Revival, particularly popular in Italy and France from early 20th, embraced the playful curves, asymmetry, and naturalistic ornamentation of the original 18th-century style. This bracket demonstrates the period’s craftsmanship at its best: lively, exuberant, and highly decorative, designed to bring elegance and movement to an interior wall.

The bracket is carved in solid timber, likely limewood or softwood, and finished with water gilding. It retains a fine, mellow surface with gentle wear consistent with age, adding character and authenticity. Minor old repairs to extremities, but structurally sound and ready to display.

Wall brackets of this type became fashionable once again in the late 19th century, when historic revival styles were embraced by both wealthy collectors and interior designers. Often made in pairs, they were used to display decorative porcelain, clocks, or sculpture, their theatrical form enhancing both object and room.

This example, with its graceful Rococo ornament, would have been perfectly at home in the opulent interiors of a late 19th-century Italian villa or grand town apartment, and today makes a striking decorative accent for both period and contemporary settings.

Condition Report

This wall bracket is in very good condition for its age. The carved giltwood retains much of its original gilding, with a pleasing, gently worn patina and areas of red bole visible on raised surfaces, consistent with natural age and handling. Minor historic restorations and small surface wear to extremities, as expected. Structurally sound and stable, ready for display.

Measurement

Height:            37 cm     /      14.6 inches

Width:             48 cm     /      18.9 inches

Depth:             26 cm     /      10.2 inches

Weight:           1.9 k.g.     /    4.2 lbs