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Late 18th-century exterior entrance door with folding ("book-style") leaves, built in larch and fruitwood, featuring raised panels, a fluted neoclassical lower rail and its original wrought-iron hardware. From a distinguished country residence between Umbria and Tuscany. Size: 128 × 215 cm (50.4 × 84.6 in).
Some details tell you immediately that you're looking at a well-made door. Here, it is the opening system.
Each leaf folds back onto itself, so the door takes up far less space when fully open. Today we would probably call it a modern idea. In reality, it was already being used more than two centuries ago because it simply worked.
The choice of timber says just as much. The exterior face is made of larch, a naturally resinous wood valued for its resistance to weather. The interior is built in fruitwood, chosen for its stability and fine grain. A good craftsman did not use one timber for everything; each wood was selected for the job it had to do.
The front is defined by a balanced arrangement of raised panels, while the fluted lower rail introduces a quiet neoclassical touch without overwhelming the overall design. The interior side is simpler, as was often the case, allowing the original ironwork to be appreciated in full: long strap hinges, sliding bolts and the original locking hardware are all still in place.
The painted surface retains a beautiful verdigris green finish, recalling the soft green tones that copper acquires through oxidation over time. The colour has aged naturally and remains remarkably consistent, giving the door much of its distinctive personality.
One look at the timber tells a simple story: this door has been well cared for. The structure remains sound, with no significant decay or major losses, showing decades of regular maintenance rather than neglect. Entirely original, it is an excellent candidate for a careful conservation restoration.
Today it can once again become the main entrance to a house, or the access to a loggia, terrace or other sheltered outdoor space. Its folding opening system still offers a practical advantage wherever space is limited or where an inner glazed door or vestibule needs to remain in place.
More than two and a half centuries ago, this was simply a well-made entrance door. Today it is the kind of architectural element that gives a home its own identity from the very first step inside.
- Material: solid wood
- Size: cm 128 x 215 (h)
- Condition: Tobe restored
- Period: Seconda metà del '700
- Style: Neoclassical
- State: Good conditions
