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Bench in cast iron and wood – Northern Italy, late 19th century
A bench born in Northern Italy at the end of the 19th century, when Lombard and Venetian foundries were producing cast-iron furnishings that combined decoration and durability. Many of these workshops had started out making industrial components or mechanical parts, and in quieter periods they turned their skills to everyday objects: railings, balustrades, lamp-post supports, benches. They often reused or adapted the same moulds, which is why certain motifs recur—scrolls, rings, gentle curves—forming a sort of visual “alphabet” of Northern Italian cast-iron work from that era.
The cast-iron structure of the bench is completely original. The scrolling armrests, the ring-reinforced legs and the softly curved backrest reflect precisely those urban and garden productions typical of the late 19th to early 20th century. The metal has been left with its natural, time-worn patina, preserving the gentle oxidation that tells its story.
The wooden boards of the seat and backrest, on the other hand, were beyond saving—as seen in the initial photos: decayed, warped, and compromised by humidity. They have been rebuilt following the original spacing and profiles, but in solid teak, chosen for its natural stability and its ability to withstand outdoor exposure without heavy treatments.
The result is a bench that has recovered its function without losing its antique character: the solidity of 19th-century cast iron paired with the quiet warmth of teak makes it ideal for a garden, a porch, or an outdoor entrance—an honest object, built to last.
- Material: wood and cast iron
- Size: cm 160x60x83 (H)
- Condition: Restored
- Period: Fine '800
- State: Optimal conditions
