Mongiardino Would Approve

Woodgrained marquetry console by Nels Christianson, just finished and installed. Upon seeing it, a colleague exclaimed, “Mongiardino would approve!”

He was referring to Italy’s grand illusionist, the scholarly and imaginative architect Renzo Mongiardino who created some of the most lush and enchanting interiors of the 20th century. We were pleased to receive our colleague’s compliment because he would certainly know. Mongiardino was a long-time client of his.

Here is a before view of the console. “Illusion comes into being as part of the pleasure,” Mongiardino wrote in his book Roomscapes.

As for the illusion of what we do, here are two detailed views, photographed in our studio while the faux inlaid decorative painting was drying.

Yes, we actually painted that. We’d like to think the master designer would approve!