​In Italy, Nazzareno Bonaretti made a range of toys which he sold at local markets. These toys, as well as being playthings for children to enjoy, were produced as examples of his proficiency in cabinetmaking. These, in turn, gained him commissions to make kitchen, bedroom and dining room furniture to customers’ specifications. He was also skilled in French polishing, a wood finishing technique that resulted in a very high gloss surface, which took hours of careful rubbing over days to complete. (French polishing consists of applying many thin coats of shellac dissolved in denatured alcohol using a rubbing pad lubricated with one of a variety of oils – read more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_polish)
It was his passion and expertise in cabinetmaking that brought quality to his scaled-down furniture for children, such as kitchen dressers and tables and chairs. 

Kitchen Dressers

This photo was taken on 4th May, 1946, cropped to show an ornate kitchen dresser offered for sale at a northern Italian market. The dresser appears quite complicated and comprehensive in offering storage in a child-sized kitchen.

This dresser was listed in the c1959 S. Hoffnung Catalogue

This reconditioned ‘adult’ dresser is from a seller in Spain and dates from the Mid-century.

"LAMINEX" Table and Chairs

NAMCO ad from The Rugby League News Vol. 34 No. 5 April 18, 1953 using Laminex.

From Bestoys 1963 catalogue, also using Laminex.

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