This authentic "paysan" rural piece of furniture, from around the foothills of Velay, is a testimony of the spirit of friendly mutual assistance among neighbours who went to one another's homes to do the "énoisage" all together during the late evening "velhada", sometimes improvising friendly little dances to the sound of clogs, "cabrettes" and accordions.

Larch wood table for cracking walnuts (énoisage) – 19th century – Haute-Loire – [MP051]

19ᵗʰ century, Auvergne, Country furniture, Country style table, Farmhouse table, Haute-Loire, Kitchen furniture, Popular art furniture, Table, The treasure corner, Wood species

A thick larch plateau from the foothill forests of Velay and, on each corner, kinds of amazing little hollows…Here we have a genuine “énoisage” table, perfectly designed to wedge the walnuts when snapping them with  the mallet called “tricote”, to prevent the nuts from rolling to the other end of the table.

This Louis XIII oak dining table comes from the Château de Turenne in Corrèze. In the 17th century, comfortable furniture was a privilege reserved for the nobility. While household staff dined standing at a high serving table, the masters of the house and their guests could comfortably sit around this well-proportioned table.

Oak Dining Table – Louis XIII – 17th Century – Corrèze – [ME107]

17ᵗʰ century, Aquitaine, Corrèze, France, Louis XIII, Oak, Period furniture, South West of France, Table, The treasure corner

This Louis XIII dining table originates from the Château de Turenne in Corrèze. In the 17th century, comfortable furniture was a privilege reserved for the nobility. While household staff dined standing at a high serving table, the masters of the house and their guests could comfortably sit around this oak table.

Winemaker's table in oak and poplar – 19ᵗʰ century – Champagne – [MP034]

Winemaker’s table in oak and poplar – 19ᵗʰ century – Champagne – [MP034]

19ᵗʰ century, Champagne, Country furniture, Oak, Poplar, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, Small furniture, Table, Winegrower’s table

Winemaker's table in oak and poplar – 19ᵗʰ century – Champagne – [MP034] Winemaker’s table in oak and poplar – 19ᵗʰ century – Champagne The assembly of varied geometric patterns, a cross set with four triangles joined together inside the circle of the top, is highlighted thanks to the choice of nuanced wood species, namely…

This desk table was probably the prerogative of a high dignitary of the Customs corps, in charge of a flourishing trading post located on the banks of the Olt, the former name of the Lot.

Desk table in oak and chestnut – Louis XIII – 17th century – Quercy – [ME074]

17ᵗʰ century, Chestnut, Desk table, Louis XIII, Oak, Objects bearing history, Period furniture, Quercy, Small furniture, Table, The treasure corner

Desk table in oak and chestnut – Louis XIII – 17th century – Quercy Given the rarity of this type of table that served as a desk, one can imagine that this piece of furniture from Quercy experienced the heyday of river transport on the Lot during the 17th century. This desk table was probably…

Louis XIII style oak table - 20th century - Périgord - [ME048]

Louis XIII style oak table – 20ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME048]

20ᵗʰ century, Louis XIII, Oak, Périgord, Period furniture, Table

Louis XIII style oak table – 20ᵗʰ century – Périgord This table can accommodate many guests on its large table top: 3.50 m by 1.12 m. Its base is made up of six twisted legs, linked together by an assembly of H-shaped struts, themselves decorated with Louis XIII-style torsos. This table rests on six twisted…