This 18th-century coach chest is clad in leather on the outside and bordered with studded brass. The interior is lined with hand-painted wallpaper, forming speckled patterns. Originally, this type of luggage was the work of the guild of trunk makers, a separate trade from the saddle makers, emerging during the 14th century.

Coach Travel Chest in Leather and Wood – 18th Century – Île de France – [ME124]

18ᵗʰ century, Île de France, Metal, Period furniture, Small furniture, Stagecoach travel trunk, The treasure corner, Travel trunk, Trunk, Wood species

The vanity one carries with them in the 18th century is made from leather, brass, and wood. These natural materials were assembled by the guild of trunk makers, with no recourse to plastics which of course did not yet exist. Let’s rediscover the charm of yesteryear’s luggage with this delicate coach travel chest in leather, brass, and wood, a surviving witness of the Renaissance’s golden days in France.

What characterizes this bronze chandelier from the 17th century is that it has never been converted to electricity. Everything here is original, and only the candles are adapted to its candle holders. Additionally, small vessels are intended to receive walnut oil and wicks to complete the decidedly intimate lighting setup.

Bronze Chandelier – Louis XIV – 17th Century – Quercy – [ME117]

17ᵗʰ century, Chandelier, France, Louis XIV, Metal, Midi-Pyrénées, Quercy, The treasure corner

In golden bronze, this midsize chandelier can hold candles at the top of the four candle holders that top its branches. As was practiced in the 17th century, four small vessels are arranged in the center to receive walnut oil and wicks to complement the original lighting setup. Below, a bowl is ready to absorb any potential overflow.

Impressively sized, this fireplace plate from the renowned foundries of Périgord showcases traditional royal heraldry, featuring a crown surrounded by fleur-de-lis and pine cones, symbolizing longevity. Cast in 1644, the inclusion of this date in its design adds to its historical appeal and authenticity.

Royal Cast Iron Fireplace Plate – 17th Century – Périgord – [ME113]

17ᵗʰ century, Cast iron, chimney plate, fireplace accessory, Périgord, Period furniture

Impressively sized, this fireplace plate from the illustrious foundries of Périgord displays traditional royal heraldry – a crown surrounded by fleur-de-lis and pine cones, symbolizing longevity. Cast in 1644, the historical significance and authenticity are highlighted by this embedded date.

It is believed to have the power to chase away demons, and that's why Pope Leo IV chose it in the 9th century to reign on the steeples of our churches. Very rare, this all-copper church steeple rooster has descended for a while, ready to come protect your home.

Church Steeple Rooster in Copper – 19th Century – Languedoc-Roussillon – [MP050]

19ᵗʰ century, Copper, Country furniture, Metal, Objects bearing history, Popular art furniture, Sculpture, The treasure corner

Discover the extraordinary power attributed to the church steeple rooster – a demon-chaser chosen by Pope Leo IV in the 9th century to grace our church steeples. A truly rare find, this all-copper rooster has descended briefly, ready to safeguard your home.

Here is a pie dish that has the particularity of being cast right after a church bell, in order not to waste any of the molten metal. Therefore, it is made of the same bronze and can be considered the little sister of a bell, just a few minutes apart, though not an exact twin.

Bell Bronze Pie Dish – 19th Century – Southwest – [MP043]

19ᵗʰ century, Country furniture, France, Metal, Pie dish, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, South West of France, The treasure corner

Do pies baked in a pie dish cast from the same bronze as a church bell, on the very same day, carry the scent of holiness? You can find out by testing this exceptionally rare object, an authentic bell bronze pie dish, ready to ensure the most traditional cooking on a wood fire tripod.

Three copper containers of exceptional size: an enormous kettle, the matching pie dish and an equally imposing pitcher. All are in red copper and date from the 18th century, a period during which they were manufactured using the same processes in the South West of France.

Kettle, Pie Dish and Decaliter Jug in Red Copper – 18th century – South West – [MP035] [MP036] [MP037]

18ᵗʰ century, Copper, Country furniture, Kettle, Kitchen furniture, Metal, Pie dish, Pitcher, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, South West of France, The treasure corner, Ustensils

It’s a bit like Gulliver’s dinette. On our scale, a huge teapot, a generous pie dish and a colossal milk jug. In reality, these everyday objects, hammered from sheets of red copper, have known the good times of a large wine-growing family in the Médoc in the 18th century. She used it for cooking, bathing and selling wine.

On remarque, sur ce modèle de gaufrier des motifs différents sur la plaquette de gauche, ornée de cœurs en vis-à-vis, et sur celle de droite, ornée de cœurs qui semblent cette fois-ci comme ouverts. Les deux plaquettes bénéficient tout autour de ces cœurs, de décors de volutes, de petites croix et de pointillés.

Waffle mold in wrought iron – 18th century – Périgord – [MP032]

18ᵗʰ century, Cake mold, Country furniture, Kitchen furniture, Metal, Périgord, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, The treasure corner, waffle iron, Wrought iron

“The Fight Between Carnival and Lent”, painted by Brueghel the Elder, 1559 – Collection: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria. Detail of the painting by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, “The Fight Between Carnival and Lent”. We see a woman holding the waffle iron over the flame. With this type of waffle iron shaped by a blacksmith from…

Small vat for the soup in cast iron – 17ᵗʰ century – Fonderies du Périgord – [ME077]

Small vat for the soup in cast iron – 17ᵗʰ century – Fonderies du Périgord – [ME077]

17ᵗʰ century, Cast iron, Cast iron vat, Metal, Périgord, Period furniture, The treasure corner, Vat for the soup

Small vat for the soup in cast iron – 17ᵗʰ century – Fonderies du Périgord – [ME077] Straw Handle: Straw pattern resulting from mold making process. This type of vat was used to prepare soup during major harvests in important agricultural areas. Imagine up to forty people working in the fields. It is a question…

Large cast iron vat for laundry – 16ᵗʰ century – Fonderies du Périgord – [ME076]

Large cast iron vat for laundry – 16ᵗʰ century – Fonderies du Périgord – [ME076]

16ᵗʰ century, Cast iron, Cast iron vat, Metal, Objects bearing history, Périgord, Period furniture, Wash boiler

This large cast iron tub was intended to do the laundry of the entire community. It was filled with boiling water and an ash-based detergent, the very one we are rediscovering today. The drain called the “couladou” made it possible to empty it without spilling it, once the laundry was washed. We can observe two…

Sugar boiler for the Colonies – 16ᵗʰ century – Fonderies du Périgord – [ME075]

Sugar boiler for the Colonies – 16ᵗʰ century – Fonderies du Périgord – [ME075]

16ᵗʰ century, Cast iron, Cast iron vat, Metal, Objects bearing history, Périgord, Period furniture, Sugar boiler

From the Périgord Foundries, these cast iron vats are recognizable at first glance. They are rounded in shape, equipped with rod handles and without couladous (drainage in Occitan) which made it possible to stack them for transport. These boilers were indeed intended for export. They were to join by sea, on large ships, the French…

Cast iron fireback – Louis XV – 18ᵗʰ century – South-West – [ME079]

Cast iron fireback – Louis XV – 18ᵗʰ century – South-West – [ME079]

18ᵗʰ century, Cast iron, chimney plate, fireplace accessory, Louis XV, Metal, Period furniture, South West of France, The treasure corner

Cast iron fireback – Louis XV – 18ᵗʰ century – South-West – [ME079] We notice its pretty central cartouche formed of acanthus leaves surrounded by a beaded molding around which appears the date “1764” (1 and 6 inscribed in mirror) as well as a series of seven flowers. The whole being enhanced with a gadrooned…

Cast iron andirons - 18th century - Périgord - [ME062]

Cast iron andirons – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME062]

17ᵗʰ century, Andirons, Cast iron, fireplace accessory, Metal, Périgord, Period furniture, The treasure corner

Cast iron andirons – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME062] The andirons are a warm welcome to your “life after”. In the evening at the vigil, it is sweet to be able to contemplate solid andirons. While many of us are rediscovering the charm of country houses where the “pleasure fire” warms and fascinates us,…