Impressive in size, this oak chest comes from a fortress in Périgord. It remains a testament to its past grandeur. Its mission was, in its time, to welcome back from battles the weapons and armour of the Knight Master of the house. It is rare to be able to observe this type of castle furniture, as very few of its comrades-in-arms were produced and most have now disappeared.

Knight’s Oak Armour Chest – 15th Century – High Middle Ages – Périgord – [ME148]

15ᵗʰ century, Castle furniture, High Middle Ages, Knight Chest, Oak, Périgord, Period furniture, The treasure corner, Trunk

AUX-ROIS-LOUIS’S TREASURES FILMING AT CHÂTEAU DE BIRON IN PÉRIGORD FOR THE SERIES ‘FORTUNE DE FRANCE’ Adapted from Robert Merle’s literary fresco, a writer native to Sarlat, the “Fortune de France” series directed by Christopher Thomson took up residence at Château de Biron, seat of one of the oldest baronies in Périgord, in spring 2023. It…

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.

This countryside "bureau" has all the distinctive features of those used in th XIXth century to collect the "octroi" when goods arrived in towns on market day. Its rustic solid oak structure rests upon a H-shaped stand off. It has a large drawer one could keep receipts and money.

Oak countryside table-desk – 19ᵗʰ century – Sarlat district in Périgord Noir – [MP053]

19ᵗʰ century, Aquitaine, France, Oak, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, Small furniture, The treasure corner, Wood species

This countryside “bureau” has all the distinctive features of those used in th XIXth century to collect the “octroi” when goods arrived in towns on market day. Its rustic solid oak structure rests upon a H-shaped stand off. It has a large drawer one could keep receipts and money.

Offered as part of the bride's dowry by her father, this natural oak chest adorned with tulips and a country bouquet served two purposes in the 18th century: to hold the personal effects of the young bride and to allow the couple to sit at the foot of their bed in complete intimacy. Hence its name "end-of-bed chest."

Natural Oak End-of-Bed Chest – 18th Century – South West – [MP046]

18ᵗʰ century, Country furniture, France, Oak, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, South West of France, The treasure corner, Trunk, Wedding trunk

It carries the aroma of beeswax that has permeated its natural oak since the 18th century, the era of its birth – a symbol of the union of a young couple whose initials were M and P… This end-of-bed chest is eagerly waiting to return to a room where love will reign, where love will be the law, etc.

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…

Oak wedding chest – 18th century – Auvergne – [MP028]

Oak wedding chest – 18th century – Auvergne – [MP028]

18ᵗʰ century, Auvergne, Country furniture, Oak, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, The treasure corner, Trunk, Wedding trunk

Oak wedding chest – 18th century – Auvergne – [MP028] Flowers, passion, a dowry and its sheath Here is how this piece of furniture appeared in Auvergne in the 18th century. Prelude to the wedding, the engagement makes it possible to organize as it should, the imminent arrival of the bride in the family of…

Sideboard chest – Louis XV – 18ᵗʰ century – South West France - [ME070]

Sideboard chest in oak – Louis XV – 18ᵗʰ century – South West France – [ME070]

18ᵗʰ century, Louis XV, Oak, Period furniture, Sideboard, Sideboard chest, Small furniture, South West of France

Sideboard chest – Louis XV – 18ᵗʰ century – South West France – [ME070] Sideboard chest in oak – Louis XV – 18ᵗʰ century – South West France Astonishing trompe-l’oeil fantasy on this little sideboard which seems to have two drawers even though it opens on the top like a chest. Another daring mix of…

Quality, sobriety and simplicity of this bonnetière echo the Auvergne art of living, centered on the essential.

Louis XIII style oak bonnetière – 18th century – Auvergne – [MP021]

18ᵗʰ century, Auvergne, Bonnetière, Linen cupboard, Louis XIII, Oak, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, Small furniture, Wardrobe

Louis XIII style oak bonnetière – 18th century – Auvergne – [MP021] The bottom panel of the door takes up the great classic of the Louis XIII style: the flattened diamond point. Louis XIII style oak bonnetière – 18th century – Auvergne Here is a beautiful laundry cabinet which was intended for a house in…

This Bureau de Dame has an inclined flap with a book rack and two 'official' drawers.

Louis XV Bureau de Dame in walnut and oak – 18ᵗʰ century – South West – [ME056]

18ᵗʰ century, Desk, Louis XV, Oak, Period furniture, Small furniture, South West of France, Walnut

This Bureau de Dame has an inclined flap with a book rack and two 'official' drawers. Once opened, it reveals a beautiful writing area Louis XV Bureau de Dame in walnut and oak – 18ᵗʰ century – South West Dedicated to women, this type of desk, designed in the 18th century, bears the name of…

Louis XV style country sideboard in walnut, oak and elm – 19ᵗʰ century – South West – [MP020]

Louis XV style country sideboard in walnut, oak and elm – 19ᵗʰ century – South West of France – [MP020]

19ᵗʰ century, Buffet, Country furniture, Elm, Louis XV, Oak, Provincial art, Small furniture, South West of France, Walnut

Louis XV style country sideboard in walnut, oak and elm – 19ᵗʰ century – South West of France The mix of wood species, in this case walnut, oak and elm, evokes a short circuit, ecological production ahead of time. In fact, the peasants stored, in anticipation of an important family event such as a marriage…

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…

Manka, oak sideboard – 18ᵗʰ century – Basque Country – [MP015]

Manka, oak sideboard – 18ᵗʰ century – Basque Country – [MP015]

18ᵗʰ century, Basque Country, Buffet, Country furniture, Louis XV, Manka, Oak, Popular art furniture, Provincial art

Manka, oak sideboard – 18ᵗʰ century – Basque Country – [MP015] Manka, oak sideboard – 18ᵗʰ century – Basque Country The top board opens onto a chest This oak sideboard comes from the Basque Country where it is called “manka”. Basque mankas, therefore, are characterized by the fact that their tray opens onto a large…

Mazarin desk in walnut, oak and pear – Louis XIV – 17ᵗʰ century – South-West – [ME040]

Mazarin desk in walnut, oak and pear – Louis XIV – 17ᵗʰ century – South-West – [ME040]

17ᵗʰ century, Bureau de milieu, Desk, Executive desk, Louis XIV, Mazarin, Oak, Pear wood, Period furniture, South West of France, The treasure corner, Walnut

This Louis XIV desk, Mazarin style, has the particularity of having been fashioned with different types of wood. The top is in walnut, the frame is in oak, the drawers and panels are in pear wood. This cleverly thought-out assembly highlights the architecture of this “bureau de milieu”, not intended to be against a wall…

Armoire normande en chêne – fin XVIIIᵉ – Pays de Caux

Normandy oak wardrobe – late 18ᵗʰ century – Pays de Caux [ME015]

Furnitures, Late 18ᵗʰ century, Normandie, Oak, Pays de Caux, Period furniture, Wardrobe, Wedding gift wardrobe

Armoire normande en chêne – fin XVIIIᵉ – Pays de Caux Normandy oak wardrobe – late 18ᵗʰ century – Pays de Caux Designed and created as a wedding gift by a cabinetmaker and a sculptor from Caux, this Normandy wardrobe has all the attributes appertaining to its terroir and its time, the end of the…

Oak storage wardrobe - from a monastery – 17ᵗʰ century – Burgundy

Oak storage wardrobe – from a monastery – 17ᵗʰ century – Burgundy [MP005]

17ᵗʰ century, Bourgogne, Castle furniture, Country furniture, Furnitures, Oak, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, Storage chest, The treasure corner, Wardrobe, Wood species

Oak storage wardrobe – from a monastery – 17ᵗʰ century – Burgundy Oak storage wardrobe – from a monastery – 17ᵗʰ century – Burgundy A veritable masterpiece created by a 17ᵗʰ century “image maker” (the name attributed to wood carvers), this storage wardrobe stood proudly in a monastery that used to produce Burgundy wine. It…

Oak wedding wardrobe – 19ᵗʰ century – Brittany - MP001

Oak wedding wardrobe – 19ᵗʰ century – Brittany – [MP001]

19ᵗʰ century, Bretagne, Country furniture, Furnitures, Oak, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, Storage chest, Wardrobe, Wedding gift storage chest, Wedding gift wardrobe, Wood species

Oak wedding wardrobe – 19ᵗʰ century – Brittany For the most part, popular art furniture was specially ordered for weddings. The families deployed considerable means so that their children’s union would be fertile, prosperous and everlasting. The symbols that were used were understood by everybody, since they were rooted in a shared religious iconography. Beside…