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The emergence of period provincial furniture – a play in three acts:

The provincial furniture of the nobility

In France, the second half of the 16ᵗʰ century was profoundly marked by eight wars of religion between Catholics and Protestants, which left the country in a state of ruin. In the 17ᵗʰ century, at the instigation of Henri IV, the Kingdom of France was to recover and reach its economic and military apogee. Its cultural influence spread throughout Europe. That is why this period is now called the “Grand Siècle”. The elite were to aspire to a new way of life, comfortable, expensive and peaceful.

The nobility was to leave the mediaeval fortresses and build splendid castles with cosier living spaces and more light thanks to numerous windows. Panelling adorned the walls along with tapestries and mirrors. The storage unit, which prior to this time was nothing more than a simple chest, was replaced by a newcomer: the commode, which was indeed “practical” (the English translation of “commode”) in all its forms – “tombeau”, “arbalète” or “galbée”. The trestle table that formerly stood in the château was replaced by an imposing banqueting table surrounded by comfortable chairs, produced on a large scale and in various shapes and forms: high back armchairs, flat back “fauteuils à la reine” armchairs, wing chairs, cabriolet chairs. The tall armoire took pride of place, proud of its poly-lobed panels in relief and its “crown”, its generously moulded cornice. As you explore these noble residences you will find furniture in the kitchens and pantries and in the servants’ quarters as well as in the hunting lodges at the bottom of the parks: for example, servers, pantry tables, country sideboards, meat safes as well as the tables, armoires and hunters’ buffets with marble tops on which game was carved. One of the favourite types of wood at that time was walnut, a wood species highly prized by the furniture-maker craftsmen, both for its delicate fibre and its various shades.

A fine example of the provincial furniture of the nobility

Louis XIII wardrobe – 17ᵗʰ century – Limousin - ME001
Louis XIII wardrobe – 17ᵗʰ century – Limousin

Louis XIII wardrobe – 17ᵗʰ century – Limousin

This linen cupboard from Limousin is typical of the first provincial furniture to make its way into aristocratic homes at the start of the 17ᵗʰ century. Before that, they put their clothes and linen in chests. This is a functional piece of furniture with just one audacious artistic feature: the moulding on the panels, designed to catch the light. During the same period, the armoire, the table and a few chairs came and brightened up the insides of the aristocratic residences and the stately homes of the wealthy landowners in the Provinces of France.

Reference number: ME001

The provincial furniture of the bourgeoisie

All those who contributed to the sudden growth of trade and industry in the 17th century began to form a new social class, the bourgeoisie. Maritime factories were established in the large port cities of France. To build and fill their caravels, these factories needed goods from inland regions: wood, hemp, textiles, knives, firearms, wines, spirits, wheat, flour, etc. In next to no time, the floodgates opened, great amounts of wealth were accumulated and elegant manors and chateaux were built. In the 18ᵗʰ century, le Sieur Jean de Bouilhac, Louis XV’s doctor, ordered the construction of the Hôtel de Bouilhac in Montignac, the town where the Aux-Rois-Louis salesroom gallery is situated today. This hotel particulier is listed by the French Historic Monument Society.
The bourgeoisie’s strong aspiration to accede to the social status of the nobility continued all through the 17ᵗʰ century. To achieve this end, they embellished their homes with new living spaces, rivalling in terms of comfort and cosiness. They created entrance halls, living rooms, boudoirs, smoking rooms, studies, all of which called for new furniture. It was at this time that they invented the sofa, the confidante, the “duchesse” lounge chair, the “duchesse brisée”, the stool as well as a large number of chairs including the fireside chair which the smokers turned round to have their backs to the fireplace. In their studies they installed writing tables, derived from flat top desks, reading desks and slant top desks, often designed like a trompe l’oeil theatre décor behind which was hidden a set of drawers and a secret compartment, sometimes used for hiding love letters or “inheritance powder”, the name they gave to the poison they put inside rings and sprinkled into glasses at receptions in order to eliminate certain heirs.

A fine example of the provincial furniture of the bourgeoisie

Louis XIV walnut armoire – late 17ᵗʰ century - Perigord - ME002
Louis XIV walnut armoire – late 17ᵗʰ century - Perigord

Louis XIV walnut armoire – late 17ᵗʰ century - Perigord

This coffered armoire, with drawers in the lower part, is in the Louis XIV style. The ultimate aim was to flaunt in one’s own home an ostentatious piece of furniture, reflecting the pomp and splendour of Versailles, initiated by Louis XIV, the Sun King. This type of furniture crowned the social and economic success of a bourgeoisie that had made a fortune and wanted to show off. Heavy sideboards, big banqueting tables, dressers for displaying copper ware, pewter ware and pottery and two-tiered buffets in the servants’ quarters for arranging all the kitchen utensils.

Reference number: ME002

Below you can see a few samples from our vast collection of period furniture. Please do not hesitate to consult us.

‘Le saut de l’Ange’ – Oil on canvas – 18th century – Italy – [ME102]

Vertigo of love or temptation of the void, this beautiful oil painting in baroque style allegorically associates these two interpretations of the ‘The Angel’s Leap’, which, in either case, is not innocent.

Louis XVI cherrywood jump chest from the 18th century – South West of France – [ME086]

The Louis XVI style is inspired by the forms and ornamental motifs of Antiquity. Its charm comes from its revisiting of classicism by infusing it with more delicacy and lightness. This cherrywood jump chest illustrates how this renewal was able to express itself in the 18th century in the Provinces of the Kingdom of France…

Louis XIII Manor Table in Oak – 17th century – Corrèze – [ME091]

On the four legs of this beautiful dining room table, one can see wood turning reminiscent of the beginnings of the Louis XIII style. The central base of the crosspiece is reinforced by a support called “the fifth leg.”

Walnut Reception Table in Louis XIII style – 19th century – Périgord – [ME092]

What illuminates this large elegant table is its warm and clear patina, your honey, which warms both its 2 m long top and its entire base.

Two inseparable walnut armed chairs – Louis XIII – Quercy – [ME089]

Would you like to take a seat next to your dear and tender partner, gentle lady? These two armed chairs were specifically designed for the couple of good society who were keen to bring them into their home to enjoy endless conversations by the fireplace.

Country chest of drawers in cherry wood – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME080]

She is a bit like a beautiful country girl who would have put on her prettiest dress to go to the ball. This chest of drawers, made from generous planks of cherry wood, in Périgord in the 18th century, proudly displays the assets of Louis XV charm. Curved front and refined handles form the adornment of our young beauty.

Small two-piece walnut sideboard – 18ᵗʰ century – South West France – [ME073]

It has everything of a great, namely all the attributes of the Louis XIII style, with the advantage of being of reasonable size. This small two-piece sideboard, commissioned in the 18th century by a rich farmer from the South West, is about to do wonders in our contemporary kitchens.

Walnut bonnetière – Louis XIV – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME082]

The audacious talent of the furniture carpenter who fashioned this bonnetière in Périgord in the 17th century lies in the fact that the hollow uprights, on either side of the facade, hug all the greasy moldings of the lower picture rail one by one as well as all those of the upper cornice.

Louis XV mirror – gilded wood – 18ᵗʰ century – South West – [ME085]

Louis XV Mirror – Gilded Wood – 18ᵗʰ Century – South West of France Discreetly sized, this Louis XV mirror features a lovely scallop shell on its slightly curved pediment, framed by foliage and flowers. Through the gold leaf gilding of its frame, due to its age, the famous “bol d’Arménie” (bolus armenus) emerges, testimony…

Large Louis XV mirror – gilded wood – late 18ᵗʰ century – Midi-Pyrénées – [ME084]

Large Louis XV Mirror – Gilded Wood – Late 18ᵗʰ Century – Midi-Pyrénées The imposing frontispiece of this Louis XV mirror seems to have been sculpted to the size of the generous cornucopia that flourishes in the middle. Symbol of fecundity and fertility, it is highlighted by a checkered background of diamonds, all punctuated in…

Louis XV mirror – giltwood frame – late 18ᵗʰ century – South of France – [ME083]

Louis XV Mirror – Giltwood Frame – Late 18ᵗʰ Century – South of France Fantasy shines in this Louis XV mirror thanks to the emergence of the Rocaille style. Its particularity, breaking with symmetry, is particularly visible in the escalation of very different acanthus leaves on either side of the summit medallion. The rinceaux inspired…

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

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…

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

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 of feeding them copiously twice a day. This large pot was placed on a masonry hearth established in a rustic kitchen. All these brave peasants came…

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

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]

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]

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 molding. Reference: [ME079]. Dimensions: width: 62 cm, height: 74 cm, thickness 3 cm.…

Louis XIII credenza in walnut – 17ᵗʰ century – South-West – [ME071]

For those who love the austere charm of the castles of the Kngdom of France in the pure Louis XIII style, before the influence of the Italian Renaissance intervened, this credenza is a centerpiece. It give evidence to a precise temporal parenthesis, that of the sedentarization of the knights who will begin to provide in…

Rocking cradle in cherrywood – Louis-Philippe – 19ᵗʰ century – South West – [ME072]

B like Bassinet, Emblem of BLM, Baby Liberation Movement If the BLM – Baby Liberation Movement – existed, the rocking cradle would be its flagship. It is indeed thanks to this small private bed that the babies were able to leave their panoply of mummy tightly wrapped in bandages and the already too crowded family…

Apothecary mortar in marble – late 18th century – France – [ME068]

Apothecary mortar in marble – late 18th century – France This frustoconical mortar was sculpted in a block of veined white marble, then patiently polished by hand, to obtain an impeccable softness to the touch and an irreproachable regularity of shapes. That of the tank hollowed out in the shape of a “cul de poule”…

Walnut storage cabinet – 18ᵗʰ century – France – [ME066]

Walnut storage cabinet – 18ᵗʰ century – France You have before you the ancestor of the diplomatic bag … It is in fact in this kind of cabinet with drawers that the high dignitaries of the 16ᵗʰ and 17ᵗʰ centuries took their precious documents, cards, titles, treaties and coins of exchange, when they set out…

Walnut sideboard with scallop shell – Louis XV – 18th century – Lot Valley – [ME067]

Walnut sideboard with scallop shell – Louis XV – 18th century – Lot Valley What jumps out at first glance, when looking at this sideboard, are the medallions of the two doors worked in projecting molding. Patterns of points, windings and curved lines describe around these medallions a skilfully convoluted rim. The lower of the…

Bourgeois jam cabinet in blond walnut – 18th century – Périgord – [ME064]

HISTORY OF THE CONFITURIER OR HOW GASTRONOMIC MORES INFLUENCE FURNITURE The history of jam cabinets coincides with that of the arrival of sugar in homes. We are at the end of the 17th century and “white gold”, until then the preserve of apothecaries who sell it at gold prices in their pharmacies, finally arrives at…

Sculpture in anamorphosis of Saint Sebastian – 17ᵗʰ century – South of France – [ME065]

Sculpture in anamorphosis of Saint Sebastian – 17ᵗʰ century – South of France – [ME065] In the 17th century, in many religious buildings, Saint Sebastian remained tied up while the arrows attached to his legend were no longer represented. At most, they will be suggested. The Saint Sebastian carved in a hundred-year-old walnut that we…

Walnut jumping chest of drawers – Louis XV – 18ᵗʰ century – Loire region – [ME060]

Walnut jumping chest of drawers – Louis XV – 18ᵗʰ century – Loire region – [ME060] This small curved chest of drawers, as if ready to pounce on its raised legs, is, for this reason, called a “jumping chest of drawers”. At the same time, its humped feet seem to give it a form of…

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

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,…

Mansion clock in cherry wood – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME057]

Mansion clock in cherry wood – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME057] FROM THE SUN TO THE WATCH, FROM PRAYER TO THE POINTEUSE, A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CAPTURE OF TIME The millennial quest for the measurement of time will free itself from the course of the Sun and the flow of water to…

Tomb-like commode in cherry wood – Louis XV – 18ᵗʰ century – South West – [ME055]

Tomb-like commode in cherry wood – Louis XV – 18ᵗʰ century – South West – [ME055] To observe attentively the movements which animate this Louis XV chest of drawers, it is to take the measure of the feats accomplished in the 18ᵗʰ century by the cabinetmaker who was the author. It comes out of the…

Homme debout in walnut – Louis XIV – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord-Limousin – [ME054]

Homme debout in walnut – Louis XIV – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord-Limousin – [ME054] It is clear that this ‘homme debout’ has been entirely worked, so that there is no walnut plank treated flat. The uprights, crosspieces and door frames are in fact molded over the entire width. In addition, in the center of the…

Office cabinet in walnut – Louis XIII – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME053]

Office cabinet in walnut – Louis XIII – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME053] Devoted to the storage needs of a large office, this Louis XIII cabinet illustrates the type of command required by the noble houses and castles of Périgord. It dates from the 17ᵗʰ century and enjoys a remarkable state of conservation.

Renaissance style chest in walnut – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME051]

Renaissance style chest in walnut – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME051] Made in Périgord in the 17ᵗʰ century, this walnut chest uses the aesthetic codes of the Renaissance, a pivotal period between the Middle Ages and modern times. You can recognize the famous gadrooned moldings around the edge of the plateau and on the…

Mazarin desk in walnut – Louis XIV – South West – [ME049]

Mazarin desk in walnut – Louis XIV – South West – [ME049] This Mazarin Louis XIV desk has a refined base, composed of eight legs rolled up in volutes, resting on clogs. By opening the side doors, we discover six drawers themselves compartmentalized in lockers. The central door opens on shelves.

Louis XVI walnut chest of drawers – Late 18ᵗʰ century – South West – [ME045]

Louis XVI walnut chest of drawers – Late 18ᵗʰ century – South West – [ME045] This Louis XVI walnut chest of drawers, from the South West of France, excels by its sobriety. Its neoclassical style is reflected by grooves on the uprights, “sheath” feet and the molded projection on the front which creates relief.

Cherry wood sideboard – Louis XV Regency – 18ᵗʰ century – Aveyron – [ME047]

Cherry wood sideboard – Louis XV Regency – 18ᵗʰ century – Aveyron – [ME047] We can detect a subtle variation of the Regency Louis XV style combining strict fidelity and well-assumed fantasy, if we carefully observe this period buffet in cherry wood shaped at the beginning of the 18ᵗʰ century. A rich and well-organized molding…

Louis XVI walnut chest of drawers – Late 18ᵗʰ century – Sud-Ouest – [ME039]

Louis XVI walnut chest of drawers – Late 18ᵗʰ century – Sud-Ouest – [ME039] We recognize the Louis XVI style of this walnut chest of drawers thanks to the clean and slender lines of its architecture. The veneer of the top, geometric, is made obliquely from a central axis, what is called a “fern” pattern…

Pantalonnière cupboard in cherry wood – Louis XIV – 18ᵗʰ century – Gironde – [ME044]

Pantalonnière cupboard in cherry wood – Louis XIV – 18ᵗʰ century – Gironde – [ME044] Served by a remarkable cabinet making, this large cabinet is called “pantalonnière” because its basement conceals a drawer specifically devoted to the flat storage of pants. Two other drawers are housed inside, halfway up. This cabinet is based on opulent…

Louis XV style “homme-debout” in walnut – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME043]

Louis XV style “homme-debout” in walnut – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME043] Centerpiece of the kitchens of large residences, this “homme-debout” was intended to receive and protect the earthenware crockery which, during the 18ᵗʰ century, managed to supplant pewter services and pottery. The Louis XV style, full of curves and flowers, can be recognized…

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

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…

Curved chest of 4 drawers in walnut – 18ᵗʰ century – Rhône Valley [ME038]

Like most of the Rhône Valley furniture, this chest of drawers boasts a large volume to appear and impress on the occasion of the receptions organized by the notables and the merchants for this purpose. Hence a profusion of ostentatious decorations: falls of lambrequins on the uprights, eventful moldings delimiting four drawers, themselves set with…

Walnut 4-door 2-drawer sideboard – Louis XIII – Périgord [ME035]

This buffet, made at the beginning of the 18ᵗʰ century, is distinguished by its imposing size and ornamental richness. Deep moldings highlight the uprights, doors and high and low cornices. The double row of moldings which frame the drawers accentuates the decorative power of this Louis XIII facade. Reference : ME035

French chest of drawers in walnut – 18ᵗʰ century – Rhône Valley [ME031]

French chest of drawers in walnut – 18ᵗʰ century – Rhône Valley This dresser is called “sauteuse” because of the height of its feet slightly curved. Rarissime because of its small intimist proportions, it sports at the same time very rich Regency patterns designed by Jean Bérain, an ornamentalist of the eighteenth century who was…

Firebacks – 16ᵗʰ, 17ᵗʰ, 18ᵗʰ and 19ᵗʰ centuries – Périgord foundries [ME024, ME026, ME027, ME079]

Firebacks – 16ᵗʰ, 17ᵗʰ, 18ᵗʰ and 19ᵗʰ centuries – Périgord foundries Références : ME024, ME079, ME026, ME027.

Louis XV walnut Provençal “panetière” – 18ᵗʰ century – South of France [ME021]

  Louis XV walnut Provençal “panetière” – 18ᵗʰ century – South of France Looking like a beautiful miniature cathedral, this carefully crafted little piece of furniture as sometimes thought to be an element of church furniture. In fact, it is a highly prized food safe popular in Provence in the 18ᵗʰ century. Hung on a…

Louis XIII two-tier walnut sideboard – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord [ME016]

  Louis XIII two-tier walnut sideboard – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord   This two-tiered sideboard with four doors and three drawers is emblematic of the way in which furniture makers in the Périgord reinterpreted the Louis XIII style. Reference number: ME016

Louis XIII two-tiered walnut buffet – 17ᵗʰ century – South West France [ME023]

Louis XIII two-tiered walnut buffet – 17ᵗʰ century – South West France The unusually diminished size of the upper cabinet makes this piece particularly appealing. This buffet is a true gem, attesting to the rigorous precision of the Louis XIII style released by the audacity of the Renaissance. The doors of the top cabinet are…

Walnut wood chest – 18ᵗʰ century – Bordeaux Region [ME005]

Front embellished with floral vine design and tree of life, turned feet, rich moulding adding depth at base, beautiful wrought iron handles on either side, keyhole decorated with fantastic animals.

Two tier Louis XV buffet in cherry wood – 18ᵗʰ century [ME004]

Decorated with moldings, decorative flowers. Inner door to store tablewear. Arched cornice.Hoof feet.

18ᵗʰ century cherrywood commode – South West of France [ME008]

Sturdily built on scroll feet with columns on the sides. Crossbow front. Dovetailed drawers with bronze handles.

Walnut drop-leaf writing desk – 18th century – Périgord – [ME090]

Notary, lawyer, banker or doctor, it is certainly a notable from Périgord who, during the 18th century, ordered this charming, fully eventful drop-leaf writing desk. The two front drawers have been profiled in a crossbow. The flap is decorated with the heraldic marquetry of a trade guild. The upper part of the flap softens at…

Walnut community table – 19th century – South West of France – [ME088]

Ideal for a large reception room, this table from a monastery in the South West of France borrows from the Louis XIII register its sobriety, its baluster legs and its elegance. Three exceptional walnut planks of three meters each constitute its plateau as far as the eye can see.

Chest of Maison Forte in blond walnut – 17th century – Périgord – [ME078]

Fresh as a daisy from the height of these four centuries, this Maison Forte chest in blond walnut, nourished with pure beeswax from a very young age, is now setting off in search of a new home where its functions as spacious laundry will be recognized and duly appreciated.

Chest of Knight in walnut – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME081]

Its bird feathers link it to the Louis XIII style and its ancestors traveling chests that roamed the countryside, carrying the armor of their knights who went to war. Dating from the beginning of the 18th century, this robust walnut chest will have had the chance to live a peaceful life in the castle, in a Périgord that has finally been pacified.

Sideboard chest in oak – 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 genres: made in the 18th century by a traveling furniture carpenter, from beautiful oak…

Small walnut sideboard – Louis XIV – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME069]

Small walnut sideboard – Louis XIV – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord Fashioned in the 17ᵗʰ century in beautiful walnut planks, the noble wood of the time cultivated in the illustrious walnut groves of Périgord, this sideboard immediately surprises with its completely unusual cozy dimensions. At the time, in fact, an outward sign of social success…

Half-chest of drawers in cherry wood – 18th century – South West – [ME059]

Half-chest of drawers in cherry wood – 18th century – South West – [ME059] Imagined and shaped under the reign of Louis XV, during the second half of the 18th century, this curved chest of drawers is nevertheless inspired by the previous ornamental codes of the Louis XIV style, which combines curved and rounded lines…

Walnut dresser – 17ᵗʰ century – South West France – [ME061]

Walnut dresser – 17ᵗʰ century – South West France – [ME061] Composed of several open shelves that were simply useful in the Middle Ages, the dresser became ostentatious during the Renaissance, a period of refinement that began in France in the 15ᵗʰ century. This display will therefore boast of refined decorations, inspired by Antiquity. It…

Small Louis XIII four-door sideboard in walnut – 17ᵗʰ century – Southwest – [ME058]

Small Louis XIII four-door sideboard in walnut – 17ᵗʰ century – Southwest – [ME058] THIS IS ON THE EARTH THAT TURNS FROM THE TIME OF GALILEO How do you bring the 17ᵗʰ century into your living room? By choosing a piece of furniture surprisingly small and which, however, concentrates thanks to the richness of its…

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

Louis XV Bureau de Dame in walnut and oak – 18ᵗʰ century – South West – [ME056] Dedicated to women, this type of desk, designed in the 18th century, bears the name of Bureau de Dame (lady’s desk) for this reason. As its architecture suggests, this desk at the time fulfilled a dual function. First,…

Curved chest of drawers in nuanced blond walnut – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME052]

Curved chest of drawers in nuanced blond walnut – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME052] At first glance, what illuminates this curved chest of drawers is the deeply nuanced blond walnut that was chosen to make it. Then, it presents this daring interest of being astride two worlds. That of the Louis XIV style which…

Shrunken two bodies sideboard in walnut – Louis XIII – Périgord – [ME050]

Shrunken two bodies sideboard in walnut – Louis XIII – Périgord – [ME050] Although faithful to the Louis XIII style which it expresses with authenticity, this sideboard from Périgord is narrowed, decorated and fitted out in a unique way. It bears the traces of the daring and ingenuity of the 18ᵗʰ century furniture carpenter who…

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

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

Louis XIII walnut bonnetière – End of the 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME046]

Louis XIII walnut bonnetière – End of the 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME046] What is striking when you observe this beautiful walnut cabinet from Périgord are the splendid Maltese cross diamond points emerging from its doors, themselves surrounded by profiled moldings occupying the entire width of the frame. Note also the quality of execution…

Choir stall in oak – Louis XIV – 18ᵗʰ century – Auvergne – [ME041]

Choir stall in oak – Louis XIV – 18ᵗʰ century – Auvergne – [ME041] This type of stall, where comfort reserved for the privileged and aesthetic concerns are closely linked, illustrates in its own way the splendor of cathedrals. Arranged on either side of the Choir of these religious buildings, these rows of seats allowed…

Walnut dresser – Renaissance Style – 19ᵗʰ century – Aquitaine – [ME042]

Walnut dresser – Renaissance Style – 19ᵗʰ century – Aquitaine – [ME042] In the 16ᵗʰ century, families from the nobility possessed sumptuous pewter services that they had to show their guests. This dresser took center stage in the reception hall and fulfilled precisely this mission. Resting on a large base richly molded, this high storage…

Candlestick – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord [ME037]

Sculpted during the first half of the 18ᵗʰ century, this candle holder was covered with stucco painted in gray and then enhanced with gilding on its decoration of palmettes and relief grooves called “gadroons”. Its very good state of preservation makes it one of the rare candle sticks of its time still visible to this…

Couple of oak armchairs – Louis XIV – South West – [ME036]

These Louis XIV armchairs with large, slightly inclined flat backrests, have the delicacy of displaying two different sizes to personalize each other’s seat within the couple. The large armchair of Monsieur, willingly more austere because of its Louis XIV structure enhanced by large armrests in the shape of brackets, in contrast highlights that of Madame,…

Renaissance Credenza in oak – 17ᵗʰ century – South-West [ME034]

Placed on rave feet supporting a low cornice with gadrooned patterns, this credenza rests on twisted balusters which support the essential: its recessed body with a door framed by two fully sculpted drawers. At first glance, we are struck by the ornamental finesse of this Renaissance gem, obviously shaped by a talented image maker, as…

Curved chest of drawers in walnut – 18ᵗʰ century – South West [ME033]

Curved chest of drawers in walnut – 18ᵗʰ century – South West – Reference : ME033 – The particular sign of this walnut dresser comes from the curve of its jambs combining softness and femininity. A broken molding softens the corners of the tray. The curve of the uprights prints its movement from top to…

Walnut four-door sideboard – Louis XIII – South-West [ME032]

Walnut four-door sideboard – Louis XIII – South-West Neither imposing nor austere, while having the authentic Louis XIII register, this walnut chest combines its intimate size with a harmonious and assertive ornamentation that reflects the evolution of the lifestyle in the eighteenth century. Price: on demand. Reference: ME032    

Writing table in walnut – Louis XIV – Périgord [ME030]

Writing table in walnut – Louis XIV – Périgord Exceptional quality of baluster type turning for this Louis XIV small writing table. Crafted in a quality walnut, it has the added bonus of a beautiful condition. Price: on demand. Reference : ME030  

Ceremonial walnut armchair – Louis XIV – South-West France [ME029]

Ceremonial walnut armchair – Louis XIV – South-West France Its walnut frame entirely worked in “Os de mouton” gives this Louis XIV armchair this ostensible elegance ensuring its function of ceremonial. It embodies the craze for curves and lacrosse endings that occur during the Regency in the third period of the Louis XIV period. Deliberately,…

Walnut sculpture – Saint Joseph and the Christ Child – 18ᵗʰ century – South-West France [ME028]

Walnut sculpture – Saint Joseph and the Christ Child – 18ᵗʰ century – South-West France The quality of the realization of this monoxyle work reveals the talent of the sculptor who represents Saint Joseph and the Infant Jesus from a trunk in walnut. The polychromy of origin can still be seen in places, the patina…

Curved Louis XV walnut chest of drawers – 18ᵗʰ century – South-West of France [ME019]

  Curved Louis XV walnut chest of drawers – 18ᵗʰ century – South-West of France The generous proportions of this “upper middle class” chest of drawers attest to the high social status of the person who commissioned this piece. Référence : ME019

Louis XIII walnut kitchen table – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord [ME017]

  Louis XIII walnut kitchen table – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord   This is the sort of furniture that was used by servants for preparing meals and receptions in the kitchen quarters – the kitchen itself, the scullery, the cellar – in manors, mansions, castles… The excellent state of conservation makes this kitchen table outstanding,…

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

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 18ᵗʰ century, when Neoclassicism made its great comeback. Reference number: ME015

Provençal Louis XV walnut dough trough – 18ᵗʰ century – south of France [ME020]

Provençal Louis XV walnut dough trough – 18ᵗʰ century – south of France This richly crafted dough trough comes from an artisanal workshop situated in Provence, in the Arles and Fourques region. It was created in the 18ᵗʰ century. This piece of kitchen furniture is easily recognisable with its high base and its typically Provençal…

Oak Gothic chest – 17ᵗʰ century – North of France [ME022]

Oak Gothic chest – 17ᵗʰ century – North of France This chest is an excellent example of the last period of the Gothic style: Flamboyant Gothic. Its special feature is its set of five panels with “blind windows”, reminding you of stained glass windows in cathedrals; they are separated by small carved columns representing pilasters…

Cherry-wood curved chest of drawers – 18ᵗʰ century – South-West France [ME018]

  Cherry-wood curved chest of drawers – 18ᵗʰ century – South-West France   This chest of drawers is basically a sturdy and plain structure; however, the curved line of its front gives it an attractive wavy shape. – The apex points follow a perfectly straight line, giving the illusion that there are nine drawers, whereas…

Louis XIV walnut armoire – late 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord [ME002]

This coffered armoire, with drawers in the lower part, is in the Louis XIV style. The ultimate aim was to flaunt in one’s own home an ostentatious piece of furniture, reflecting the pomp and splendour of Versailles, initiated by Louis XIV, the Sun King. This type of furniture crowned the social and economic success of…

Louis XIII wardrobe – 17ᵗʰ century – Limousin [ME001]

This linen cupboard from Limousin is typical of the first provincial furniture to make its way into aristocratic homes at the start of the 17ᵗʰ century. Before that, they put their clothes and linen in chests. This is a functional piece of furniture with just one audacious artistic feature: the moulding on the panels, designed…

17ᵗʰ century stagecoach travel trunk – Auvergne [ME014]

Entirely covered with studded leather. Arabesque motifs.Hasps. Wrought iron handles on either side.

Walnut wedding gift wardrobe – 18ᵗʰ century – Lyon region [ME013]

On the upper crosspiece, beneath the cornice, an inset contains a stunning coat of arms representing the family who commissioned this unique piece. The front of the wardrobe is richly decorated with seashells and leaves. The doors are enhanced by Bérain-style decorations. Bérain was a famous 18ᵗʰ century decorative artist who created many highly popular…

Walnut sideboard – Renaissance – 17ᵗʰ century [ME012]

Offering a collection of Renaissance style decorations. Trompe l’œil panels on top doors. Side and bottom panels decorated with arabesques. Top and bottom horizontal crosspieces enhanced with palmettos and shells. Moulded drawers decorated with drop beads. Columns with ornamental capitals..

Curved commode four drawers – in walnut – 18ᵗʰ century [ME003]

The commode stands on ribbed and curved feet and the design of the chest is decorated with raised hearts. On the lower panel are decorative carvings that include shells, criss crosses and small flowers.

Two-tier walnut dresser – Louis XIII – from the Périgord region of France [ME006]

Top part narrower, fully sculpted diamond motifs, Maltese Cross on upper door, large cornice and rounded feet.

Walnut travelling chest – 17ᵗʰ century – Southern France [ME007]

Dovetail construction, reinforced with metal plates, carrying handles of wrought iron. All the surfaces consist of a single plank including the top.

Curved commode in walnut – 18ᵗʰ century – South West of France [ME009]

Sitting on scrolled feet, it has a pleasing sarcophagus shape, 3 dovetailed drawers with mouldings.

Walnut coffer – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord [ME010]

Made of exceptionally fine wood the sides and top have been made from the same plank ofaged walnut. The arched moulding surrounding the lock is indicative of the skill of contempory cabinet makers. The top is decorated with painted fleur de lys – symbol of nobility.

Oak chest – 17ᵗʰ Century – Auvergne [ME011]

Extremely rare oak chest with rounded lid. Front decorated with four Caryatids in stylised girdles and three panels with mascarons on them (a lion in the centre and a human mask on either side) and wormlike motifs. The hasp is vintage as well as the three hinge strips which clasp down the upper part.