Popular art furniture – Aux-Rois-Louis

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

The provincial furniture of the rural populations

In the second half of the 18ᵗʰ century, the country folk began to take an interest in plush hand-crafted furniture, frequently offered on the occasion of a marriage:

Wedding gift wardrobe
Wedding trunk
Bahut vaisselier

Two families got together to celebrate the union of their children. Which of them would show the most generosity? Which one would be the most demanding? One family would order a sideboard or a wardrobe from the cabinet maker, while the other family would ask a renowned blacksmith to make the finest horseshoes. The furniture produced in this way reveals the excellence of the local craftsmen and the originality of the regional culture, different in Cantal and Provence, for example.

The furniture created for these occasions, when the whole village community got together, was inspired by the Louis XV style which was all the rage at that time. A charming, flowery style which reinvented the curve. The curvilinear exuberance of the Renaissance period was well and truly back. This peasant tradition, celebrating the Louis XV style in all its forms, continued right up to the end of the 19ᵗʰ century.

A fine example of provincial country furniture

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 the wardrobe, the other piece of furniture standing for this popular art was often the chest and sometimes the sideboard.

Reference number: MP001

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

The cat bar on this Auvergne farmhouse table is notoriously raised and plush.

Oak Farm Table – 18th century – Auvergne – [MP040]

This kitchen table from a farm in Cantal has precisely this country and mountain charm linked to its squat, comforting structure. Flanked by two drawers, it is perched on two solid straight legs. Its massive base rests on a cat bar, which is particularly high.

Mortar and pestle in beech wood – 18th century – South-West of France – [MP039]

Mortar and pestle in beech wood – 18th century – South-West of France The pestle of this mortar is held with two hands, and the force exerted to crush chestnuts, for example, is increased by the nails planted on its end. Dimensions: Height: 67 cm, diameter: 38 cm, receptacle depth: 42 cm. Reference: [MP039] {{…

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]

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.

Oak farm table – 18ᵗʰ century – Cantal – [MP031]

This Auvergne oak farmhouse table tells the story of the country where it was born. It is made of a very dense light oak due to the harsh climate of Cantal, where it has courageously grown.

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]

With this type of waffle iron shaped by a blacksmith from Périgord in the 18th century, you could cook not waffles but deliciously crunchy wafers, whose dough was made of wheat flour mixed with milk, butter and sugar It was necessary to have the right dexterity to, once the ladle of dough poured on the…

Walnut sideboard – 18ᵗʰ century – South-West – [MP030]

This sideboard offers us a rare vision: that of the three styles Louis XIII, Louis XIV and Louis XV brought together in a single creation. The sliding drawers adorned with diamonds are in the Louis XIII style The moldings that occupy the entire extent of the uprights and crosspieces framing the doors evoke the Louis…

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 the groom, under the condition of a dowry made at…

Folk art chestnut chest – 18th century – Béarn – [MP027]

Folk art chestnut chest – 18ᵗʰ century – Béarn – [MP027]

Folk art chestnut chest – 18th century – Béarn The secret code to enter the spiritual universe of this chest overloaded with messages is undoubtedly the number 6. Keep it in mind to sharpen your gaze. Around the Latin Cross located under the keyhole, four 6-pointed stars immediately illuminate the facade. Theses stars represent IX…

Cherry wood farm table – 19th century – Périgord – [MP024]

Cherry wood farm table – 19th century – Périgord Close your eyes and imagine … A soft light, that of the flames of the cantou from which escapes the sweet aroma of bacon soup, the familiar voices where the Occitan accent sings, the young wine which refreshes us in glasses darkened by time … You…

Walnut pantry cabinet – 19th century – Provence – [MP026]

Walnut pantry cabinet – 19th century – Provence Called in its region of origin the “mangeadou”, this cabinet was intended for the storage of food in its upper part, ventilated for this purpose. In the lower part you could store dishes and kitchen utensils. In the middle, two drawers received the cutlery. We recognize on…

Beech butcher's block - early 20th century - [MP022]

Beech butcher’s block – early 20ᵗʰ century – [MP022]

Beech butcher’s block – early 20ᵗʰ century – [MP022] CERTAIN CRAFT FURNITURE RECALLS CHILDHOOD MEMORIES THAT ENCHANT YOUR HOME Haberdashery counter, clothier’s table, butcher’s block, all these pieces of furniture attached to the know-how of the artisans of our neighborhoods awaken happy memories in us. Those of a life where we took the time to…

Vaisselier dresser-drainer in cherrywood – 19ᵗʰ century – South West – [MP019]

Vaisselier dresser-drainer in cherrywood – 19ᵗʰ century – South West – [MP019] Everything is scalloped curves in this discreet dresser which in fact fulfills two distinct missions. At the very bottom is the drainer on spaced slats while the three top shelves fulfill the function of display, the crockery being held by scalloped bars. In…

Oval walnut cellar table – 18ᵗʰ century – Lot – [MP017]

Oval walnut cellar table – 18ᵗʰ century – Lot – [MP017] All the charm of period furniture from the Province of Quercy is found in the flexibility of the curves and moldings of this pretty little oval table…

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

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 bears witness to this noble activity with an abundance of symbols: Four…

Louis XIII kitchen cupboard 17ᵗʰ century – Haute‑Loire [MP002]

This softwood cupboard used to take pride of place in the kitchen. A unique feature is its spacious drawers for storing bread. Beneath the drawers there is a pull-out breadboard. More info

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 oak and poplar. This manner attests to the provenance of this delicate winegrower’s…

Salt chest armchair – chestnut – cherry – poplar – 19th century – Quercy – [MP029]

The salt chest armchair Patriarch’s Throne, King of Cantou If there is one thing that lords and farmers had in common from the Middle Ages until the 19th century, it was the use of the fireplace, the only means of heating and cooking. And if in the castles the fireplaces have reached monumental sizes, in…

Inseparable salt and flour boxes in walnut – 18th century – Provence – [MP025]

Inseparable salt and flour boxes in walnut – 18th century – Provence Let’s first describe how the kitchens of yesteryear used these two pretty boxes carved from walnut, the best wood for this purpose. When at rest they were hung up in the dry near the hearth, where the pots were smoking, so that the…

Jam cabinet in cheery – late 18th century – Périgord – [MP023]

THE FORGOTTEN FLAVORS OF OLD CONFITURIERS From the thirteenth to the nineteenth century, we preserved in honey, sugar or vinegar, all the wonders that we grew in gardens, orchards and vegetable gardens. The term “jams” (confitures) thus encompassed a wide variety of preparations made from flowers, herbs, berries, fruits and vegetables, likely to delight the…

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]

Louis XIII style oak bonnetière – 18th century – Auvergne – [MP021] Here is a beautiful laundry cabinet which was intended for a house in Auvergne in the 18th century. Deliberately, the carpenter opted for the Louis XIII style, sober and refined. The door panels feature the traditional flattened diamond pattern.

Beech butcher’s block – End of 19ᵗʰ century – South West – [MP018]

Beech butcher’s block – End of 19ᵗʰ century – South West – [MP018] The centerpiece of butcher’s stalls in the 19ᵗʰ century, these old butcher’s block were designed to withstand the butchers’ blows, vigorous and precise. The top is for this reason made up of an assembly of end grain or cross cut wooden cubes;…

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

Manka, oak sideboard – 18ᵗʰ century – Basque Country – [MP015] 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 chest. This offers more storage space than the usual drawers. Another particularity of the mankas: the…

Elm wedding chest – 18ᵗʰ century – Cantal – [MP016]

Elm wedding chest – 18ᵗʰ century – Cantal – [MP016] This unique piece of furniture reflects the talent and the delicate and sentimental approach of the peasant carpenter who lived for a time with these newlyweds and their families. Indeed, in the 18ᵗʰ century, furniture carpenters were itinerant. They would stay on the farm while…

Winegrower’s table in oak and cherry wood – 18ᵗʰ century – Lot – [MP014]

Winegrower’s table in oak and cherry wood – 18ᵗʰ century – Lot – [MP014] This solid oval table was installed in the cellars during the harvest and during the production of wines. The rest of the time, thanks to its removable tray independent of the base on clogs, this winegrower’s furniture could easily be stored.

Cherry wood farm table – 19ᵗʰ century – Périgord [MP013]

By its simplicity, its robustness and its patina, this farm table evokes at first glance the peasant life of which it was the center during each meal taken together in the kitchen, long the only living room of the House. A single drawer constituted the storage of the precious bread. On the plate, brown traces…

Cottage chest, a folk art chef-d’œuvre – 17ᵗʰ century – Gers [MP006]

Cottage chest, a folk art chef-d’œuvre – 17ᵗʰ century – Gers [MP006] Highly original and cleverly designed, this wedding gift chest, the work of a provincial cabinetmaker, shows an inventive and “no-nonsense” approach with special attention paid to the choice of wood species. This chest is made up of six strong boards, all from the…

Cherry kitchen table – 18ᵗʰ century – South West [MP011]

Cherry kitchen table – 18ᵗʰ century – South West – Reference: MP011 – This small kitchen table was custom-made by a resident carpenter. In the eighteenth century, the sponsor invited the craftsman to stay at home time to accomplish his work, offering him for this period the lodging and the cover.

Grand fir fireplace bench – 19ᵗʰ century – Pyrénées [MP010]

This large fir-tree bench from the Pyrénées was placed in front of the hearth to warm up while contemplating the flames. It is comfortable because of its large size and generous backrest. The disproportionate armrests are a pure creation of the farmer-woodworker who shaped it. The curve that overhangs the backrest brings roundness and softness…

Shop counter – late 19ᵗʰ century – France [MP009]

This shop counter shaped in the late 19ᵗʰ century still bears the trace of its original white paint that emphasizes the moldings and console legs, treated on a neoclassical model. On its back side appear two shelves and a small drawer where was stored the change; the ancestor of the cash drawer on the eve…

Pinewood seed measuring device – 19ᵗʰ century – Auvergne – Massif Central [MP008]

Pinewood seed measuring device – 19ᵗʰ century – Auvergne – Massif Central Designed for a specific agricultural function, measuring seeds, this unique piece combines traditional workmanship and the artistic touch of the peasant farmer who created it. The dovetailed corners have been carefully fitted together and adorned with rosettes and fingernail notches on the sides.…

Natural oak, popular art chest of drawers – 18ᵗʰ century – Pyrenees [MP007]

Natural oak, popular art chest of drawers – 18ᵗʰ century – Pyrenees The rusticity of countryside furniture and the elegance of the Louis XV style come harmoniously together in this natural oak chest of drawers made by a cabinetmaker in the Pyrenees. The medallions in the centre of the three drawers are decorated with three…

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

Walnut sideboard with tabernacle – 19ᵗʰ century – Provence [MP004]

This Provençal sideboard has a rich floral ornamentation. The upper part has sliding doors called “glissants”. Finely crafted iron fittings. The lower crosspiece is decorated with a soup tureen and olive branches. Scroll feet.

Table d'artisan drapier - XIXᵉ siècle - Pyrénées

Draper’s table – 19ᵗʰ century – Pyrénées [MP003]

Ideal for entertaining. Dimensions: length: 3m40, width: 1m38, height: 80cm.