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.