17th Century Chest
Unavailable
This antique chest dates from the period when chests or coffres were often the main items of furniture in French households. A true multi-tasker, a chest functioned as bed, table, and seat while holding all manner of worldly goods. This versatility as well as a chests portability have ensured popularity to this day while giving birth to other forms of furniture such as the armoire (a chest turned on its end so that the lid swings outward as a door) the cathedra chair (a low, narrow chest with a tall, carved back added), and the two-piece cabinet or bahut deux corps (two chests laying on their sides and stacked on top of one another). This particular chest has its origins in northern France and dates from the 17th century. Originally, it had an iron lock that was likely melted down for armaments during wartime but replaced with a handsome, and perhaps patriotically motivated, fleur-de-lys cartouche. Miraculously, the other hand-forged iron elements, such as the side handles and the hinges for the top, remain in place. It is also likely that the acanthus leaf frieze around the base was added later, and the top appears to be a replacement, albeit from old wood. Inside, the bottom panel has been completely replaced to give the chests structure greater stability and load-bearing capabilities. The two front panels of bas relief carving display traditional design elements from the time of Louis XIII such as the cornucopia, sheaves of wheat and flowering plants. These agricultural motifs had gradually replaced the gothic arches, rosettes and fenestrage characteristic of chests of earlier periods. The plis de serviette panels on the sides, however, are typical of the gothic style. Rousseau, Francis, Le Grand Livre des Meubles (Copyright Studio, Paris, 1999); Un Temps dExubérance, Les Arts Décoratifs sous Louis XIII et Anne dAutriche, Paris, Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais (Réunion des Musées Nationaux, 2002) The chest can perform traditional functions such as storing bed linens, but can also be used as a bench or a coffee table. For more information, visit M. Markley Antiques on the Web -- the premier resource in the U.S. for French Gothic Revival and Renaissance Revival furniture, including Henri II and Louis XIII styles.
M. Markley Antiques
Spring, Texas
Dealer accepts: Check
Shipping: Negotiated with Seller
