Antique French Secretary, 1860s

Details

Description

Antique pier chest of drawers with secretary compartment - so-called semainier galbé

france
rosewood
circa 1870

dimensions: h x w … Read more Antique pier chest of drawers with secretary compartment - so-called semainier galbé

france
rosewood
circa 1870

dimensions: h x w x d: 128 x 81 x 42 cm

:
lavishly decorated high chest of drawers from the french napoleon iii period circa 1860-1870.

a piece of furniture standing on disc feet with a curved front and curved, flared sides.
above the simple skirting board, arabesque marquetry is built up over the entire surface, in large format and laid out in a vertical rectangle on the sides; lying flat, filling the fronts of the drawers on the front. We see recurring motifs of mirrored foliage and tendrils in dark rosewood on a light-coloured background.
the two-tiered head of the cabinet, set off by mouldings, tapers upwards with a coving. The design of the cornice and the top panel corresponds to that of the front and sides.

the seven drawers give the impression that this is a classic weekly chest of drawers, a so-called semainiere, i.e. A piece of furniture in which the laundry was pre-sorted for the individual days of the week.
one of the drawers has a hinged front and reveals a work surface covered in red, gold-embossed leather in front of a three-tiered interior. The sides of the writing drawer have a baluster gallery. The lock is ornamentally engraved.
the handleless drawers are operated by a key, the key guides are lined with brass.

the entire piece of furniture is made of oak. The corner joints are neatly executed, the back panel is designed as a frame construction. The dust shelves between the individual drawers emphasise the high quality of the furniture.

there is a bedel & cie - le garde meuble public sticker on the back panel. This is presumably a storage or transport label. Bedel & cie was one of the great french furniture movers of the late 19th century. The bedel logistics company is still based in paris today.

condition:
little used and therefore very good condition of the entire piece of furniture. Refurbished and suitable for everyday use.

please refer to the following literature:
christopher payne - stilmöbel europas p. 135 See less