Pair of Sculpted Antique Walnut Corner Cabinets From Provence, France, C. 1900

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Known in France as encoignures, this pair of corner cabinets was hand-carved in walnut, circa 1900. Designed to fit snugly … Read more Known in France as encoignures, this pair of corner cabinets was hand-carved in walnut, circa 1900. Designed to fit snugly in the corner of a room, encoignures maximize space while incorporating flair to the interior design. In the case of these corner cabinets, the ebeniste utilized regional motifs from Provence, mainly floral bouquets, foliate vases, and lozenge ground.

A one-and-a-quarter-inch-thick marble with deep ogee molding tops each corner cabinet. The stones are black with gold, gray, and cream veining, although one is slightly lighter in tone, possibly due to being exposed to sunlight for extended periods. Similarly, the carved wood has different hues, although they can still be presented together.

Both corner cabinets have two doors that open on large iron hinges to reveal a single wedge shelf inside. The door panels are well-carved, with a barbed molding set in between flowering tendrils of scalloped leaves. Each door has a distinct floral bouquet in a foliate vase that is surrounded by the thick molding. The shaped apron is detailed with curled leaf moldings and a flowering margent set inside a pair of S-scrolls that form a stylized heart. A pair of volute legs, embellished with a roquillard, terminate in pad feet in the front, while the back leg is an unadorned block. Beneath the slightly overhanging marble is a lozenge-pattern ground, filled with minute leaves. Our walnut corner cabinets are highly sculpted, making them attractive options for the corners of a bedroom, entry hall, or living room. See less