18th-Century Central European Hand-Painted Wedding Armoire — Folk Art Bauernschrank With Portrait Medallions

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A rare and exceptionally beautiful Central European painted wedding armoire (Bauernschrank), dating to the late 18th Purchased in Zurich, Switzerland … Read more A rare and exceptionally beautiful Central European painted wedding armoire (Bauernschrank), dating to the late 18th Purchased in Zurich, Switzerland in the 1940s — a treasure that has traveled far from its Alpine origins.

The piece is painted in a rich olive green ground with warm red and orange trim, and the two large door panels each feature a finely executed hand-painted portrait medallion: a noble lady on one door, a gentleman on the other, each surrounded by lavish wreaths of painted roses, tulips, and leaves. The center pilaster is decorated with a harlequin-diamond pattern. Original brass keyhole escutcheons remain on both doors.

An internal alteration was that the interior was fitted with pine shelving and a hanging rod — fully functional as a wardrobe to this day.

In Alpine and Central European tradition, armoires of this type were crafted as wedding gifts, painted with the likenesses of the bride and groom surrounded by celebratory flowers. These pieces were heirlooms, handed down through generations. The quality and detail of the portraiture on this example is exceptional.

• Type: Two-door wedding armoire / Bauernschrank
• Origin: Central European (Austrian / Bavarian)
• Period: Late 18th – early 19th century
• Provenance: Purchased Zurich, Switzerland, 1940s
• Wood: Softwood (pine/spruce) beneath paint
• Hardware: Original brass keyhole escutcheons
• Dimensions: H 72" × W 64" × D 19" (183 × 163 × 48 cm)

A once-in-a-generation piece for the right collector or interior. See less