1960's French Empire Style Marble Top Brass Mount Sideboard

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Description

An impressive and beautifully constructed American-made solid cherry dresser in the French Louis XVI and Directoire style, distinguished by its … Read more An impressive and beautifully constructed American-made solid cherry dresser in the French Louis XVI and Directoire style, distinguished by its architectural proportions, extensive brass detailing, dovetail drawer construction, and elegant marble top. Combining the restrained neoclassicism of late-18th-century French furniture with practical American cabinetmaking, this substantial dresser offers both sophisticated decorative appeal and an unusually thoughtful arrangement of storage.

The dresser is crafted in warm solid cherry, displaying attractive honey, amber, and reddish-brown tones throughout the case. The natural character of the cherry gives the piece considerable warmth, while the disciplined symmetry and classical detailing create a more formal appearance. Crowning the dresser is a substantial rectangular marble top, beautifully contrasting with the golden color of the wood and providing a luxurious, durable surface.

The façade is organized into three principal sections. At the center is a bank of three fitted drawers, each constructed with traditional dovetail joinery, an important indication of quality cabinet construction. The drawers are surrounded by a fine brass border and fitted with understated circular brass pulls. This restrained use of metal is particularly effective against the cherry and reinforces the dresser's French neoclassical character.

On either side of the central drawers are paneled cabinet doors, each decorated with a vertically fluted or reeded central panel surrounded by brass trim. These doors open to reveal additional storage cubbies containing fitted interior drawers, creating concealed storage within the side compartments. This clever arrangement is one of the dresser's most desirable features: what initially appears to be a conventional cabinet interior actually incorporates additional fitted drawers, maximizing storage while preserving the clean symmetry of the exterior.

The case is further articulated by rounded column-form pilasters positioned between the doors and central drawer section and at the outer corners. Brass collars accent the tops and bases of these columns, subtly recalling the gilt-bronze-mounted furniture of the French Directoire and Empire periods. The combination of columns, reeded door panels, brass borders, and geometric organization gives the dresser a distinctly architectural presence.

The entire case rests upon six short, tapered legs, which visually lighten the substantial cabinet and continue the straight, disciplined lines associated with French neoclassical furniture.

Stylistically, the dresser bridges the elegance of Louis XVI and Directoire design. The symmetry, tapered legs, fluting, restrained brass ornament, and classical columnar details derive from the neoclassical vocabulary established under Louis XVI and refined during the Directoire period.

With its solid cherry construction, marble top, dovetailed drawers, brass trim, fluted cabinet doors, fitted interior drawers, and generous storage, this American-made dresser is as functional as it is handsome. Whether used in a bedroom, dressing room, dining room, or sophisticated living space, it offers an elegant interpretation of French neoclassical design executed with substantial American craftsmanship.


Dimensions: 35.25 inches High x 75.75 inches wide x 20.75 inches deep See less