18th Century Country French Louis XV Oak Buffet ~ Sideboard

Details

Description

An 18th century Country French Louis XV buffet in solid oak, glowing with a deep, rich patina earned over centuries … Read more An 18th century Country French Louis XV buffet in solid oak, glowing with a deep, rich patina earned over centuries of daily life. The grain of the oak rises through the aged finish with a warmth only time can create, and every edge carries the soft wear of the generations who gathered around it.
Two drawers framed in shaped moldings and fitted with turned wooden knobs flank a carved Maltese cross at the center of the frieze. Below, a pair of doors with arched, scalloped panels opens to generous storage, divided by a central stile carved with a long recessed flute. The original hand forged iron escutcheons and long hinges remain, their scrolling profiles echoing the curves of the carving.
A scalloped apron centered by a carved fan shell and stylized scrolls descends to graceful cabriole legs ending in scrolled feet. Paneled sides and pegged mortise and tenon joinery reflect the skill of provincial joiners who built furniture to serve a household for generations.
During the reign of Louis XV, the sinuous lines and shell motifs of the Rococo traveled from Paris into the French countryside, where village craftsmen translated courtly fashion into native oak with restrained carving and beautifully balanced proportions. Buffets held linens, tableware and preserves at the heart of the farmhouse and the country manor alike.
Today it brings authentic history and warmth to a dining room, kitchen or entry, and looks equally at home beneath a gilded mirror in a traditional setting or against a plaster wall in a modern farmhouse interior.
Circa 1760s
Measures 41H x 55.5W x 26D
Available at Inessa Stewart's Antiques, Dallas Design District, Dallas, Texas. See less