Late 19th Century French Transitional Kidney Shaped Semainiers - a Pair

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UNUSUAL AND CHARMING SMALL-SCALE PAIR of LATE 19th CENTURY FRENCH TRANSITIONAL KIDNEY-SHAPED ANTIQUE SEMAINIERS - seven-drawer cabinets made of figured … Read more UNUSUAL AND CHARMING SMALL-SCALE PAIR of LATE 19th CENTURY FRENCH TRANSITIONAL KIDNEY-SHAPED ANTIQUE SEMAINIERS - seven-drawer cabinets made of figured walnut and kingwood veneers, satinwood and ebony inlaid banding, and ormolu mounts and pulls.

These cabinets are of transitional style, bridging the mid-to-late 19th century neoclassic revival and more curvilinear Art Nouveau styles. They also show Italian influences. The cabinets are beautifully finished on all of the curved fronts, sides and backs and are suitable for free-standing use in a bedroom, dressing room or anywhere a pair of small bureaus can complement a functional and elegant interior.

DIMENSIONS: 46.5" high, 22.5" wide, 15.0" depth (overall considering curved shape). Inside drawer dimension is 12.0" wide and about 8.0" deep (approximate, considering curved shape).

The marquetry of each drawer front combines figured burl walnut veneer centers framed with horizontally grained walnut (or possibly kingwood) veneer with satinwood and ebony banding between the two. Each drawer has a pair of petite ormolu pulls. The drawer interiors are made of simple rustic pinewood, as was customary in French cabinetry of the period and are fully operable. They have been freshly lined with new decorative paper.

The cabinet exterior surfaces contrast the drawer fronts with vertically grained figured walnut (or possibly kingwood) veneer of similar hue. The kidney-shaped tops are similarly designed with contrastingly grained walnut frames and/or figured centers with satinwood and ebony inlay between the two.

Ormolu mounts appear to support the tops and display female faces at the top and acanthus foliate at the bottom. Each seven-drawer cabinet is raised by simply carved sabre style legs in both the front and rear. The bottom friezes are gently scalloped with acanthus foliate and clamshell design ormolu mounts at the front center. The mounts appear to be made using lost-wax or sand casting methods.

A semainier is a chest of drawers, usually relatively narrow, originally intended for storing a week's supply of clothing, undergarments or lingerie – from the French “la semaine” meaning “week.” Originating in 18th century France, semainier has come to mean any seven-drawer chest. In Britain it is referred to as a “chiffonier.” See less