18th Century French Louis XVI Musical Trophy Boiserie Panel in Carved Oak Frame

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Hand-carved during the reign of Louis XVI, this linden wood and oak plaque was originally a boiserie panel that would … Read more Hand-carved during the reign of Louis XVI, this linden wood and oak plaque was originally a boiserie panel that would have adorned the wall of a French manor in the late 1700’s. The room would most likely have had similarly themed trophy panels lining the walls and spaces over any doors and windows.

The linden, or lime wood, has been lacquered in a grayish green color. Attributes of music have been carved into the wood, including several woodwinds intersecting behind a lute. The grouping is wrapped in scrolls of music sheets and suspended from a loop by tasseled tails of a sprawling crinkle ribbon. Foliate branches with berries emerge from behind the instruments, reaching almost to the partially stripped oak frame that surrounds the linden. The frame, which is embellished with spiral fluting inside a border of swags, is beige with traces of the original white finish, providing a nice juxtaposition of color to the lacquered linden.

Trophy carvings were in high demand during the reign of Louis XVI. As Neoclassical motifs became more prevalent, trophies harkening back to antiquity appeared, with attributes of combat, music, and agriculture being the most popular. Our period Louis XVI musical trophy boiserie panel would make a fantastic piece of decorative art for any wall in the house. See less