C. 1840 French Boiserie Painting, the Allegory of Spring and the Arms of France

Once installed architecturally in a chateau in Normandy, France, this large pair of overdoors was painted in the 1700s and executed in a technique known as verdaille. Verdaille utilizes various shades of green to achieve a mesmerizing monochromatic effect. This technique’s rich history traces back to the 12th century when it was initially employed to create stained glass for Cistercian monasteries, where colorful art was prohibited, making these overdoors not only aesthetically captivating but also a piece of living art history. Interestingly, there is a hand-written transport note on the back of one of the overdoors (see detail photo) that mentions the paintings were to be shipped to a Madame DeFrance in Paris, at the rue St. Honore corner of la rue Dufour (freight pre-paid). These exquisite pieces are encompassed by wood frames adorned with lavish foliate carvings, beautifully painted in a soothing French gray hue. Each overdoor encapsulates a unique musical scene that transports you to the heart of 18th-century Europe. In the first painting, a man plays the uilleann pipe, a unique instrument with a bellow-driven mechanism that distinguishes it from a bagpipe. The musician has quite an audience, as two women, one cradling a sheep, and four more sheep next to a dog have gathered nearby. In the second painting, witness a captivating moment of courtship as a gentleman kneels before a woman with a tambourine in her hands. He presents a long woodwind instrument, possibly a carnyx, while a faithful dog rests nearby amidst a backdrop of gardening tools. These stunning French verdaille overdoors were once part of a themed boiserie room (most likely green in color and centered around music). They can once again be used to create a theme above a pair of interior doors or they can be hung as a unique set of artwork.

This beautiful section of boiserie has been carved from softwood in the 17th century (upper section pieces only). It has been completely cleaned (stripped) and clear waxed at some point in it's history, and about 15 years ago, the previous owners added the base section (one piece), and backing. The motifs are acanthus leaves in various forms, discs, scrolls and beading. To the sides of the center open section are crowns with ribbons. The one on the left is over an arrangement of irises while the one on the right is over an arrangement of roses. Beneath each is a draped cartouche with roses hanging from the center. Both of these sections are slightly curved inward to the central covered alcove. The opening is curved at the top with the ceiling being flat. Different motifs described above are at the back and the front. A bracket is above this blending into the ceiling molding...

This pair of large oak boiserie elements were carved in Normandy, France, circa 1880. Boiserie is the French term for “woodwork”, but the phrase is genera...

This highly worked 19th century French repousse copper lavabo on carved wooden stand has a coat of arms on the front of the upper storage tank where the water is held. Two bronze spi...

Hand-carved from Italian limestone, this coat of arms plaque with crown and eagle features both bas- and mid-relief motifs. Bas-relief is a sculptu...

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...

A French Napoléon III period framed architectural oil on canvas panel from the mid 19th century, with Allegory of the Arts and rinceaux motifs. Cr...

This French trumeau painting from the late 19th century features a beautifully executed painted scene on canvas, reminiscent of a technique situated between the grisaille or the verd...

Signed Maison Jansen boiserie panel with oval medallion decoration.

Fireback with the coat of arms of France from the 18th century reproduced in the book "Plaques de Cheminées" by Henri Carpentier, page 206.

A pair of French Napoléon III period oil on canvas overdoor panels from the mid 19th century, with floral garlands and ribbon-tied musical instruments. Created in France during the third quarter of the 19th century, each of this pair of oil on canvas overdoors features a delicate hand-painted décor showcasing floral garlands in the upper section, connected to large rinceaux. A ribbon-tied lyre on one of them and a tambourine on the other occupy the center of the composition. Set inside nicely distressed wooden frames, this pair of Napoléon III French overdoors...

An outstanding and grand 17th century Baroque oil painting on an oval wooden panel of the Madonna and Child. Beautifully executed and stunning patina.