An Art Deco period burl walnut buffet from Paris, France c.1935

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An Art Deco period burl walnut buffet from Paris, France c.1935

About the Item

A stunning Art Deco period burl walnut buffet from Paris, France c.1935. The extravagant pattern of the burl walnut grain that covers every surface of this buffet gives it an extraordinary presence and powerful visual impact. Art Deco, the term adopted in the early 1960's for furnishings that exploded onto the world stage at the fair in Paris officially entitled the "Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes" changed the course of design in a dramatic manner. Please look at the architectural lines of this buffet that incorporate an overall rectangular shape with the left and right front sections having a slightly curved profile. This design is entirely consistent with the thrust of Art Deco design which was predicated on a streamlined profile enhanced with the most luxurious materials available. Art Deco originally was for a very discerning and affluent clientele and was never meant for mass production as the ingredients were costly for a reason. The individual designs were made for specific interiors and their appearance was chosen accordingly. In this particular cabinet the broad facades enabled large areas to be sheathed in timber of the most meticulously matched rarity available. All of the burl walnut was carefully assembled by hand and laid to repeat the butterfly wing appearance of the wood. This incredible attention to detail and the enormous amount of time and expense to locate and choose walnut that would be complementary across the visible surface shows that no expense was spared in the design and execution of this cabinet. From the top to the front and on both sides the burl walnut has been matched for the purity and clarity of the grain and then hand applied to the frame. Please use the zoom feature on our website to examine the lavishly organic movement of the burl walnut and the way in which the separate panels were placed. Burl walnut is an exceedingly rare variation on a walnut tree and is entirely a random and natural variation. Although smaller burls may sometimes be seen growing on the exterior of the trunk of a walnut tree the most desirable examples usually grow within the root system and remain hidden until the tree is harvested and the roots revealed. At that point the burl is carefully removed and then offered to craftsmen of superior talents. The larger the pattern of the burl, as seen here in this cabinet, the greater the pursuit especially when a cabinet of this size was chosen to be entirely covered and visible from all directions. This buffet is centred upon a pair of cabinet doors that each feature an oval medallion composed of the curious growth of the burl and match each other line for line. An excellent choice was arrived at by the designer in order to emphasize the flowing lines of the burl grain a ribbon of raised brass has been placed around the perimetre of the two doors as well as the same frame placed within the two doors. This repetition of a geometric line, in a different material, highlights the exotic beauty of the walnut and imposes a sense of symmetry and balance. While both of the doors retain their original circular cast brass escutcheon only the right hand door has an escutcheon that guided the original key through the precious timber to the interior lock. When the lock is disengaged and the doors open it is interesting to see that the doors actually have a tongue in groove construction to their facing edges that allows the doors to be tightly fitted when closed. This tongue in groove design is generally seen in the construction of floors to keep the boards straight and true without any warping with the passage if time. The lock mechanism is also an unusual choice as when the key engages the lock a long bolt moves and secures the right door at both the top and the bottom ensuring that without the key the entire door is immovable. When the doors are open the interior storage space is revealed to show two shelves that extend the full width of the cabinet. The left and right side of the cabinet's facade are distinguished by their elegantly curved profile that creates an unexpectedly sumptuous shape to the overall shape. The deepest part of the curved profile is closest to the cabinet doors and subtly directs attention to the brass enclosure and the pattern of the burl walnut. The top of the cabinet is slightly recessed across both the front and the sides but follows the same shaped profile. The slight shadow caused by this recession across the top gives the cabinet an unexpected sense of sculptural depth. The base of the cabinet is also recessed and elevates the cabinet above the floor with a section that is placed directly beneath the width of the cabinet doors. This base section has a sloped profile across the front and sides and is sheathed in the same quality of burl walnut as the rest of the cabinet. In addition the area where the base stands upon the floor is also outlined with the same raised brass ribbon as seen on the cabinet doors. The gleam of the brass and its smooth surface are a lovely complement to the luxurious quality of the burl walnut. This handsome cabinet will be a welcome focal point in an interior and its intriguing mixture of shape and material continue to astonish and mesmerize as it did when first created in the early twentieth century.

Dimensions:
Height: 47 in (119.38 cm)Width: 57 in (144.78 cm)Depth: 18 in (45.72 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Burl,Walnut
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1930-1939
Date of Manufacture:
c.1935
Condition:
Seller Location:
Houston, TX
Reference Number:
Seller: DN221stDibs: U1205148668693