Antique French Oak Card Catalog Cabinet, E. Wiener & Cie Paris, circa 1910
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
An early 20th-century French card catalog cabinet in solid oak, circa 1910, with four drawers, aged brass pulls and the original label holders. A maker's plate reads "Classeur Système" for "Fiches E. Wiener & Cie, Paris", a charming reminder of its working past in a library, office or archive.
Design
The cabinet has clean, architectural lines and honest proportions. Four generously sized drawers are each fitted with a brass pull and an engraved label holder, and they run on wooden runners. The oak has a warm, weathered patina, and together with the aged brass it gives the piece the understated elegance of a Belle Époque study or atelier. It is a lovely example of French office and library furniture from the early years of the 20th century, when card index systems were a modern invention.
Condition
Warm, honest patina throughout, with light surface scratches and scuffs to the top and case consistent with age and gentle use. The brass hardware and label plates show natural tarnishing. All four drawers open and close smoothly on their original wooden runners. Please see the photos for details.
Dimensions: height 23 cm, width 38 cm, depth 32 cm.
How to use it
Thanks to its compact size, the cabinet fits almost anywhere. Place it on a desk or bookshelf for stationery, cards, jewellery or keepsakes, use it on a sideboard or console as a decorative storage box, or put it on a small table next to a reading chair. It combines beautifully with modern furniture for a layered, collected look: think a linen sofa, brass task lighting and a stack of well-loved books.
Style references
Collectors of French industrial design, vintage office and library furniture, and apothecary and haberdashery cabinets will appreciate this piece. It sits comfortably next to the industrial furniture of Strafor, Flambo and Jean Prouvé, next to old metal lockers and workshop pieces, and it works equally well in a Parisian apartment, a wabi-sabi interior or a contemporary home office.
Keywords: French card catalog, library card cabinet, oak filing cabinet, card index drawers, E. Wiener Paris, antique office furniture...
Category
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Brass Apothecary Cabinets