18th Century Walnut Wood Armoire from the Rhone Valley

This unique armoire from the early 1700’s was made from walnut and olive wood and features a plinth base with central cherub mascaron along the crown. At just under 86 inches tall and 78 wide at the crown, this armoire has a more manageable size, compared to many of the very large armoires of the same period. The unique construction allows it to be easily disassembled for transport. At one point, this walnut and olive wood armoire was the property of a chocoladefabriek (chocolate factory) in Strasbourg, located in the region of Alsace, near the German border. It was originally one armoire in a pair that were commissioned in Eastern France in the early 1700s. The ebeniste who created the armoire decided to use olive wood for the door panels and some of the side panels. Olive wood was a highly valued wood among wood workers of the 18th century because of its pretty color and the richness and nuances of its veining. In the center of the crown is a foliate and floral ring surrounding a cherub mascaron. The crown and the top of the door frames have both been carved in an arch, mirroring the shape of the door moldings. Each door is mounted on iron hinges and separated by recessed molding into three uniquely shaped panels of olive wood (the rest of the armoire is constructed with walnut). Both upper panels of the doors are adorned with a series of undulating C-scrolls, while the bottom panels are rectangles with concave tops. The two sections are separated by a simple ovate center panel. Armoires date back the 17th century when French menuisiers created the storage cabinet to house clothing. Early armoires such as this one were without feet (plinth style base) and were often seen in paneled boiserie...

Typical of Ile-de-France furniture from the early 1700’s, this walnut armoire has unadorned panels, allowing the beautiful, curved moldings to take prominence. The walnut wood has be...

This elegant antique French armoire from Fourques, France is a masterpiece of balance in its design. It has very sparse yet deeply carved c-scroll motifs on all of the thick tri-part...

Walnut and burled walnut. In 1700s France, the commode was considered the finest piece of furniture in the chateau. It was also placed in the most important areas so it could be seen. This particular commode from Bourgogne or Vallee du Rhone area, is very rare in its shape and storage area. The shaped sides are small cabinets with one shaped shelf each. Each door opens to the back so that the contents are kept private from any guests. The 'galbee' front features three full drawers with brass hardware. The veneered wooden insets on the drawers and sides are all burled walnut wood. All this rests upon four outward shaped feet. There are three keys for opening the side cabinets and front drawers. This rare and large French commode...

From Provence, France, this beautiful walnut panetiere was hand-carved in the 1700’s. Panetieres were usually hung on walls and functioned as a decorative way keep bread safe...

An en tombeau is a type of commode with three tiers of drawers and short legs. Our walnut wood chest of drawers was hand-carved in Provence, France d...

This grand, monumental armoire is derived from the chateaux region of the Loire Valley of France. The region includes notable palaces including Cham...

Beautifully carved walnut armoire from the Normandy region of France.

This elegant antique fruitwood "Armoire Provencale," is truly exceptional. Crafted in France, circa 1760, this tall cabinet stands on escargot feet decorated with acanthus leaves at the shoulder, over a scalloped and pierced apron embellished with a weaved floral basket flanked with laurel and wheat leaf motifs. The bonnet top features exquisite carvings including a neoclassical urn surrounded with a laurel crown floral basket at the pediment. Both doors are decorated with hand carved floral and branch motifs, and are decorated. The inside reveals all the original shelving with set of drawers, and the cabinet is dressed with original lock, key, cremaillere and heavy forged hardware. The tall and wide armoire...

18th Century French walnut armoire with doors strongly moulded in many curves and counter-curves. The “chapeau de gendarme” cornice richly carved f...

This lovely piece is the quintessential example of a well crafted French commode. The proportions are pleasing, the details are superb with carving on side panels and the front apro...

A French carved, solid walnut armoire built in the Louis XV period. A Chapeau de Gendarme cornice tops the body of the armoire. Two solid walnut doors have shapely carved panels crea...