A small French provincial pine chest of drawers, late 19th…
click the photo to enlarge
A small French provincial pine chest of drawers, late 19th century, in soft light honey tones with a serpentine top above three flat fronted drawers of equal depth, with swing handles and brass butterfly backplates and escutcheons, the canted corners with carved corbels and lower sections on short cabriole legs. Height 81 cm. Width 95 cm. Depth 47 cm

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Serpentine - Resembling a serpent, in the form of an elongated 'S'. A serpentine front is similar to a bow front, except that the curve is shallow at each end, swelling towards the middle. The term presumably derives from its similarity to a moving snake or serpent. Serpentine fronts are usually veneered, with the carcase either being cut and shaped from a solid piece of timber, or built in the 'brick' method.
  • Cabriole Leg - The cabriole leg evolved from an elongated scroll, curving out at the knee which may or may not be carved, and forming a serpentine shape as it descends to the foot.

    First introduced into English furniture in the late 17th century, cabriole legs were widely used during the Queen Anne and early Georgian periods, where they frequently terminated in a pad foot or ball and claw foot. The style has had many imitators since then. The cabriole leg was re-introduced in the mid-19th century, and is commonly associated with the balloon-back dining or drawing-room chairs made in walnut, mahogany or, in Australia, cedar. The Victorian cabriole leg, on the whole, was rather more slender than the earlier form, following the French style, which emphasized the delicacy and daintiness of the chairs they were designed to support. Cabriole legs are sometimes found on windsor chairs, especially those made during the 18th century.
  • Corbel - An architectural term for a support for a projecting bracket, ostensibly supporting a beam or horizontal feature, but used in bookcases, sideboards and chests as a decorative element. Corbels are often carved with acanthus or other scrolling decoration.
  • Canted Corners - In decorative arts, especially furniture making, a canted corner refers to a technique where the corner of the piece is angled or "canted" to create a diagonal corner. This is different from a chamfered corner which is a technique where the edges of a corner are cut at an angle, creating a diagonal edge or "bevel" along the corner.

    A canted corner is typically used to add visual interest to the item. It can be found in various styles of furniture such as contemporary, Art Deco, or traditional. It is often used to create a sense of movement and dynamism in a piece.

    Canting a corner is a more complex technique than chamfering, and it is typically done by tilting the corner of a piece of furniture and then cutting the wood to match the angle. It's a technique that requires precise measurements and a good understanding of angles and geometry, and it is usually done by experienced artisans.
  • Escutcheons - An escutcheon is a plate, made of brass, wood, ivory or ebony, which fits into or over the h keyhole, to protect the edge of the timber keyhole from damage by continual insertions of the key. As a general rule you would expect these escutcheons to be sympathetic in design to the handles of the piece. From the early 19th century escutcheons were sometimes made from ivory, ebony, bone or contrasting wood, often cut in a diamond or shield shape and inlaid into the front. Ivory, in particular, will tend to discolour with age, and certainly should not show up as brilliantly white.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

A French provincial pine chest of drawers, late 19th century, with a planked serpentine top above two small and three full long drawers, with metal pull swing handles, butterfly brass backplates and escutcheons, canted reeded corners and angled shaped feet

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Peter Gay chest of drawers, Edwardian burr walnut and oak, six drawer with brass honey stick drop handles

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

19th century two stage campaign chest by Ross & Co. Dublin, of traditional design with brass corners folding handles, Brahmah locks, the top left drawer with manufacturers label

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A George III mahogany fall front bureau, the fall opening to reveal an interior fitted with small drawers and pigeon holes flanking a single door cupboard, above four drawers of graduated depths, each with cockbeaded edges and brass bale handles

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.