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Direct Importer
of French Antiques
Furniture and Accessories |
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525 West Short
Street
at Greentree Close
Lexington, Kentucky 40507
859· 252· 9030 |
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Kentucky Homes and Gardens Magazine
Belle Maison example of a walnut confiturier of about 1870. |
... Since then, this fusion of bold
forms and rococo decoration has enjoyed a lasting attraction at home
and abroad Urban— or Parisian—Louis XV furnishings are not categorized
as French Provincial; rather, French Provincial pieces were originally
designed for daily use by people not tied to the changing fashions of
Paris. The more typical examples of this style, which can be traced to
the Middle Ages, tend to be casegood pieces, and it is interesting to
note that there is a direct connection between this style and the
cuisine of the people who brought it into being. Classic regional
French cooking is as integral an aspect of French culture as is this
furniture design. French Provincial-style furniture, its bold
decoration not withstanding, is practical; originally, it functioned
in much the same way as do modern "built-ins." Local or itinerant
craftsmen, who have historically remained anonymous, made the pieces
to order from readily available materials. |
And although the tools used to create such pieces have changed
since the inception of this style, French Provincial casegoods of
any era retain the aura of being handmade.
Indeed, today’s craftsmen still work in this tradition, but unlike
the original pieces, mass-produced articles made in imitation of
antique French Provincial furniture tend to be rigid in proportion
and slick in finish. Appealing patinas result from years of use
and care. Belle Maison Antiques in downtown Lexington, a direct
importer of French Provincial furnishings, sells a full range of
casegoods in this style. |
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Partial view of Belle Maison Antiques
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Examining their inventory can be educational, as doing so can
teach prospective collectors how to identify items according to
era and by the materials with which they are made. Some of the
woods, especially walnut, used in the production of this furniture
are particularly susceptible to worm infestations that manifest
themselves as small holes on the furniture’s surface. This typical
"flaw" is to be expected, and restoration of older pieces, mostly
of the areas where the furniture made contact with the floor, is
acceptable when such restoration is well executed.
Where worm damage to
such furniture is severe, the affected area is essentially hollow,
and the production of wood dust from the holes can indicate active
infestation that must be treated to be preserved. Traditionally,
the woods used in French Provincial furniture originated in
regional orchards and forests that often belonged to the owners of
the furniture. Items made from such wood can be identified by
inspecting them, and their value should be reflected in their
price.
The examples illustrated here demonstrate the range in scale of
this furniture. The walnut confiturier made in about 1870,
a relatively diminutive piece, was used to store preserved foods
and to function as a serving stand. Buffets, or sideboards
with cupboards below, range in size from two-door styles to more
horizontal versions known as enfilades.
The buffet à deux corps is essentially one buffet
atop another.
The larger photograph depicts a walnut buffet and an ash
buffet à deux corps in the Louis Philippe style. |
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The remaining image shows a vasselier, or dresser for the
storage and display of dining articles, on a buffet.
Another case piece, the armoire, often used in a dining
area for the storage of linens, is an icon of the French
Provincial style. |
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