Antique French Hand Carved Wood 15" Tall Table Top Cabinet, Multiple Drawers, Jewelry Box Chest
Large antique mid-19th century French table top cabinet. The cabinet is freestanding, finished all round in superb quality Black Forest style hand carving. Patterned along the sides and front with intricate scrolling vines and leaves finished with egg and dart trim. The cabinet contains a set of double doors, top and bottom drawer, each with a lock. The pair of doors feature Louis XVI trophy style compositions. Finely hand carved in high relief with exquisite evocation of the musical arts comprising of instruments and foliage suspended from a classic ribbon bow. Including a lute, oboe, tambourine, pan pipes, and music score sheets. The doors are flanked by corbels and fruit clusters. Opening to reveal twelve internal drawers, the many drawers make this box ideal to house jewelry and precious gem stones or to serve as a collector's specimen cabinet. With a large middle compartment to showcase a collectible statue, artifact or treasured heirloom. All the drawers are decorated with carved floral and foliage details centered by carved knobs. The middle compartment, as well as each individual drawer, are fully lined in gorgeous button tufted blue satin. Opening these drawers is a delight, a beautiful contrast of the rich warm color of the wood and vibrant blue interiors. There is an old label located on the base: Au. Bienfaisant, GENESSEAUX, 39 rue du Bac, Paris. Genesseaux was a « confiseur, distillateur liquoriste » of fine sweets, chocolates, and fruit brandy. Quick research online uncovers an old shop invoice revealing the confectioner was a supplier to prominent royal clientele, Monsieur le Dauphin and Duke of Bourbon Prince de Condé. It could be this cabinet served as a chocolatier's or confectioner's box. Stands 15" tall, 16 1/4" length x 6 3/4" deep. Complete and in overall very good antique condition. General wear commensurate with use and age. All three locks are in working order, and the box retains two sets of keys that can work in either lock. The lock on the doors is not catching, though the lock is working. There is a small chip in the wood around the keyhole of the bottom drawer, visible in the pictures. No other chips or lacks to the wood that I can see. Some old worm holes visible on one of the sides as shown, this adds to the old world charm of the piece.