20th Century French Step Back Cupboard or Linen Press with Four Doors

This is a rare period Regence French Buffet a Deux Corps from the Auvergne region of France. It has a deep, rich patina along with deep carvings and motifs with worn reliefs, showing its 100 year old age. On the door panels, notice how the C-scrolls having tiny individually carved. He has skillfully carved the deep moldings into motifs without interruption, while retaining a country naivety in the carvings.

The interior of the entire piece has been outfitted with raised beveled panels on the doors and back. There aren´t shelves inside because it was used for arms. The low part has a two hidden drawers. The iron hardware on the outside of the doors is original to the piece. The front feet are shaped with lobed decoration, while the back feet are block.

In the Provinces, commissioned cabinetmakers often used motifs which were typical of the province or period rather than what was the fashion in Paris. Often, the motifs incorporated the family”s interests or their history such as their coat of arms. The wood used for the commissioned piece would have come from the trees on the owner”s property.