This authentic "paysan" rural piece of furniture, from around the foothills of Velay, is a testimony of the spirit of friendly mutual assistance among neighbours who went to one another's homes to do the "énoisage" all together during the late evening "velhada", sometimes improvising friendly little dances to the sound of clogs, "cabrettes" and accordions.

Larch wood table for cracking walnuts (énoisage) – 19th century – Haute-Loire – [MP051]

19ᵗʰ century, Auvergne, Country furniture, Country style table, Farmhouse table, Haute-Loire, Kitchen furniture, Popular art furniture, Table, The treasure corner, Wood species

A thick larch plateau from the foothill forests of Velay and, on each corner, kinds of amazing little hollows…Here we have a genuine “énoisage” table, perfectly designed to wedge the walnuts when snapping them with  the mallet called “tricote”, to prevent the nuts from rolling to the other end of the table.

It is believed to have the power to chase away demons, and that's why Pope Leo IV chose it in the 9th century to reign on the steeples of our churches. Very rare, this all-copper church steeple rooster has descended for a while, ready to come protect your home.

Church Steeple Rooster in Copper – 19th Century – Languedoc-Roussillon – [MP050]

19ᵗʰ century, Copper, Country furniture, Metal, Objects bearing history, Popular art furniture, Sculpture, The treasure corner

Discover the extraordinary power attributed to the church steeple rooster – a demon-chaser chosen by Pope Leo IV in the 9th century to grace our church steeples. A truly rare find, this all-copper rooster has descended briefly, ready to safeguard your home.

This floral cherrywood buffet, crafted in the 18th century in the Rhone Valley, celebrates the Louis XV style in a most graceful manner. We refer to it as 'floral' due to the unusual abundance of floral motifs adorning each door and every drawer, creating a mirror-like effect.

Floral Cherrywood Buffet – Louis XV – 18th Century – Rhone Valley – [MP044]

18ᵗʰ century, Buffet, Cherry wood, Country furniture, Louis XV, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, Rhône Valley

This floral cherrywood buffet, crafted in the 18th century in the Rhone Valley, beautifully celebrates the Louis XV style. We refer to it as ‘floral’ due to the unusual abundance of floral motifs arranged on both sides of each door and every drawer, creating a mirror-like effect.

Offered as part of the bride's dowry by her father, this natural oak chest adorned with tulips and a country bouquet served two purposes in the 18th century: to hold the personal effects of the young bride and to allow the couple to sit at the foot of their bed in complete intimacy. Hence its name "end-of-bed chest."

Natural Oak End-of-Bed Chest – 18th Century – South West – [MP046]

18ᵗʰ century, Country furniture, France, Oak, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, South West of France, The treasure corner, Trunk, Wedding trunk

It carries the aroma of beeswax that has permeated its natural oak since the 18th century, the era of its birth – a symbol of the union of a young couple whose initials were M and P… This end-of-bed chest is eagerly waiting to return to a room where love will reign, where love will be the law, etc.

Voici un authentique meuble auvergnat, témoignage de l’art populaire tel qu’il Here is an authentic Auvergne piece of furniture, a testament to the folk art as it manifested itself in the 18th century in the southeastern part of the Massif Central. This is a wedding chest assembled with thick larch wood planks, adorned with naive ornamentation inspired by the stylistic repertoires of Louis XIII and Louis XIV.

Wedding Chest in Larch Wood – 18th Century – Haute-Loire – [MP048]

18ᵗʰ century, Country furniture, Haute-Loire, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, The treasure corner, Trunk, Wedding trunk, Wood species

Here is an authentic Auvergne piece of furniture, a testament to the folk art as it manifested itself in the 18th century in the southeastern part of the Massif Central. This is a wedding chest assembled with thick larch wood planks, adorned with naive ornamentation inspired by the stylistic repertoires of Louis XIII and Louis XIV.

Here is a pie dish that has the particularity of being cast right after a church bell, in order not to waste any of the molten metal. Therefore, it is made of the same bronze and can be considered the little sister of a bell, just a few minutes apart, though not an exact twin.

Bell Bronze Pie Dish – 19th Century – Southwest – [MP043]

19ᵗʰ century, Country furniture, France, Metal, Pie dish, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, South West of France, The treasure corner

Do pies baked in a pie dish cast from the same bronze as a church bell, on the very same day, carry the scent of holiness? You can find out by testing this exceptionally rare object, an authentic bell bronze pie dish, ready to ensure the most traditional cooking on a wood fire tripod.

Mortar and pestle in beech wood – 18th century – South-West

Mortar and pestle in beech wood – 18th century – South-West of France – [MP039]

18ᵗʰ century, Beech, Country furniture, Craft furniture, Mortar, Objects bearing history, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, South West of France, The treasure corner, Tools, Wood species

Mortar and pestle in beech wood – 18th century – South-West Mortar and pestle in beech wood – 18th century – South-West of France The pestle of this mortar is held with two hands, and the force exerted to crush chestnuts, for example, is increased by the nails planted on its end. Dimensions: Height: 67…

Three copper containers of exceptional size: an enormous kettle, the matching pie dish and an equally imposing pitcher. All are in red copper and date from the 18th century, a period during which they were manufactured using the same processes in the South West of France.

Kettle, Pie Dish and Decaliter Jug in Red Copper – 18th century – South West – [MP035] [MP036] [MP037]

18ᵗʰ century, Copper, Country furniture, Kettle, Kitchen furniture, Metal, Pie dish, Pitcher, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, South West of France, The treasure corner, Ustensils

It’s a bit like Gulliver’s dinette. On our scale, a huge teapot, a generous pie dish and a colossal milk jug. In reality, these everyday objects, hammered from sheets of red copper, have known the good times of a large wine-growing family in the Médoc in the 18th century. She used it for cooking, bathing and selling wine.

Winemaker's table in oak and poplar – 19ᵗʰ century – Champagne – [MP034]

Winemaker’s table in oak and poplar – 19ᵗʰ century – Champagne – [MP034]

19ᵗʰ century, Champagne, Country furniture, Oak, Poplar, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, Small furniture, Table, Winegrower’s table

Winemaker's table in oak and poplar – 19ᵗʰ century – Champagne – [MP034] Winemaker’s table in oak and poplar – 19ᵗʰ century – Champagne The assembly of varied geometric patterns, a cross set with four triangles joined together inside the circle of the top, is highlighted thanks to the choice of nuanced wood species, namely…

On remarque, sur ce modèle de gaufrier des motifs différents sur la plaquette de gauche, ornée de cœurs en vis-à-vis, et sur celle de droite, ornée de cœurs qui semblent cette fois-ci comme ouverts. Les deux plaquettes bénéficient tout autour de ces cœurs, de décors de volutes, de petites croix et de pointillés.

Waffle mold in wrought iron – 18th century – Périgord – [MP032]

18ᵗʰ century, Cake mold, Country furniture, Kitchen furniture, Metal, Périgord, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, The treasure corner, waffle iron, Wrought iron

“The Fight Between Carnival and Lent”, painted by Brueghel the Elder, 1559 – Collection: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria. Detail of the painting by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, “The Fight Between Carnival and Lent”. We see a woman holding the waffle iron over the flame. With this type of waffle iron shaped by a blacksmith from…

Walnut sideboard – 18ᵗʰ century – South-West – [MP030]

Walnut sideboard – 18ᵗʰ century – South-West – [MP030]

18ᵗʰ century, Country furniture, Kitchen furniture, Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis XV, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, Sideboard, South West of France, The treasure corner, Two-body sideboard, Walnut

Three Louis XIII, Louis XIV and Louis XV styles brought together in a single creation This sideboard offers us a rare vision: that of the three styles Louis XIII, Louis XIV and Louis XV brought together in a single creation. The sliding drawers adorned with diamonds are in the Louis XIII style The moldings that…

Oak wedding chest – 18th century – Auvergne – [MP028]

Oak wedding chest – 18th century – Auvergne – [MP028]

18ᵗʰ century, Auvergne, Country furniture, Oak, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, The treasure corner, Trunk, Wedding trunk

Oak wedding chest – 18th century – Auvergne – [MP028] Flowers, passion, a dowry and its sheath Here is how this piece of furniture appeared in Auvergne in the 18th century. Prelude to the wedding, the engagement makes it possible to organize as it should, the imminent arrival of the bride in the family of…

Salt chest armchair – chestnut - cherry - poplar – 19th century – Quercy – [MP029]

Salt chest armchair – chestnut – cherry – poplar – 19th century – Quercy – [MP029]

19ᵗʰ century, Armchair, Castle furniture, Cherry wood, Chest armchair, Chestnut, Country furniture, fireplace accessory, Objects bearing history, Poplar, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, Quercy, Small furniture

Salt chest armchair – chestnut – cherry – poplar – 19th century – Quercy – [MP029] The salt chest armchair Patriarch’s Throne, King of Cantou If there is one thing that lords and farmers had in common from the Middle Ages until the 19th century, it was the use of the fireplace, the only means…

Folk art chestnut chest – 18th century – Béarn – [MP027]

Folk art chestnut chest – 18ᵗʰ century – Béarn – [MP027]

18ᵗʰ century, Béarnais, Chestnut, Country furniture, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, Trunk, Wedding trunk

Folk art chestnut chest – 18th century – Béarn – [MP027] Folk art chestnut chest – 18th century – Béarn The secret code to enter the spiritual universe of this chest overloaded with messages is undoubtedly the number 6. Keep it in mind to sharpen your gaze. Around the Latin Cross located under the keyhole,…

Walnut pantry cabinet - 19th century - Provence - [MP026]

Walnut pantry cabinet – 19th century – Provence – [MP026]

19ᵗʰ century, Country furniture, Kitchen cabinet, Kitchen furniture, Popular art furniture, Provence, Provincial art, The treasure corner, Walnut, Wardrobe

Walnut pantry cabinet – 19th century – Provence Called in its region of origin the “mangeadou”, this cabinet was intended for the storage of food in its upper part, ventilated for this purpose. In the lower part you could store dishes and kitchen utensils. In the middle, two drawers received the cutlery. We recognize on…

Jam cabinet in cheery – late 18th century – Périgord – [MP023]

Jam cabinet in cheery – late 18th century – Périgord – [MP023]

Buffet, Cherry wood, Confiturier, Country furniture, Kitchen furniture, Late 18ᵗʰ century, Périgord, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, Small furniture

THE FORGOTTEN FLAVORS OF OLD CONFITURIERS Jam cabinet in cheery – late 18th century – Périgord – [MP023] From the thirteenth to the nineteenth century, we preserved in honey, sugar or vinegar, all the wonders that we grew in gardens, orchards and vegetable gardens. The term “jams” (confitures) thus encompassed a wide variety of preparations…

Louis XV style country sideboard in walnut, oak and elm – 19ᵗʰ century – South West – [MP020]

Louis XV style country sideboard in walnut, oak and elm – 19ᵗʰ century – South West of France – [MP020]

19ᵗʰ century, Buffet, Country furniture, Elm, Louis XV, Oak, Provincial art, Small furniture, South West of France, Walnut

Louis XV style country sideboard in walnut, oak and elm – 19ᵗʰ century – South West of France The mix of wood species, in this case walnut, oak and elm, evokes a short circuit, ecological production ahead of time. In fact, the peasants stored, in anticipation of an important family event such as a marriage…

Beech butcher's block – End of 19ᵗʰ century – South West – [MP018]

Beech butcher’s block – End of 19ᵗʰ century – South West – [MP018]

Beech, Butcher’s block, Country furniture, Craft furniture, late 19ᵗʰ century, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, South West of France

Beech butcher’s block – End of 19ᵗʰ century – South West The centerpiece of butcher’s stalls in the 19ᵗʰ century, these old butcher’s block were designed to withstand the butchers’ blows, vigorous and precise. The top is for this reason made up of an assembly of end grain or cross cut wooden cubes; the wood…

Manka, oak sideboard – 18ᵗʰ century – Basque Country – [MP015]

Manka, oak sideboard – 18ᵗʰ century – Basque Country – [MP015]

18ᵗʰ century, Basque Country, Buffet, Country furniture, Louis XV, Manka, Oak, Popular art furniture, Provincial art

Manka, oak sideboard – 18ᵗʰ century – Basque Country – [MP015] Manka, oak sideboard – 18ᵗʰ century – Basque Country The top board opens onto a chest This oak sideboard comes from the Basque Country where it is called “manka”. Basque mankas, therefore, are characterized by the fact that their tray opens onto a large…

Oak storage wardrobe - from a monastery – 17ᵗʰ century – Burgundy

Oak storage wardrobe – from a monastery – 17ᵗʰ century – Burgundy [MP005]

17ᵗʰ century, Bourgogne, Castle furniture, Country furniture, Furnitures, Oak, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, Storage chest, The treasure corner, Wardrobe, Wood species

Oak storage wardrobe – from a monastery – 17ᵗʰ century – Burgundy Oak storage wardrobe – from a monastery – 17ᵗʰ century – Burgundy A veritable masterpiece created by a 17ᵗʰ century “image maker” (the name attributed to wood carvers), this storage wardrobe stood proudly in a monastery that used to produce Burgundy wine. It…

Louis XIII kitchen cupboard 17ᵗʰ century – Haute‑Loire – [MP002]

Louis XIII kitchen cupboard 17ᵗʰ century – Haute‑Loire – [MP002]

17ᵗʰ century, Auvergne, Country furniture, Furnitures, Haute-Loire, Kitchen cabinet, Kitchen furniture, Louis XIII, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, The treasure corner

Louis XIII kitchen cupboard 17ᵗʰ century – Haute‑Loire This softwood cupboard used to take pride of place in the kitchen. A unique feature is its spacious drawers for storing bread. Beneath the drawers there is a pull-out breadboard. The doors have skeleton locks with a superb mechanism. The locks and knobs are the authentic originals.…

Oak wedding wardrobe – 19ᵗʰ century – Brittany - MP001

Oak wedding wardrobe – 19ᵗʰ century – Brittany – [MP001]

19ᵗʰ century, Bretagne, Country furniture, Furnitures, Oak, Popular art furniture, Provincial art, Storage chest, Wardrobe, Wedding gift storage chest, Wedding gift wardrobe, Wood species

Oak wedding wardrobe – 19ᵗʰ century – Brittany For the most part, popular art furniture was specially ordered for weddings. The families deployed considerable means so that their children’s union would be fertile, prosperous and everlasting. The symbols that were used were understood by everybody, since they were rooted in a shared religious iconography. Beside…

Louis XIV walnut armoire – late 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME002]

Louis XIV walnut armoire – late 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME002]

17ᵗʰ century, Aquitaine, Country furniture, Furnitures, Late 17ᵗʰ century, Louis XIV, Périgord, Period furniture, Provincial art, Walnut, Wardrobe, Wood species

Louis XIV walnut armoire – late 17ᵗʰ century – Perigord This coffered armoire, with drawers in the lower part, is in the Louis XIV style. The ultimate aim was to flaunt in one’s own home an ostentatious piece of furniture, reflecting the pomp and splendour of Versailles, initiated by Louis XIV, the Sun King. This…

Louis XIII wardrobe – 17ᵗʰ century – Limousin

Louis XIII wardrobe – 17ᵗʰ century – Limousin [ME001]

17ᵗʰ century, Aquitaine, Country furniture, Furnitures, Limousin, Linen cupboard, Louis XIII, Period furniture, Provincial art, Walnut, Wardrobe, Wood species

Louis XIII wardrobe – 17ᵗʰ century – Limousin This linen cupboard from Limousin is typical of the first provincial furniture to make its way into aristocratic homes at the start of the 17ᵗʰ century. Before that, they put their clothes and linen in chests. This is a functional piece of furniture with just one audacious…