Ancient Chests – Aux-Rois-Louis

Ash wedding chest – 17th century – South-West

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15ᵗʰ century
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18ᵗʰ century
Aquitaine
Auvergne
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Castle furniture
Chestnut
China
Country furniture
France
Furnitures
Haute-Loire
High Middle Ages
Île de France
Knight Chest
Louis XIII
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Oak
Périgord
Period furniture
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Provincial art
Renaissance
Small furniture
South West of France
Stagecoach travel trunk
The treasure corner
Travel trunk
Trunk
Types of furniture
Walnut
Wedding trunk
Wood species

Impressive in size, this oak chest comes from a fortress in Périgord. It remains a testament to its past grandeur. Its mission was, in its time, to welcome back from battles the weapons and armour of the Knight Master of the house. It is rare to be able to observe this type of castle furniture, as very few of its comrades-in-arms were produced and most have now disappeared.

Knight’s Oak Armour Chest – 15th Century – High Middle Ages – Périgord – [ME148]

AUX-ROIS-LOUIS’S TREASURES FILMING AT CHÂTEAU DE BIRON IN PÉRIGORD FOR THE SERIES ‘FORTUNE DE FRANCE’ Adapted from Robert Merle’s literary fresco, a writer native to Sarlat, the “Fortune de France” series directed by Christopher Thomson took up residence at Château de Biron, seat of one of the oldest baronies in Périgord, in spring 2023. It…

This 18th-century coach chest is clad in leather on the outside and bordered with studded brass. The interior is lined with hand-painted wallpaper, forming speckled patterns. Originally, this type of luggage was the work of the guild of trunk makers, a separate trade from the saddle makers, emerging during the 14th century.

Coach Travel Chest in Leather and Wood – 18th Century – Île de France – [ME124]

The vanity one carries with them in the 18th century is made from leather, brass, and wood. These natural materials were assembled by the guild of trunk makers, with no recourse to plastics which of course did not yet exist. Let’s rediscover the charm of yesteryear’s luggage with this delicate coach travel chest in leather, brass, and wood, a surviving witness of the Renaissance’s golden days in France.

This studded travel trunk originates from the mountainous region of Hubei, also known as the Province of a Thousand Lakes, situated in central China. The ochre and green hues that surface are original. Upon closer inspection of the facade, vertical inscriptions in Chinese characters can be discerned. The rings are loops for the ropes that allowed this travel trunk to be carried through the rugged mountains of Hubei, either by man or mule. The studded iron fittings reinforcing its corners enabled it to withstand shocks and reach us in a beautiful state of preservation.

Studded Travel Trunk – 18th Century – China – [ME126]

Who can decipher the sinograms traced on this precious travel trunk, tossed about in the Chinese mountains in the 18th century? For now, it keeps its secrets and its beautiful Chinese red patina inside.

Here is a light oak chest dating back to the 18th century. Its imposing central medallion encompasses the top and bottom crossbars. It is surrounded by two panels adorned with flowers. The heartwood oak planks from the Vosges forests chosen to make it have endured four centuries without the slightest damage. This wedding chest is simply resplendent.

Medallion Oak Chest – 18th Century – The Vosges – [MP041]

This light oak chest from the Vosges dating back to the 18th century shines thanks to its central medallion that embraces the entire available height. This generous motif is further enhanced by the flower-adorned panels that surround it.

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

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

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]

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.

Chest in blond walnut from the 17th century, from a Maison Forte du Périgord. It is decorated with a succession of eight projecting double tables or

Chest of Maison Forte in blond walnut – 17th century – Périgord – [ME078]

Fresh as a daisy from the height of these four centuries, this Maison Forte chest in blond walnut, nourished with pure beeswax from a very young age, is now setting off in search of a new home where its functions as spacious laundry will be recognized and duly appreciated.

Large walnut chest with straight lines ordered and shaped in the County of Périgord in the 18th century. This geographical origin is attested by a typically Périgord motif of an inverted V which houses the keyhole. The ironwork, lock, hinges and handles are all original.

Chest of Knight in walnut – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME081]

Its bird feathers link it to the Louis XIII style and its ancestors traveling chests that roamed the countryside, carrying the armor of their knights who went to war. Dating from the beginning of the 18th century, this robust walnut chest will have had the chance to live a peaceful life in the castle, in a Périgord that has finally been pacified.

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 the groom, under the condition of a dowry made at…

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

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, four 6-pointed stars immediately illuminate the facade. Theses stars represent IX…

Renaissance style chest in walnut – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME051]

Renaissance style chest in walnut – 17ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME051] Made in Périgord in the 17ᵗʰ century, this walnut chest uses the aesthetic codes of the Renaissance, a pivotal period between the Middle Ages and modern times. You can recognize the famous gadrooned moldings around the edge of the plateau and on the…

Walnut wood chest – 18ᵗʰ century – Bordeaux Region [ME005]

Walnut wood chest – 18ᵗʰ century – Bordeaux Region front embellished with floral vine design and tree of life turned feet rich moulding adding depth at base beautiful wrought iron handles on either side keyhole decorated with fantastic animals Front embellished with floral vine design and tree of life. Turned feet, rich moulding adding depth…

Walnut coffer – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME010]

Walnut coffer – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord Made of exceptionally fine wood the sides and top have been made from the same plank ofaged walnut. The arched moulding surrounding the lock is indicative of the skill of contempory cabinet makers. The top is decorated with painted fleur de lys – symbol of nobility. Carrying handles of…