Originally the excise duty tax (“octroi”) was decreed by Good King Dagobert to tax the goods brought to Paris for some important fairs. In the XIXth century, this tax was extended to all important towns and did greatly contribute to their development. Sarlat in particular collected the excise duty on market days ; Sarlat market was already renowned for its fatty poultry, its “cèpes” (penny buns) and girolle mushrooms and other victuals from neighbouring countryside. So, there was a tax collector in charge of collecting the “octroi” when merchants entered the town. We may well imagine he had a kind of oak countryside “table-desk” (“bureau“) looking like the one on our photo. It was solidly built, with a large drawer to keep money and receipts. Coming from the Sarlat district in Périgord Noir, created in the XIXth century and built in rustic solid oak, this “art populaire” piece of furniture can be regarded as a genuine countryside “bureau“. If you grant it the favor of being in your home, it will proudly and friendly witness your readings, inspirations and little secrets.
Size :
Length : 134 cm, Width : 68 cm, Height “sous tablier” : 58 cm, Board Height : 75 cm.
Référence: [MP053]
