16th Century French Walnut Cabinet with Marble Inlays

Collection Jean Thuile Around the mid-sixteenth century French furnishing evolves in its conception and ornamentation. The start of major archi...

Former collection Altounian At the beginning of the reign of Henri II (1547-1559) the furniture’s ornamentation evolves. The few medieval motifs that were still used are eventually relinquished. Furniture becomes more sober showcasing moulded panels and perfect architecture. Cabinet-makers use ornaments such as curved fluted or plain columns, feather quills, roses or winged putti heads. High-relief carving becomes more scarce and compositions lighter. To that end cabinet-makers draw inspiration from Fontainebleau motifs filtering them and adapting them to French taste. During this period cabinet-makers turn into a kind of architects. Indeed the architectural balance of furniture is the centre of their concerns. The study of Antic formulas is then a necessity. From this care given to proportions appear refined cabinets with pure lines. This style is characteristic of the reign of Henri II and disappears soon after under the regency of Catherine de Medici (1560-1574) when an abundance of high and low-relief ornaments comes back on furnitures. This two-bodies cabinet...

This walnut chair stands on four square-section feet linked by four crossbars. The front spacer is carved as an intertwined branch. The backrest’s jambs are adorned with leaves motif...

This Renaissance Cabinet reveals the great mastery of the Lyon workshops which are at the origin of its realization. Sculptors and wood-carvers worked here in symbiosis to express an...

Italy / 16th Century / Cabinet / walnut / Renaissance / Antique Rare 16th Century Italian Renaissance cabinet in walnut with hand carved decorations of 3 heads and floral patterns f...

French Henry II Deux-Corps cabinet, in two parts. Of linear design and interesting, unusual proportions, the top part with two-doors over two drawers, bottom with two larger drawers ...

Elegant and unique, this medium-small sized chest is made of solid carved and turned walnut. The undertop is adorned with a refined gold leaf decoration, which is also repeated on th...

Important Renaissance sideboard-credence. This piece of furniture, originally a very large chest from the 16th century chest from the 16th century has three panels carved with mascar...