Provence– Late 1700’s

Condition: Previous restorations to central acanthus leaf motif, minor age separations of wood, minor rubs to relief. 
From Nimes, in the heart of Provence, comes this magnificent armoire of French walnut wood. Eighteenth-century French armoires from Provence are considered rare, and are differentiated from other provinces’ characteristics by conspicuous high and low relief of the pediment carving, the deeply shaped and molded panel carvings, and rigorous pierced carving of their aprons. 
This armoire has primarily been crafted in the mid-century rocaille or Louis XV style, with a strong emphasis on curves, asymmetry, and scrolled, foliated motifs.  A feathered and twisted acanthus leaf in high relief adorns the central motif of the frieze with twisted and curled acanthus leaf scrolls to either side.  Each door features a tri-partite asymmetrical organization of shaped and molded panels, one on top of the other.  The moldings are interrupted by two opposing acanthus leaves and sprigs of leaves, typical of the Louis XV Period.  In Nimes armoires, the panel fields were left unadorned.   The vertical central panel which is attached to the left hand door is decorated with c and s-scrolls and stylized shells.   The sides of the armoire have bookmatched  panels of wood.  The pierced apron has more feathered and twisted acanthus leaves with stylized shells surrounded by c- scrolls.
This stunning Nimoise armoire from the Provence region is a rare find for the collector of 18th C. French furniture.

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