This highly carved and incised antique armoire in Cherrywood is from Rennes in Brittany, France.   The country cabinetmakers in and around Rennes often signed and dated their furniture.  There is no other region in France where the signature on the furniture is so pervasive.  There are two geographical styles—the Lower Breton and the Upper Breton.    In Lower Brittany the furniture lines a straight and more robust.  In Upper Brittany, a closer neighbor to Normandy and the Loire, the styles are more elegant and contoured. So, the Breton armoire is either very simple in its decoration or decorated vividly with allegorical scenes or motifs.   Some of the finest armoires were made in and around Rennes, with ornamentation being delightfully naïve and whimsical. 

This Rennaise armoire displays hand carved and incised ornamentation of birds in flight (sometimes referred to as a phoenix), gadrooned acanthus leaves, shells, tassels, scrolling vines and flowers, stylized plumes of feathers, hearts, urns, circles and much more.  The front door panels have two asymmetrical vertical panels with full decoration divided by a decorated horizontal panel.  The center post or dormant is attached to the left hand door and therefore not stationary.  It is here where you will find the signature of the maker:   “Fait Par Pierre Riault L(‘) an XI de la Republic –S-“  or Made by Pierre Riault in the 11th year of the Republic or around 1803.  The side panels are divided into three parts, two vertical on top, one horizontal in the middle and two vertical at the bottom.  The interior of the armoire is totally unusual in its design.  Beneath the upper shelf is a central vertical divider creating four compartments.  Beneath this are two drawers with a central hidden compartment open to the right hand drawer when it is pulled out.  There is also a key for this drawer.  This cabinetmaker had some very specific requests.  This is truly a rare piece in its age and carving.

Condition: Minor rubs, nicks, and age separations consistent with age; 2 Keys-1 for front door, 1 for interior right drawer; minor old wood worm marks consistent with cherrywood.