An Antique French Regence Style Bench with Canopy and Trunk Storage of European Oak from Ille et Vilaine – Mid 1800’s

This versatile bench with an indented overhead rectangular wooden canopy has two hinged openings in the seat for storage.  On the interior of the canopy, there are hooks for hanging items.  The hand carved ornamentation is from the Regence Style with stylized cartouches surrounded by gadrooned, ruffled acanthus leaves in the form of c-scrolls.  Bellflower drops hang within raised geometric shapes.  The front profiles have a breakfront at the canopy and seat portion.  The raised and indented moldings surrounding the panels are scalloped with some ending in c- scrolls of acanthus leaves.  The terminals for the arms are s-scrolls ornamented with acanthus leaves and bellflower drops and the front feet repeat the gadrooned acanthus leaves with hoof feet.  The back feet are block.

Ille-et-Vilaine which is one of the original 83 departments (regions of the country) created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790.  It was created from part of the Province of Brittany.

Condition:  Previous restorations, minor rubs and nicks, age separations