Cartonnier Louis XVI, Late Eighteenth Century

Cartonnier with two bodies in wood veneer, presenting in its upper part two drawers surmounted by leaves edged with a fluted stick in gilt bronze, animated with fleur-de-lys, centered with a draw button in the shape of a finely chiseled mask. Inside, six drawers for storage, delicately decorated with gold foliage. The lower part, with the same gilded bronze decoration, also opens with two front leaves, resting on leafy clog feet. It has a sliding shelf with two pull handles forming a shelf. The cabinet hides a door locker on the side. A fluted strip underlines each part of the box. Good general condition with some small traces of wear.
Period: Louix XVI.
The symmetry and refined simplicity of the ornaments on our furniture are characteristic of the Louis XVI style. Never before in the history of French furniture have cabinetmakers shown such great finesse in the execution of details. They knew how to demonstrate a very assured taste in the choice of neoclassical decorative motifs, rich enough to lighten the aridity of the orthogonal forms. An incomparable trait of Louis XVI lies in the thoroughness of the treatment of ornaments by the sculptors and especially by the bronze workers. Among the most common motifs, often inherited from ancient architecture, mention should be made of dentils, fluted rods, friezes of acanthus, oak or pearls, interlacing, ribbons, rosaries and lancets. Among the pieces of furniture most in favor at the end of the 18th century, there are chests of drawers, lower cupboards, cabinets and sideboards. The number of shelves forming shelves and their arrangement vary considerably from one room to another; some models have a large mirror as a background.