Architecture: Reading Alcove - Period Late 15th, Early 16th Century

Beautiful and rare reading alcove
Period late 15th or early 16th century.
Limestone from Chatillonnais (Côte d'Or)

Usually found in castles or large bourgeois houses, this reading alcove was dismantled by us during the demolition of a ruined medieval house in a small village near Chatillon sur Seine.
The Haute Bourgogne region offers many examples of this type of architecture combining practicality and aesthetics.

In the past, this architectural feature was installed in the main room of houses
and looked out through a porthole or a small window onto the adjoining street.
Women would sew or embroider there in the daylight.

A wall at least 80 cm thick is required for this installation, the whole representing a thickness of around 70 cm.
Our dry presentation does not reflect the total height of the whole, which is 1.90 m.
We have collected all the stone needed to raise the sides to this height, or more if desired during the next installation.

The finished set represents a ground installation of around 2.10 m.
The distance between the 2 interior feet of the arch at the level of the flat benches measures 1.65 m.
The 2 benches, the feet and the elements of the vault are anchored 70 cm into the wall.
The 2 benches have a 35 cm seat.
The seats are 55 cm from the ground.
The distance between the 2 seat noses measures 1 m.
This leaves plenty of room for 2 people facing each other.
The sitting position is very comfortable.

To let the light in through the load-bearing wall, we suggest either a bull's eye window or a window frame with a cavetto or chamfer molding,
from the same period of course.

A beautiful old Burgundy paving stone would perfectly finish the floor of this alcove.

We present some views of this type of architecture for examples.
These are not our sources of supply...

We are at your disposal for any information you may require.

A visit by appointment to our stocks will allow us to provide a more complete explanation.