It’s a French Thing

The French really are different. Or at least their furniture is. I don’t know that many French people. I am uncomfortable making such a broad generalization about the French.

Living in North Carolina, the majority of the antique furniture I see has strong English influences with some German mixed in to make things interesting. When I see an identified piece of French furniture I take note. Dealers tell us that what we see is all “country” French furniture. Apparently French urban furniture is much more sophisticated and refined, so much so that it refuses to get on a ship and cross the Atlantic.

First thing you notice is all the carving. Doors, panels, drawers. They like to carve. (Click pictures to enlarge.)

There be carvings. Everywhere.

And unique hardware. Here we revisit the frame mounted lock that locks two drawers.

Lock in the middle. High mortise on the left drawer and low bolt to the right. One key locks two drawers. No tiny dovetails here.

It there is a hardware person out there that can shed anymore light on this lock, feel free to share.

There is this lightly carved chest with some interesting features.

Alleged 18th century French chest. It’s carved, too.

And an interesting strap hinge on the exterior of the chest.

Hinge is attached with clenched nails.

On this chest, the battens are rabbeted onto the end of the lid and not under the lid like on the small boarded chest.

Battens on the end of the lid. Nailed into the end grain . Not up from the bottom and clenched.

French furniture also comes with spare parts.

Not sure where they go.

And then there is this desk. What can I say?

I think it speaks for itself.

To see the entire set of these pieces and more, click HERE The last two desks are not believed to be French but are in the same shop and interesting. .