STORE HOURS: Friday - Saturday: 10:30 - 5:00, Sunday: 12:00 - 4:00, or by appointment ~ 1415 Bayard Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
STORE HOURS: Friday - Saturday: 10:30 - 5:00, Sunday: 12:00 - 4:00, or by appointment ~ 1415 Bayard Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
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What an extraordinary armoire! We have had many painted European baroque armoires through our hands but have never seen one so decorative. It is hard to do it justice but we will describe some of its main features.
The bold crown molding forms a graceful bonnet top and is picked out in blue, green, and white paint. Beneath it runs a frieze, in the centre of which is a medallion containing the year “1833”, carved in bas-relief. On each side of the medallion are three applied hand-carved leaf motifs, presented in a star pattern, strung together with carved wooden cord with delicate tassels at each end.The doors arch to meet the frieze. The central stile bears an elaborate corbel beneath which run three panels of bas-relief leaf carvings.
Each door has two panels containing hand-painted bouquets of mixed flowers and the mullions continue the carved leaf design all round.
On the base are two faux drawers with hand-carved floral “pulls”.
On the front corners the corbels are repeated as are the bas-relief panels with leaf carvings.The doors open 180 degrees on fiche hinges. The right hand door bears the original working lock and key, the left hand door is released by a wire pull on the inside.
The interior has a long fixed top shelf, split in the middle so the armoire halves can pull apart. A central divider has one shelf and one half shelf on each side. The patterned lining paper is period and in fairly good condition.The exterior paint is a Gustavian grey with white highlights and a liberal use of gold leaf paint. Chips and wear reveal an oxblood undercoat.
The armoire splits apart in the middle for ease in transportation and installation. It locks together with a primitive mortise and tenon fixture, mounted on the inside top and bottom.
Austria, circa 1833.