Rennes Marriage Armoire.
This piece came from the large farmhouse for which it
was comissioned to celebrate a marriage. the maker was
the locally famous, Charles Allory whose work dates
from 1822-1847. This piece is from towards the end of
this range.
From the age of puberty the brides parents would have
embroidered bedlinen, saved to buy a simple bed, and
worked darned hard to comission a marriage armoire.
these were invariably in finest cherry and decorated
according to the depths of the parents pockets.
A team of cabinet makers made the frame before handing
over to the master sculptor (Allory). The sculpting
cost typically more than half the total bill. They were
delivered by cart on the afternoon of the wedding so
the guests could admire it at the reception. They would
then be taken away, dismantled and assembled in the
farmhouse. They are far and away the most sophisticated
and costly pieces of Breton furniture.
The farm was north of Rennes , towards St. Malo and
bears St. Malo keyplates. the carving is exquisite.
There are similar pieces by Allory in the Ecomusee and
Breton cultural museum at Rennes. . The most distinctive
feature is the double bowed cornice which is unique
to late 18thC-mid 19thC Rennes armoires. The colour
is glorious warm cherry. A few years ago we would have
to pay £3-5000 to buy a similar piece to restore.
The owner wanted to sell two pieces immediately and
this is reflected in the price. Rennes marriage armoires
are probably the most beautiful and joyous pieces of
french furniture. You can also hang clothes in them!
Measures 243 cm tall x 150 cm wide x 58 cm deep
£2895
The Bed Workshop
The Old Pickle Factory, Braunton Road, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 3AA
0117 963 6659 (+44 117 963 6659)
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