Monogrammed Box – Folk Art – Queyras – Chest, Knife-carved Love Box

Early 19th century - Circa 1800–1830 France – Hautes-Alpes, Guil Valley (Queyras) Small softwood box, made of Swiss pine, finely engraved with a penknife using the “thorn carving” technique, typical of the popular works of Queyras. It is a domestic or sentimental object, fashioned by a mountain craftsman at the dawn of the 19th century, in this alpine world where every everyday object was invested with a symbolic value. The lid has a decoration of incised diamonds forming a rhythmic frame, in the center of which are inscribed a heart and a clover, joint symbols of love and luck. These signs, common on wedding or wedding ring boxes, evoke the marital bond and the protection of the home. The sides are decorated with solar rosettes—one radiant, the other spiral—apotropaic figures intended to repel evil and attract light. On the front face stands an engraved monogram “W • S • F,” framed by a geometric frieze. This type of inscription, often composed of the couple’s initials, anchors the object in the Alpine tradition of the union box or loving souvenir. The closing system, a simple wrought iron hook with a hammered head, retains the rusticity specific to local manufacturing. The composition is distinguished by the balance between geometric rigor and spontaneity of the line. Each incision reflects the direct hand of the sculptor, without prior drawing, in a gesture that is both precise and free. The golden honey patina, enhanced by the polish of time, gives the wood a tactile softness that prolongs the intimate character of the object. A rare example of Queyras folk art, this box illustrates the fusion of utility and poetry in early 19th-century mountain furniture: a modest but deeply inhabited work, where decorative language becomes a true language of the heart. Condition: old patina, wear from use, small losses and stabilized cracks. Dimensions: Height: 13 cm Width: 22 cm Depth: 16 cm ALL DELIVERIES ARE MADE BY DHL EXPRESS ONLY.