Small Walnut Cabinet, 17th Century.

This very small but exceptionally large cabinet is made of solid walnut and opens with two three-panel doors. Its upper and lower cornices are original, as are its hardware: key, lock, escutcheon, and door hinges. The front rests on two tapered feet, while the rear feet are straight. Its dimensions suggest it was a piece of furniture belonging to a religious community; indeed, nuns owned only the bare essentials, and their cells were furnished with few pieces of furniture, generally a bed, a table, a small wardrobe, and sometimes a small oratory, all crafted with the utmost simplicity. In good original condition, this 17th-century piece has nevertheless undergone some minor restorations: a few repairs have been made to the cornices, one rear foot has been grafted, and a piece of wood has been added to an interior panel on the back of the cabinet (visible in a photograph). Its beautiful, warm, golden patina with honey highlights is of great decorative interest; it would be perfect for a small room or a child's bedroom in a period style, and even in a modern interior. Height 184 cm, body depth 38 cm, overall depth 46 cm, body width 86 cm, overall width 103 cm.