Large Louis XVI Master's Chest - Louis XVI Period Secret Box

Rare secret box simulating a Louis XVI-style commode à ressaut, dating from the late 18th century or very early 19th century.

This particularly original object takes the form of a miniature commode with a projecting front, reminiscent of masterpieces and cabinetmaking reductions made at the end of the Ancien Régime. Its proportions, however, reveal its true function: it is an ingenious chest opening on the upper half of the body.

Mounted on oak and veneered with flamed mahogany, it is adorned with fine lemon fillets forming an elegant geometric decoration on the simulated drawer fronts as well as on the corner jambs. The architecturally designed front echoes the codes of Louis XVI furniture, with its central projection and protruding uprights.

The keyways are in mother-of-pearl, the pull knobs in turned bronze, while the tapered legs end in small bronze sabots.

One of the major attractions of this piece lies in its ingenious locking system: a sliding trapdoor concealed in the façade uncovers the main lock entrance, while also serving as a hiding place for the key.

The interior forms a vast storage compartment accessible by lifting the top section. The whole testifies to remarkable cabinetmaking craftsmanship despite its small scale of execution.

A rare, elegant and decorative piece, on the borderline between master's furniture, precious casket and miniature furniture.

Period: late 18th century - early 19th century.

Dimensions:
Height : 26 cm
Width : 30 cm
Depth: 20.5 cm