THIS OBJECT WAS SOLD
Painted Chest With A Nautical Paintings By A. Dubois – Memories Of A Trip – 1897–1907
A remarkable painted wooden chest, created at the turn of the 20th century and signed A. Dubois.
More than a piece of furniture, it feels like a personal album of voyages: a large maritime keepsake covered with memories of distant shores, harbours, and life at sea.
The name “Yann Moal – Belle-Île-en-Mer” is prominently painted on the lid, suggesting that the chest was created or decorated especially for its original owner. One of the panels also bears a touching handwritten dedication:
“À mon ami Yann
Souvenir… Souvenirs…
Le Palais, 1907
A. Dubois”
(“To my friend Yann - Le Palais, 1907 - A. Dubois”)
Across its different faces, the chest tells a story through a succession of painted landscapes:
- The harbour of Le Palais, on Belle-Île-en-Mer, with its boats and fortified coastline;
- The port of La Rochelle, animated by sailing boats and steam vessels;
- A dramatic northern landscape of mountains and rough waters, viewed from the deck of a boat;
- A tropical shoreline lined with palm trees, evoking a faraway stopover beneath warmer skies.
The lid is decorated with fishing nets, an anchor, maritime instruments, signal flags, and nautical motifs. The composition gives the chest the charm of an old sailor’s world: part travel souvenir, part personal archive, and part work of maritime folk art.
The different scenes are dated between 1897 and 1907, suggesting that the decoration may have developed over several years, perhaps as a collection of memories gathered across different journeys. The identity of A. Dubois has not been formally established, but the intimate inscriptions and highly individual decoration make this a unique historical object rather than a conventional piece of painted furniture.
With its impressive scale and evocative imagery, this chest would make a striking statement piece in an interior, a coastal residence, a boutique hotel, or a collection dedicated to maritime history and travel.
Condition
Authentic wear consistent with age and use, including scratches, small losses, chips, and areas of patina. The hinges are missing. These imperfections form part of the chest’s history and contribute to its character. Please examine the photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the description.
Dimensions
Height: 63 cm
Width: 130 cm
Depth: 55 cm
More than a piece of furniture, it feels like a personal album of voyages: a large maritime keepsake covered with memories of distant shores, harbours, and life at sea.
The name “Yann Moal – Belle-Île-en-Mer” is prominently painted on the lid, suggesting that the chest was created or decorated especially for its original owner. One of the panels also bears a touching handwritten dedication:
“À mon ami Yann
Souvenir… Souvenirs…
Le Palais, 1907
A. Dubois”
(“To my friend Yann - Le Palais, 1907 - A. Dubois”)
Across its different faces, the chest tells a story through a succession of painted landscapes:
- The harbour of Le Palais, on Belle-Île-en-Mer, with its boats and fortified coastline;
- The port of La Rochelle, animated by sailing boats and steam vessels;
- A dramatic northern landscape of mountains and rough waters, viewed from the deck of a boat;
- A tropical shoreline lined with palm trees, evoking a faraway stopover beneath warmer skies.
The lid is decorated with fishing nets, an anchor, maritime instruments, signal flags, and nautical motifs. The composition gives the chest the charm of an old sailor’s world: part travel souvenir, part personal archive, and part work of maritime folk art.
The different scenes are dated between 1897 and 1907, suggesting that the decoration may have developed over several years, perhaps as a collection of memories gathered across different journeys. The identity of A. Dubois has not been formally established, but the intimate inscriptions and highly individual decoration make this a unique historical object rather than a conventional piece of painted furniture.
With its impressive scale and evocative imagery, this chest would make a striking statement piece in an interior, a coastal residence, a boutique hotel, or a collection dedicated to maritime history and travel.
Condition
Authentic wear consistent with age and use, including scratches, small losses, chips, and areas of patina. The hinges are missing. These imperfections form part of the chest’s history and contribute to its character. Please examine the photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the description.
Dimensions
Height: 63 cm
Width: 130 cm
Depth: 55 cm
Explore similar pieces and discover your ideal find:
Trunks, Chests
