Chest – Lace-maker’s Box With Carved Design – Folk Art – Love Box

Second half of the 19th century

France

Le Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire

A rare bobbin lace-making box with a carved wooden frame, crafted in the second half of the 19th century in Le Puy-en-Velay, a center for bobbin lace and folk woodcarving.

Entirely carved with a knife, this box features a rich ornamental repertoire characteristic of Vellave folk art: flowering hearts, eight-petaled rosettes, sun wheels, serrated friezes, and plant scrolls adorn each side as well as the domed lid. Together, they form a highly harmonious design, in which geometric and plant motifs complement one another with remarkable skill.

The front is punctuated by two large circular medallions containing floral hearts, separated by an elegant stylized plant motif. The sides feature a large radiating rosette, while the back is adorned with a series of engraved hearts. The lid features the most elaborate decoration, centered around a central rosette from which radiates a composition of stylized hearts and flowers, emblematic of traditional crafts from the Velay region.

The interior reveals an ingenious modular design comprising three stacked drawers. This type of construction allowed the lacemaker to store bobbins, threads, patterns, pins, and small personal items in a piece of furniture that was as practical as it was elegant. The lock is preserved along with an antique key (not the original, but included with the box).

These boxes were often made or given as engagement or wedding gifts; the ubiquitous hearts express both the affection and the care that went into their creation. As genuine everyday objects, they now stand as iconic examples of the folk art of the Velay region.

The set features a beautiful original patina and is in excellent condition. It shows slight signs of use, small old insect bites, and minimal wear from age.

A remarkable regional set combining high-quality carving, ingenious craftsmanship, and deep symbolic meaning, representative of the finest folk art produced in Le Puy-en-Velay during the 19th century.

Dimensions:

20 × 20 × 28.5 cm

All shipments are made exclusively via DHL Express.