Cabinet From Uzès With Floral Motifs, Late 17th–early 18th Century

An Uzès cabinet with a black back and two hinged doors. Thiswedding cabinet features a lavish decoration of colorful flowers accentedby painted frames. These finely rendered bouquets,alternating with other compositions in the small central panels,are reminiscent of 17th- and 18th-century Flemish floral still lifes.

The quality ofexecution, the nature of the composition, the floral speciescomprising it, and the colors echo the works of Dutch painterssuch as Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder, Jan Davidsz deHeem, and Rachel Ruysch.

We canidentify several species, such as daffodils, poppies,tulips, anemones, and cherry blossoms. This exquisiteand harmonious ensemble, with its soft and warm polychromy, stands out against thedeep black background.

The frame ofthe cabinet echoes this natural theme: flowers and foliage aredepicted more discreetly to highlight thedecoration on the doors.

We canassume that the cabinet is contemporary with the painters who createdthese floral still lifes and that it is therefore afine example of the earliest cabinets from Uzès. Indeed,the interior is lined with its beautiful original wallpaper,as are the two drawers with their imposing andirregular dovetail joints. The key and lock are certainlyoriginal, and we can see the hammered heads of the nails onthe lock.

The black back panel and, morespecifically, the absence of decoration on the sides of the cabinetare further indications of its age. Later piecesoften feature sophisticated decorations, sometimesadded at a later date. We also note on the backunfinished panels, consistent with production from the late 17thcentury to the early 18th century. The simple, unadornedhinges are further evidence.

It should be added that thiscabinet comes from the estate of a Protestant family insoutheastern France and that Uzès cabinets trace theirorigins to the late 17th century in regions marked byProtestantism.

Thisparticularly unadorned piece has not been altered or modified duringits long history. It combines impressive, masterfully executeddecoration with rare integrity and an age confirmed bynumerous features. It is a beautiful example of the veryfirst Uzès cabinets.

Dated to the late 17th,early 18th century.