Antique Cabinets - Item 9212
Louis XIII Buffet Cabinet

Item 9212 Louis XIII Enfilade Cabinet Dimensions Width 74, Heigh 41½, Depth 20½ (in inches) Wood Walnut Country France Date Circa 1880 Price $ 5,995 Description This three-door, antique buffet cabinet or enfilade, is hand-carved of solid French walnut.  It is a classic 19th century example using the diamond pattern associated with Louis XIII period furniture dating from the 17th century.  The term enfilade has to do with the series of doors opening onto a central interior space and derives from the Latin for  "thread" referring to the architectural device of “threading together” a linear arrangement of interior doors which, when open, provide a vista overlooking a garden or other expanse. As a result, the emphasis is on symmetry and balance, as encapsulated in the diamond patterns used to harmonize the elements of this cabinet and to showcase the natural beauty of the French walnut.  Above each door is a drawer with its original hardware.  For other pieces with the diamond motif, see armoire 1014 and two-piece cabinet 1035. Reference Boussel, Patrice, Les Styles du Moyen Age à Louis XIV  (Baschet et Cie, Paris, 1979) Uses While ideally suited as a buffet cabinet in a dining room or kitchen, this piece could also serve as a credenza in an office or library.