Buffet from France in the Louis XVI style. This piece is circa 1910. It is made of solid wood construction, primarily mahogany. There are three dovetailed drawers at the top. Each drawer is trimmed in brass with a brass keyhole. There are three doors below the drawers on the buffet. The doors open to interior wood shelving. The doors are also trimmed in brass with keyholes. The locks are in working condition and three keys are available with the piece. The buffet has been ebonized and finished with a lustrous French polish of museum-quality. The façade has fluted detailing. The front four feet are toupee legs and capped with brass. The back legs are wood. Atop the buffet is a gray Saint Anne marble with white veining. It is original to the piece. The buffet is in excellent antique condition – the photos accurately depict the condition.
Louis XVI Style refers to the style defined by the period in France under the reign of King Louis XVI (1760-1789) — the last French monarch before the Revolution. Inspired by the discoveries of Pompeii and Herculaneum, this era saw a revival of Greek and Roman styles. There was a sharp movement away from the Rococo style, as curved lines and heavy ornamentation became unfashionable, giving way to clean, straight lines. Restrained, geometrical forms were preferred and stylized references to classical Greek architecture were recaptured. Furniture and interiors were refined, sophisticated, calm and symmetrical.