An unusual double bibliothèque from southwest France, this impressive bookcase was hand-carved from oak, circa 1800. Several layers of molding adorn the crown, including a deep cavetto cornice above a wonderfully carved frieze with a scalloped shell medallion with foliate tendrils. This center cartouche is flanked on each side by a pair of asymmetrical oval moldings consisting of foliate volutes (also seen on the six belt drawers of the lower section). Four rectangular doors of the upper body feature original grillage (chicken wire) surrounded by a sinuous molding comprised of a scalloped shell between two volutes. Each door has a subsequent pane of chicken wire beneath, in the shape of a small rectangle, allowing the thick and heavy carved shelves to be fully seen (each pair of doors fronts three shelves).

Directly under the quarter-round molding that tops the lower section are the six belt drawers. There are also four doors on the lower section, with identical carvings to the upper doors, however, the center of these panels is wood and not chicken wire. Each pair of doors opens to reveal a single shelf, just above the thick plinth that rests directly on the floor. Our oak and wire paneled double bibliothèque is a beautiful example of an early 19th-century storage piece that offers ample storage for any library or den bookcase.

CONDITION: Very good antique condition with minor nicks, rubs, and age separations. Traces of old repairs and fills with more recent restoration work. All four door locks are functional, each with its own key. One drawer has a lock, but no key.