A magnificent example of French architecture, measuring nine and one-quarter feet tall, this pair of entry doors was hand-carved from walnut in the late 1600s. The doors were recently purchased from a grand wine property outside of Avignon where they had been in storage for several decades.  The massive doors still retain much of their original hardware,  including three large gudgeons on each door and a functional latch on the back side (of the narrower door) that runs from top to bottom. Most of the decorative nailheads that encircle the door’s panels are still present as well.

The upper door panel is recessed and surrounded by thick molding, while the lower panel is slightly raised. A projecting pediment with a thick cavetto cornice separates the two panels, below where the door pulls would have been located. A large, protruding cross (most likely a stylized cross fleury) with a lozenge center adorns the lower panels, providing spectacular imagery. Our 111-inch-tall walnut entry doors would make an immediate statement for the front of any house.

*Please note, these doors just underwent a 4-month restoration by an expert Ebeniste in the South of France. Pre-restoration photos available upon request.

CONDITION: Good antique condition with minor rubs, losses, and age separations. Evidence of previous woodworm damage. Old fills, coupled with more recent work by a French ebeniste who restored the bottom sections. Traces of a green finish indicate the doors were once painted.