19th Century French Renaissance Revival Hunt Cabinet ~ Bookcase

19th Century French Renaissance Revival Hunt Cabinet ~ Bookcase is a very unusual find in this size!  Sculpted from solid old-growth oak, it boasts all the features and appointments of typical two and three door cases, which are the norm, but on a diminutive scale only three feet wide, making it perfect for more cozy niches, narrow spots, and even corners.  A majestic heraldic crest presides over the casework, flanked by oak leaves and a brace of turned finials.  Two tiers of crown molding just underneath top the bonnet, carved with grapevine motif and centered with a proud lion's head in full relief.  Rosettes grace the corner plinths, underneath which appear clockwise and counter-clockwise barley twist columns on each corner, which frame the fully glazed upper door, fitted with the original hand-rolled glass allowing one to view the interior display with the aid of adjustable shelves carved on their front edge.  A full width drawer separates the top from the bottom tiers, and is lavished with fully laden grapevine motif in full relief, also forming the drawer pull in the carving itself.  The lower cabinet is also flanked by barley twist columns and finished in a multi-tiered, boldly carved base, but the carving on the door panel itself creates the focal centerpiece for the entire affair!  A celebration of the harvest is depicted, with gardening tools, hats, wheat, grapes and even a basket bursting with fresh-picked fruit ~ all sculpted in full relief and framed with two tiers of foliate detailing ~ creating a stunning work of the cabinetmaker's art!
Circa 1850s
Measures 93H x 36W x 23.5D