19th Century Rustic French Pine Orchard Step Ladder
2602-581A (Click to Inquire About This Item)
73.5H x 17W x 4D; opens to 45.5D
Location: Dallas
19th Century Rustic French Pine Orchard Step Ladder provides a fascinating glimpse into everyday rural life in France, where ladders of this type were indispensable for tending and harvesting the fruit trees of orchards and country estates. Hand crafted from pine, its tall, slender proportions combine a series of broad steps with substantial side rails and a hinged rear support that opens to create a freestanding A frame configuration.
Simple cross bracing strengthens the back, reflecting the practical craftsmanship of an object designed for years of agricultural use. The pine has been stripped of its former finish, exposing the expressive grain and warm natural tones of the wood while preserving scattered remnants of old paint that add considerable visual interest and authenticity. Generations of handling have softened the edges and worn the surfaces of the steps and rails, creating the wonderfully irregular patina that distinguishes a genuine working antique.
Beyond its original orchard function, the ladder has an appealing architectural and sculptural presence, its soaring narrow silhouette making it ideal as a decorative accent in a garden room, covered terrace or casually appointed interior. It can also be creatively repurposed for displaying textiles, baskets, plants or collections while retaining the unmistakable character and history of an object made for the orchards of rural France.
Measures 73.5H x 17W x 4D; opens to 45.5D
Circa 1880s
Available at Inessa Stewarts Antiques Dallas Design District Showroom in Dallas Texas
