19th Century French Renaissance Dessert Buffet ~ Server

19th Century French Renaissance Dessert Buffet ~ Server is from all indications a uniquely French invention!  Appearing at first glance to be a simple three tiered serving buffet, the top opens up like a trunk lid to reveal a marble top serving surface, with a convenient shelf that hinges up and held in place by two scrolled supports that fold back, tuck in along with the shelf, and disappear once the lid is closed again.  This feature harks back to the era when marble atop furniture was considered a kitchen appurtenance, therefore undesirable in the dining or family areas of the home.  Therefore, the wooden top concealed the marble, which being cool in temperature year round, as is the nature of stone, made it an ideal surface for serving cheeses and desserts.  The additional shelf provided a place for serving implements while in use, and also kept the top open for the duration.  When closed, it could easily have served in any room in the house.  This exceptional example, rendered from dense, old-growth indigenous oak, features Renaissance inspired full relief carved detail atop a classical architecture that makes the entire affair truly timeless.  Details include demilune gadrooning around the top edge, lion's heads whose mouths serve as drawer pulls on the drawer facade, flanked by foliates, and framed by bold rosettes on each corner.  Another tier of molding separates the casework above from the open shelving below, fronted by two exquisitely carved cornerposts depicting classical and della robia motifs.  The middle shelf is defined by the same molding trim as appears under the casework, but is also framed on the sides and partially in front by spindle railing, helping to keep things in place.  The lower shelf is unencumbered, and set apart by the lavish acanthus leaf molding trim that serves as the baseboard, with the entire affair set up off the ground with bun feet carved with complementary acanthus plume motifs.
Circa 1850s
Measures 39H x 42.5W x 18D