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February 2004: Symbols in French antique furniture - Sabots - clogs, from the Bethmale Valley

Symbolic motifs appearing on French antique furniture are as unique as they are diverse. Some are specific to a region, other ones are popular all over France.

In Normandy, symbols of love and marriage feature kissing doves on woven baskets, whereas in the Bethmale valley the same symbol on a pair of miniature clogs is represented by rows of brass nails.

Here are some of the most frequent symbols appearing on French antique furniture:

LOVE: Hearts, birds, tulips and roses (heart shaped iron keyholes, hearts carved in wood, birds-shaped brass mounts)

ROYAL EMBLEMS: Ermine tail is frequent in Brittany. I have seen it engraved in metal, carved in wood and hand painted on faience.

BUCOLIC SIMPLICITY: Daisies, lily of the valley, aromatic herbs and weeds (les simples).

WEALTH AND FERTILITY: cornucopias, wheat bouquets, harvest scenes, grapes, vine leaves, berries, cherries and pears. Here is a perfect illustration of a superb fruit basket "corbeille de fruits"

GOOD LUCK: *hands holding a coin, carved on the top on each side of the front of a French antique armoire are meant to bring luck to the newly weds*, says Guy enthusiastically!

PATRIOTISM: the Gallic coq, and Marianne - crowned with laurels.

Some symbols have been popular for all regions of France, for both antique furniture and faience. Like quiver and torch (in French *decor au carquois*, cornucopia *a la corne*, or hearts and baskets with fruits and flowers. This adds complexity to the task of determining where a French antique furniture piece originated. Carving techniques and details surrounding the motifs do help. In contrast, some popular decors just do not really have a symbolic meaning, they simply reflect the local culture. Like fan shapes in the south west of France, and shell motifs almost everywhere but in mountainous areas of the East. The Bethmale valley offers us a fascinating example of symbolism unique to its region.

SABOTS DE LA VALLEE DE BETHMALE - MINIATURE CLOGS OF THE BETHMALE VALLEY IN ARIEGE, FRANCE

http://www.ariege.com/histoire/sabots.html

In this tiny remote Pyrenees valley, traditions include the offering for Christmas of pointed clogs decorated with brass nails, in remembrance of the 9c. invasion by the Moors. If this shape does not seem to make sense, just open this photo:

In our collection, there is a 19 c. MINIATURE pair just like these. *They were a gift of love* explains Guy, *made for a wedding anniversary by a talented craftsman for his wife*; French anthropologists wonder at the fine costume the women of this valley wear on Sundays: ample colorful long skirts with tightly fitting belts from which hang a key, a knife, a pair of scissors, a purse AND the typical clogs with narrow pointed tips raising at right angle from the ground! These pointed tips could reach 30cm - 2 and a half inches - and women could still run and dance! Unfortunately this reference book *Arts Populaires des Pays de France<* by Andre Desvalees et Georges Henri Riviere, Editions Joel Cuenot, is out of print.

Additions to our GLOSSARY:

CHAISE A SEL: seat directly related to French history and the Gabelle, or salt tax. This French antique seat (chair or bench) was made to store - and at times hide - salt. It was used in all French provinces.

TABLE-HUCHE: as for the salt chair, French dining tables also have several uses. Whether it was a large drawer or a big space under the table top itself, these food storage compartment were meant to combine two functions into one piece of furniture - there were no refrigerators!

TABLE DE DENTELIERE - lace makers table, or hat makers tables looked like French antique dining tables but had drawers all around their tops, to accommodate the individuals who performed their craft there.

I receive many emails asking us to give appraisals. We do not provide this service over the Internet, but conducting a search in Google on the word *appraisal* will lead many results. Here are three of them:

http://www.appraisers.org/
http://www.appraisersassoc.org/
http://www.isa-appraisers.org

Guy and I will be in Europe from February 14 to March 10. We will resume shipping upon return.

Till next time,
Guy et Daniele Veroli