Just in from France, a late 1800s cabinetry maker's apprentice scaled down "maitrise", miniature furniture made to scale and designed and built by a student or apprentice of fine skill level. Ebaniste, ebeniste, is the French term for furniture makers and it is a guild/master art. Typically a young man will be placed with a Master to live, work, learn the trade for years before achieving Master, himself. In those years, at intervals, the apprentice is charged with creating miniatures like this to show the Master his level of acquired skill. This one is dovetailed, uses slender contrasting wood stringing and contrasts of hardwood on the drawers, and carved trim, a beveled marble top, and handcrafted hardware. Beautifully preserved, these are popular with antique doll collectors, or also as display stands for tabletop, as jewelry and even cigar chests. This one survives very well, altered only by removable interior red felt liners inside drawers (not glued in, they do lift out to reveal beautiful wood). Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, no chips or flaws in the marble top, which is nicely cut and beveled to repeat the form of the chest. Beautifully worked contrasting hardwoods, subtle but visually rich, emphasize the sleek design on drawer fronts. Raised on carved feet, and with handmade hardware drawer pulls, it's a charming example of this lost craft. I find very little to report as a flaw. Displays beautifully!
