Late 19th Century Louis XV Trumeau Shelf

Description

Rare trumeau shelf in Louis XV style. Late 19th century and later. Solid oak, skilfully carved with ornamental, floral and … more Rare trumeau shelf in Louis XV style. Late 19th century and later. Solid oak, skilfully carved with ornamental, floral and rocaille motifs.

Trumeau was originally just the name for a vertical pillar between two windows or doors in medieval sacred architecture, till trumeaux began being an essential component of magnificent boiseries (wall panelling) and important components of stately interior architecture and decorations from the 17th century onwards.
The flat vertical frames, often richly carved in rococo and baroque style, floral, figural and with garlands and rocailles, form a unit with the panels or the fireplace mantelpiece and often contained a mirror in the upper section and a painting in the lower section.
This makes them part of a larger concept of interior design in which ceilings, walls, floors and furniture are seen as a harmonious whole.
To this day, those pieces bear witness to prestige and wealth in the residences and city palaces of their mostly aristocratic patrons. The most famous examples can be found in the interiors of French castles and palaces such as Versailles.

This Louis XV style piece probably dates back to the late 19th century and is now available as a large unique open shelf.
It has a flat, tall oak body with bevelled pilaster strips and a multi-profiled, curved, volute-like pediment carved with rocailles and flowers. Two large open frames contain a total of 6 shelves. Between them, a large central rocaille medallion adorns the centre section.

Dimensions
Height: 249 cm or 271 cm / 98.03 inch or 106.69 inch.
Width: 140 cm (header) / 55.11 inch (header).
Depth: 35 cm (max.) / 13.77 inch (max.).

Shelf depth: 24 cm / 9.44 inch.

Height spacing of the shelves (listed from bottom to top):
26 or 36 cm / 10.23 or 14.17 inch.
25.5 cm / 10.03 inch.
24 or 52.5 cm / 9.44 or 20.66 inch.
29 or 43 cm / 11.41 or 16.92 inch.
31.5 cm / 12.4 inch.
22 or 42.5 cm / 8.66 or 16.73 inch.

Good condition with slight signs of age-related wear. Presumably washed in the late 20th century and fitted with a new back panel. The head moulding on the right-hand side has been replaced. Sandblasted and sanded surface.


The trumeau cannot be dismantled for transport. less