19th Century French Walnut Semainier

This lovely chest, is known as a semainier, it has seven drawers. It has an overhanging top, columnar supports and stands on square block feet. Six of the seven drawers are the same size, with the top drawer being slightly narrower. Each drawer retains its original cast escutcheon plate, with floral detailing. The choice of timber used for the veneers is unique and eye-catching. Each drawer has been expertly bookmatched so that the entire front of the piece can be "read" from top to bottom as one near continuous piece. Planning and laying the veneers like this would have been time consuming and expensive. The sides of the piece are also equally beautifully bookmatched