Armoire

Quebec; ca. 1775; pine carved, diamond-point panels; 216 x 155 x 53.5 cm; CMC A-540

Built-in closets and kitchen cabinets have not always been a standard feature of domestic architecture. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, carpenters, cabinetmakers, as well as homeowners themselves, produced a variety of free-standing and built-in cupboards to store food, dishes, clothing and other household goods.

In the province of Quebec, the existence of established schools of sculpture, woodworking, and architecture helped to maintain traditional forms of furniture well into the nineteenth century. This armoire's decorative features are French Provincial interpretations of the Louis XIII style. The armoire's prominent cornice, heavy mouldings, and door panels carved in high relief with the popular diamond-point motif are characteristic features of furniture made in Quebec during the eighteenth century.