17th Century Flemish Antique Buffet Hand Carved from Oak

Circa 1650, this buffet is one of our oldest cased furniture pieces in our collection. The Europeans held oak in very high esteem due to its durability and wonderful grain variations. European oak has a different patina than what we are used to in America, looking more like walnut. As a hard wood, oak was difficult to carve, so pieces like this buffet were prized for the skill of the craftsman. The piece’s sturdy scale is complimented with lots of details. Three lion masks adorn the apron, which surmount half columns with Tuscan capitals (top section of a column) and lions paw plinths (pedestal of a column). The apron also features a carved spiraled gadrooning pattern, along with brass rings within the lion masks. The buffet doors include coffered panels, and the two drawers on the bottom and the sides feature a raised panel decoration. To open the doors, a key on the right hand side turns, allowing the center column to swings open with the door. The left door is opened by releasing an interior hook. This antique buffet offers functionality as well as a unique style for today’s home.