ENTRYWAY COLLECTION - French Estate Style An early 20th-century French Louis XV Provincial carved oak arbalète commode featuring a boldly sculpted serpentine front, richly figured oak, and beautifully hand-carved shell and foliate decoration. The dramatic crossbow-form façade, shaped top, cabriole legs, and original-style brass bail pulls create the unmistakable warmth and elegance associated with French country interiors. The three generously sized dovetailed drawers provide excellent storage while the deeply molded drawer fronts and carved cartouches give the piece remarkable depth and shadow. Constructed primarily of solid oak with paneled sides and a gracefully shaped apron, it is equally at home in an entryway, dining room, bedroom, or living space where its sculptural silhouette becomes an immediate focal point. JUNE'S THOUGHTS One detail that always catches my eye on French furniture is the arbalète, or crossbow-shaped front. Rather than relying on applied ornament alone, the cabinetmaker actually sculpted the entire case into a series of flowing curves. It takes considerably more work to build than a straight-front chest, and from every angle the changing light emphasizes the movement of the oak grain. It's one of those details that gives French Provincial furniture its unmistakable character. #06938JWH