Beautiful Modernist Hand Carved Wood Chest-Peana. First third of the XX Century

Impressive solid wooden chest, fully emptied and carved by hand and in amazing condition. This antique and curious piece was made in the first third of the 20th century and has been thoroughly restored in order to boast a gorgeous look. The chest was carved from an only American cedar wooden block, with the great difficulty associated with manufacturing a piece of its kind. It also shows off a great hand-carved Art-Nouveau-style decoration that boasts a spectacular elegance. The shape and the structure of the chest make us think that it was made to fulfill two tasks: as well as a box is also a pedestal, perfect to exhibit arts or crafts items on top of it. Its shape is really attractive: it is slightly curved, with wavy corners and edges. The wood shows a series of vegetal-inspired carved motives, made by hand with a remarkable attention to detail. They show a clear Art-Nouveau style with its classic curved shapes and volutes. The carvings adorn the four sides of the chest, regularly spaced; at the corners and bottom edges they turn into four curved legs and decorative and intricate motives. The chests cover shows inclined edges, decorated with volutes similar to those mentioned. When removed, we find a compartmented interior with two separations and a removable top tray. The tray is made of solid wood too; the lovely artisanal work shown by the corner joints is quite remarkable. They are hand-made dovetail joints, something revealed by the subtle irregularities that can be appreciated. The trays sides include two lovely carved handles, practical and great-looking. The chest is protected by a shiny and even French-polish finish that enhances even more its decorative power. Antique, beautiful and functional, this chest is bound to shine on a sideboard, into a showcase or in a special corner. Measurements: Width: 30 cm. Height: 20 cm. Depth: 18 cm.