Antique Batesville French Provincial Louis XV Carpathian Elm China Curio Cabinet

Description

Antique Batesville Cabinet Co French Provincial Louis XV china curio cabinet / cupboard. Made of Carpathian cluster elm burl featuring upper cabinet with serpentine floral cartouch crown and fretwork doors over lower cabinet with carved acanthus design, all supported by cabriole legs. 645.

One of the worlds highest regarded woods and one that has long been used in furniture is Carpathian Cluster Burl (Elm). The Wood is procured largely from the mountains of Western and Central Continental Europe and is a member of the Elm family. Some of the burls have a very small, compact figure, like Ash, or the finer Oak burls, while others have a grainy growth pattern. The color can vary from an almost brick red to a light tan, and so adapts itself perfectly to a grouping in the Louis XV manner.

The American Furniture Company, along with Batesville Cabinet Co, Batesville Coffin Co, et al, all now divisions of Romweber Furniture Co, have roots in the Batesville Carving Company, which was founded in 1866 by Frederick Greemann, and Schrader Furniture Company, created by Herman Schrader in 1875. The Schrader Furniture Company also included a general store next to its factory. In 1876 Schrader sold the store to Hillenbrand Brothers, a dry goods and grocery store owned by John and William Hillenbrand of Ripley County, Indiana. Schrader and his associates established the American Furniture Company on 21 April 1879, which came under new management in 1885 with John Hillenbrand as a principal investor. The Hillenbrand partnership, however, was dissolved on 31 December 1887 when John acquired his brother William’s assets. In February 1888, the American Furniture Company organized yet again, this time with John St. Clair as president and John Hillenbrand as vice-president. The Batesville Carving Company became the Batesville Bracket Factory around 1870, which succumbed to fire in 1874. In 1876 William T. Greemann’s sons established the Greemann Brothers Manufacturing Company with their father serving as president until his death on 6 December 1899. Despite continued success for a time, the company began to fail after involvement in manufacturing low-end bedroom furniture for mail order firms such as Sears Roebuck & Company. The Greemann Brothers Manufacturing Company went into receivership in 1912 and was purchased at auction in March 1913 by Hillenbrand interests. After the acquisition, the Batesville Cabinet Company was incorporated in 1913. Hillenbrand focused this company on the production of dining room furniture, whereas the American Furniture Company remained a manufacturer of “high grade bedroom suites.” Substantial land holdings were among the assets acquired in the Greemann purchase, and by 1921 Hillenbrand had constructed a combined plant for the American Furniture Company, the Batesville Cabinet Company, and another acquisition the Batesville Casket Company.

Condition

Good antique condition, wear and distressing commensurate with age and use, scuffing, marking.

Dimensions

40" w x 17" d x 79" h; interior top depth 11.5"