Antique Breton Oak Etagere with Carved Ship Wheel, Circa 1890
Antique Breton Oak Etagere with Carved Ship Wheel, Circa 1890
Couldn't load pickup availability
Four tiers of turned baluster galleries rise from a base carved on all four sides with the Breton ship's wheel. Brittany sits on the Atlantic, and for centuries its economy ran on fishing and the sea, so its cabinetmakers carved that life into their furniture until the wheel became the region's signature. Here it appears four times, each pierced clean through the oak with turned spokes radiating from a central rosette, framed by carved acanthus.
It was made as a tea or serving stand, wheeled between sideboard and table with the galleries holding everything in place, though it takes just as easily to books, plants, or a lamp now. The uprights are worked with continuous gouge carving and splay outward as they descend, giving it a tapered, architectural stance. Each tier carries its own gallery of hand-turned spindles, and carved scroll toes end in period brass-cup casters with iron wheels. It stands low, at seated-table height.
Structurally sound and stable on all four legs. Solid oak throughout, confirmed by the pronounced medullary ray fleck across the shelf surfaces, with an even warm original surface, cleaned and waxed, and age-appropriate grime settled into the carved recesses. Scattered surface scratching across the shelf tops, heaviest on the upper tier, consistent with a century of use. The solid oak shelf panels show slight separation at the glue seams from seasonal movement, normal in period solid-wood construction and not affecting stability. Minor edge nicks at the shelf corners and along the moulded rails. One or two gallery spindles show slight play in their sockets. The brass casters are period and functional, dull and oxidized, with flat wear on the wheel running edges. Carving is intact throughout with no losses to the pierced roundels or the acanthus. A faint inked or branded mark is present on the lower tier; it has not been legibly identified. No other maker's label or stamp was found.
#126
Shipping & Returns
All antique and vintage items are shipped from our warehouse in Bluffdale, Utah. Each piece is carefully packed by hand using archival materials and custom crating when necessary.
Shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on the size and weight of the item. Local pickup is available at the AMD Warehouse.
All sales of antique and vintage items are final due to their unique, one-of-a-kind nature. Illuminé candles and The Collector's Guide may be returned within 14 days of delivery if unopened and in original condition.
If your piece arrives damaged, please photograph the damage immediately (including packaging), contact us within 48 hours at austynmariedesign@gmail.com, and do not discard any packaging.
Important Info About Antique & Vintage
Every antique and vintage item we carry has lived a life before arriving in your home. These are not factory-made products. They are objects with history, character, and the marks of time.
Age-appropriate wear, patina, minor imperfections, and signs of previous use or repair are inherent to antique and vintage items and are not considered defects. These characteristics are part of what makes each piece unique and are often what give it its beauty and value.
We describe the condition of each piece as accurately as possible in the listing. If you have specific questions about a piece before purchasing, please reach out. We are always happy to provide additional photos or details.
Colors may appear slightly different on screen due to monitor settings and photography lighting. We do our best to represent each item accurately.
