THE DRESSER "A GLISSANT" (SLIDING)

This is without a doubt the most traditional piece of Provencal furniture, majestically taking itıs place in a living room.

The dresser is made up of two parts : the upper part (also called a "gradin") is made up of two panels which slide either side of a non movable central panel or of a door otherwise called a "tabernacle". This layout means that any objects left on the top of the dresser do not have to be moved when opening it. The bottom part (also called a crèdence ; credenza) has two doors that open with a "faux dormant" ; never more for the oldest ones. The bottom part is much higher than the classical Provencal "crèdence", which is about 1 metre compared to the dresser which is about 1 metre 20/ 1 metre 30. The oldest models have no drawers

The XVIIIth century sliding dresser is extremely rare and even more so ones from the XVIIth century. Beware of ones said to be old, but which are actually more recent models which have had parts added to them.

The decoration on the Provencal dresser look similair to those on the Provencal pieces of furniture. The same goes for the shape. Neither of the above seem to have been curved.

ANECDOTE :
It is said that during the revolution the middle door of certain dressers was used in churches to hide the ciborium. But dressers from Languedoc, an area where most people were protestants, donıt have this central door, but sometimes have a hidden opening where they used to hide their Bible.