IRONWORK

It is an essential element of Provencal furniture, and especially of " Arlésian " furniture (from Arles). Influenced by the XIVth and XVIIth century Spanish travelling craftsmen who were specialised in the making of ramps and balconies, the art of ironwork is extremely present in classical Provencal furniture.

The " ferrage " (rimming) of doors is done using XVIIth century " fiches à larder" pegs, and then using " fiches à lacets" pegs from the end of the XVIIIth century. During the following centuries wide diametered pegs/pins (three by door for the cupboards or two for the dressers " à glissant " (sliding)), and also one piece hinges, either cylindrical with smooth or gadrooned " lacets ", or with a cut sheet which ends with a " vase retourné " (upside down vase shape).

" Ferrage " (rimming) is an element which symbolises the importance of furniture and especially cupboards. The iron was only added to the cupboard when the girl for whom it had been ordered (at birth) got married. The doors usually have three pieces of metal, but only one or maybe two are used for the lock.

Otherwise, different from cupboards from Arles or Fourques, cupboards from Languedoc (Uzes, Nimes) have hardly ever had such rich rimming. The left door often shuts with a "crémone" (espagnolette), and the interieur draws have handles accompanied by their plate, cut to the size of the outer openings.