Folk Art Painted Armoire

A wonderful painted pine armoire or marriage cupboard in the folk art tradition.

Marriage cupboards were gifted to young married couples on their wedding day and frequently offered by their families to commemorate the special day. Marriage cupboards, also known as ‘Dowry’ cupboards, were often filled with items to welcome newly married couples to their new home. Items such as intricately embroidered fabrics and woven cloth were the natural offering to hang within the cabinet.

The armoire, with its two vertical doors, is beautifully painted with two religious’ depictions of winged angels with halos towards the upper section. The religious deities are looking down as if they were the guardians over the female and male figures in the lower section, to the left and right of the doors. Below the painted female figure lies her maiden name with the adopted name of the soon to be wed couple below the painted male figure.

Each panel is adorned with scrolling motifs to the upper and lower sections with four diamond harlequin patterns to the outer edging. Both left and right-side panels also feature scrolling and a framed scene to each side.

The original bright colours have softened and patinated with small areas of paint loss around the lock and key and around the cornice and base.

In beautiful worn and unrestored condition with two central shelves on four button feet.

Original hinges, lock and key.

Hungarian, dated 1834.