The Armoire is Always in Style

THE ARMOIRE IS ALWAYS IN STYLE

By
Suzanne Waple

Most American and European homes have at least one armoire and if they don’t, wish they had at least one. It’s the ultimate in usefulness and beauty – as the room’s signature piece or as a handy place to stash clutter when company is due.

The word armoire is from the Latin “armarium” which means a closet or chest. Arma refers to gears, tools and arms. In 12th century France, you would know it as armarie and by 14th century England, the word evolved to ambry. The Virginia National Guard is headquartered at an Armory in Richmond, VA.

Today most think of it simply as armoire, a French word and place to store clothes, jewelry, computers, and most recently, our flat-screened TVs. The oldest documented French Armoire goes back to the 1500s and is displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The various regions of France developed their own recognizable style of armoire – either through wood selection or ornamentation. What began as wood doors to cover storage shelves evolved through a geometric, rough profile in a dark wood to lyrical expressions of beauty and nature in light woods.

The finest examples of armoires are considered to be those produced in the Normandy region. A tradition arose that a newly married couple received an armoire from the bride’s family as a wedding gift. The more elaborate the carvings on the wood, the greater the status of the bride and her family. The carved motifs represented love, fidelity and fertility. Doves, small dogs and wheat stalks would be intertwined with birds, plants, flowers and flora of the region. It is not unreasonable to assume that the armoire would be filled with beautiful toile fabrics, another traditional French medium of shared storytelling.

Bonnetieres are sometimes referred to as small armoires as they generally have only one door and look like half an armoire. Over time, bonnetieres served as a places for food storage or if you happened to be in the Normandy region, as a place to store your hat, i.e., “bonnet” or high headdress.

Armoires of all materials and styles are available to the discerning homeowner. Whether your taste runs to traditional or modern, there is an armoire to fit your design. Don’t hesitate to mix your decor! Items of rich historical background, items that have a story to tell – these are the pieces that become cherished heirlooms.

The author is associated with Pierre Deux, the source for all things French Country. Pierre Deux is located at 8065 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA, 703 442-9111.