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Vignacourt sideboard,
custom-carved Picardy buffet
The Vignacourt sideboard the masterpiece of Picardy furniture
It is a long piece of furniture decorated with floral motifs, generally made of cherry wood, which has a tight grain that allows for fine carving and gives an unmatched patina and finish. The word traitecomes from the fact that the piece is built along a single continuous length with no change in level, in one go, as a run of units in line.
This piece of furniture has earned a solid reputation thanks to the quality of its craftsmanship. Its value is judged by its dimensions, the fineness of the carved details, its moulding, and its joinery, which must be done according to the rules of the craft.
A note on terminology: traite has no direct English equivalent in this sense, so it is best kept in italics, perhaps with a short gloss such as “a long Picardy sideboard.” The pun on d’une seule traite(“in one go”) is lost in English, so I rendered it more literally.
The Vignacourt sideboard is a key element of regional furniture.
The history of the Vignacourt sideboard
Picardy traites first appeared in the first half of the 19th century, in the spirit of Louis XV-style furniture. This piece was always designed to measure, to fit the dimensions of the room that was to house it. In Vignacourt, a village in the Somme, there were many workshops, and the furniture was delivered all over France, which built its reputation.
Wild roses and daisies adorn the doors, and on some models the heart symbolising marriage sits at the centre of the piece. It is distinguished by its carved ornamentation, notably the wild rose bud, which very few cabinetmakers still make by hand. Jean-Luc Godard carries on the family tradition in his workshop in Vignacourt. For further reading, see Mobilier picard et artésien by L. Oliver (Ch. Massin).
The Vignacourt sideboard has a quality reputation due to the assembling method, the specific woodcarving, and the iconic Rose of Picardy! It is decorated with carved floral patterns and usually made from cherry wood, allowing to make intricately detailed carvings that have an unrivaled patina and finish.
The value of this piece of furniture is determined by the refinement of its ornamentation and the assembly, which obeys strict rules of the art. On several models, the rose is carved on the doors, and a heart in the middle symbolizes marriage. Traditionally, the sideboard was part of a bride's dowry. The manufacture of the Vignacourt sideboards started around 1860.
Characteristics of the Vignacourt traite
Made of cherry wood or oak, the Vignacourt traite comes in several versions: 4, 5 or 7 doors, with or without drawers. The 5-door, 2-drawer model, for example, is decorated with wild roses, with brass fittings and a carved central heart, typical of the sideboards given to engaged couples. Inside, the shelves are mounted on racks and their height can be adjusted as desired.
A two-part version adds a central clock and side display cabinets joined by a potière (a pot rail), where pewter pots are hung and fine plates are displayed. It is enriched with carved roses, mouldings and a large central heart. Since each traite can be designed to the dimensions of the room, the workshop makes it to measure.
Vignacourt sideboard is equipped with 4 doors and drawers for storing beautiful crockery.
Why is it called a “traite” and where does the name come from?
The word comes from the fact that the piece is built along its entire length in a single stretch (d’une seule traite in French), with no change in level, as an unbroken run of cabinets.
Traites first appeared in the first half of the 19th century, in the spirit of Louis XV furniture. In Vignacourt, a village in the Somme, there were many workshops, and the furniture was delivered all over France, which built its reputation.
What wood is a Vignacourt traite made of?
Most often cherry, a close-grained wood that allows fine carving, a beautiful patina and an unrivalled finish. The workshop also makes the traite in oak, or in any other wood suited to your project.
What versions of the traite exist?
It comes in 4, 5 or 7 doors, with or without drawers. The 5-door, 2-drawer model, decorated with wild roses, brass fittings and a carved central heart, is typical of the sideboards given to engaged couples. A two-part version adds a central clock and side display cabinets linked by a pot rack.
How can you judge the quality of a Vignacourt traite?
Its value depends on its dimensions, the fineness of the carved details, its moldings and the quality of its joinery, which must be done to the standards of the craft. A trained eye can tell the quality of a Vignacourt traite at a glance, and even which workshop it came from. Every carving, from the wild rose bud to the central heart, bears the signature of the hand that carved it.
