A Gorgeous Pair of Painted Antique Louvre Window Shutters
SOLD
Origin: French
Period: Early Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1900-30
Each:
Height: 32.5 inches
Width: 15.75 inches
Depth: 1.5 inches
Showing the original saffron coloured paint over a mossy green, now beautifully flaked, each with its original iron work fittings survive from the first quarter of the twentieth century.
The shutters are in useable order, though the wood is relatively soft it is not in danger of disintegrating. Small parts of the top layer of paint can fall loose with movement. The original latches and hinges are all present thus they could be used decoratively or as intended.
Interior window shutters, also known as plantation or louvre shutters are so called supposedly after Louis XIV’s favourite pastimes; admiring the beautiful women of his court bathe in the many ponds within his gardens. He noticed that the bathing women also distracted guards on duty to protect the palace ans so rumour has it that Louis XIV had movable louvered shutters installed around the garden walls so that he could open them and peep, but the guards would not be able to see. Originally, the term louver referred to boards that would allow ventilation through a turret built into the roof of a medieval building.
Thoroughly charming and irresistibly decorative.