Vaissier, Black patina steel and lacquered wood safe, circa 1850

Vaissier, manufacturer.

Black patina steel safe, rectangular shaped, with inlaid screw on the front and the back. The safe is standing on a black lacquered wood rectangular base and topped by a moulded entablature with a beads frieze also in black lacquered wood. It opens by a door leaf discovering a compartment with two shelves.
Opening mechanism with two keyholes protected by removable medallions, on pivot, with a decor of women busts in gilt brass which frame a black patina rosette with S scrolls surrounded by a beads frieze. Inside the door leaf, a large iron lock is decorated with a gilt brass medallion with a decor of a Renaissance style man bust.

Gilt brass plate with cut edges fixed under the entablature with the inscription « VAISSIER à Bordeaux ».

Work realized circa 1850.

Wear and patina consistent with age and use. Hole on the back of the safe used to fix it to the wall.

Dimensions : H 93 x L 61 x P 48 cm.

Reference : LS3962811

The Vaissier family was established in Bordeaux at the early 19^th century at the 4, rue de la Cour des Aides and the 20, rue Sainte-Colombe. It was a family of mechanics, known for their safe realisations. They were famous for their aesthetical creations of safe furniture, in the Empire and Romantic taste, or for their very complex and neat finished opening systems.
They mainly exhibited safes during the Exhibition of Arts and Industry Products (Exposition des Produits des Arts et de l’Industrie) in 1844, exhibition instituted by the Philomathique Society of Bordeaux, in the « Forges and foundries, metal manufacture – Locksmithing and Safes ».

Source :

Sixième exposition. Année 1844. Exposition des produits des arts et de l’industrie instituée par la Société Philomathique de Bordeaux, Rapport général de la séance publique du 19 janvier 1845