French oak card index cabinet with four drawers – circa 1910

A remarkable early 20th-century French card index cabinet or filing cabinet, made of solid oak and originating from Paris. Once made to organise index cards, cards or documents, today it is a delightful small piece of furniture for anyone who loves old workshop and office furniture with a visible past. The cabinet has four roomy drawers with original brass cup handles and engraved label holders. The front still carries the original maker’s plate: “Classeur Système pour Fiches E. Wiener & Cie, Paris”, a lovely detail recalling its original use as office or library furniture. Its compact size makes it surprisingly versatile: on a desk for stationery and small finds, beside a reading chair as a side table, as a bedside table or in a hallway for keys and post. The warm oak, the old brass and the sober, almost architectural form give the cabinet a calm presence. An authentic French object with a Belle Époque feel, for an interior where antiques, wabi-sabi, industrial and contemporary design sit side by side. Good antique condition with wear consistent with age and use. The wood has a warm, lived-in patina with light scratches and signs of use. The brass has oxidised naturally. All drawers run smoothly on their original wooden runners.