Pair of Art Deco tortoiseshell showcases from Maison Franck

Pair of large double-door display cases in yellow tortoiseshell made by Frans Franck from Maison Franck.

Each showcase has two 40 cm wide doors separated by a 87 cm wide fixed glass. The structure of the showcases supporting the windows is made of wood on which are glued ebony wood rulers and gold leaf covered with yellow tortoiseshell.
The upper right and left corners of the showcase are decorated with gilded bronze shells.
The showcases are supported by 4 gilded wooden legs. Each showcase is composed of 3 plates of glass supported by removable gilt bronze supports allowing to change the height at will. The inside of the showcase is covered with a thick blue lined fabric.
Each showcase has its 2 original keys made of brass and steel.


We know to date only one pair of showcase of this size made by Maison Franck.

Maison Franck was a famous cabinet making workshop located in Antwerp, Belgium. The family business was created in the middle of the 19th century by F.Franck (ca. 1839-1905) and enjoyed a dazzling success under the direction of his son Frans Franck (1872-1932). The workshop had 150 workers at its peak and specialized in antiques, furniture production and interior decoration.

Turtle-shell furniture was the top-of-the-range production of the Franck workshop. Each piece of tortoiseshell furniture was designed by Frans Franck or Frans Bruylants (1890-1966).

This pair of showcases are described and illustrated in a doctoral thesis written in two volumes by Mrs. Annouk Stulens under the supervision of Prof. Dr. G. Delmarcel :

Annouk Stulens, "Meubelen in schildpadschelp van de antwerpse ontwerper Frans Franck (1872-1932) tijdens de periode 1920-1932", Doctoral thesis in art history, under the supervision of Prof.Dr.G.Delmarcel, Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 1994, 2 Volumes, 119 p.

This pair of showcases was sold on 18 November 1992 at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. Estimated at 160.000 - 200.000 fr. they were finally sold for 930.000 fr. Since then his showcases have always been part of a private collection in Antwerp.