$7,500
Sold
sold
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Description
13" (33 cm.) w. x 13"h. x 11"d. A wooden-framed railway car is finished with tinted straw in decorative manner to create wall murals, carpets, inlay furnishings, and walls in the interior, and slatted boards and window frames on the exterior. When opened, the interior room has built-in furnishings including table, reclining sofa with pillows, desk and work table with lamp and telephone, and a carpet is attached to the floor. The exterior has cast iron wheels, lamps, and other railway car apparatus. Very good/excellent condition. Included is an early ink script note describing the car which (translated) reads "Postal Wagon [made] in tinted straw, made by J. Gardon, retired courier of Paris mail, made in Saint Maur-les-Fosses, May 25, 1915" with J. Gardon signature. The French postal service historically used train cars known as post wagons, mostly integrated into passenger trains with sleeping and resting areas as well as office space. This unique and wonderfully-imaginative piece, with maker's provenance, was one man's celebration of his earlier working history.