Wooden Bonetieres
High-end French artisanal manufacturing to order
History and characteristics of bonnetiere cabinet furniture
The bonnetière is a traditional French piece of furniture that appeared in the XVIIᵉ century, mainly in Normandy. Its name derives from its initial function: the storage of bonnets, lace and headdresses, essential clothing accessories of the time.
This piece of furniture is characterised by its narrow, high structure, usually with a single door and interior shelves. Its design protected delicate headdresses from dust and distortion. In the XVIIIᵉ century, the bonnetière spread to other French regions, notably Brittany, Vendée and Périgord, adapting to regional styles. In the Vendée, for example, it is often referred to as the ‘homme-debout’ or ‘Jean Debout’, because of its slender shape, reminiscent of a human silhouette.
The bonnetière can also be thought of as a small cupboard with 1 door and 1 shelf. They have become an essential part of French rural furniture, reflecting local craftsmanship and traditions. The interior layout of bonnetières can vary according to need. Traditionally fitted with shelves for storing linen or accessories, some modern bonnetières incorporate wardrobes, offering a versatile solution for storing clothes. A bonetiere is not the same as a ‘man-stand’, a similar piece of furniture but usually with two doors separated by a central drawer.
The different solid wood bonetieres
Wooden bonetieres offer many advantages, combining aesthetics and functionality. Solid wood gives furniture strength and durability, ensuring a long life and resistance to the vagaries of time. What's more, wood adds warmth and authenticity to the interior, blending harmoniously with a variety of decorative styles, from rustic to contemporary.
We offer a variety of solid wood bonnetières, made in France using traditional craftsmanship. The wood species used include oak and cherry, both sourced from French sustainably managed forests. These different types of wood allow you to vary the shades and textures, so you can personalise your products to suit your own tastes. Make your Bonnetiere unique by choosing the wood stain or colours you want to match your interior. See our colour chart on the ‘personalised finishes’ page.
In terms of design, our bonnetières are available in classic styles, such as Louis-Philippe with the FLAUBERT collection and Louis XVI Directoire with the MELANIE collection to the more rustic and country lines of the TRADITION collection. This diversity of styles and finishes means that everyone can find the perfect pot to match their interior.
You'll also want to choose the right size for your bonnetière. Is it a small piece of occasional furniture to keep a few things close at hand, or THE piece of furniture for storing all your linen, crockery and glassware? You'll find lots of different models and sizes on this page. The large chest of drawers can be almost 200 cm / 78.7" high, while the mini chests of drawers are around 130 - 140 cm / 51" - 55" high. If you'd like to change the standard dimensions, you can also have them made to measure.
Our bonnetières are French, handmade... but there is no real name outside of France for them !
Each of our bonetiere is made and finished to order, to avoid wasting natural resources and to be as flexible as possible with regard to the customer's wishes. The solid wood comes exclusively from PEFC-certified, sustainably-managed French forests. Thanks to our high-quality craftsmanship, each bonetiere is guaranteed for 5 years, but you're sure to keep it for much longer than that.
In English, the term ‘bonnetière’ has no direct equivalent. The word ‘cabinet’ is often used to refer to a wardrobe or storage unit, but it encompasses a wider range of furniture and does not specifically reflect the characteristics of the French bonnetière. You may sometimes see it under the term ‘bonetiere’, where it loses an ‘n’ and an accent.
So, the wooden bonnetière remains a typically French piece of furniture, appreciated for its timeless charm and functionality adapted to contemporary needs.