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SEPARATED AT BIRTH - BASQUE VS. TOULOUSE
Monday, October 12, 2009 at 10:56PM JASON JOBSON 
FRENCH LINES PRESS - EPOCA, SAN FRANCISCO The Basque (from Bilboa to Biarritz) and Toulouse (think foie gras & cassoulet) regions are only about 100 miles from each other in the South West of France. While relatively close by modern standards, the two areas probably seemed like different worlds just a few hundred years ago.
I was recently in San Francisco and found a great example of French woodworking rarely seen in the United States. I was in the design district to attend a book signing by Susanna Salk. Susanna is a well known design diva who regularly appears on the Today Show and is a major contributor for www.1stdibs.com. 
Susanna's latest book - Weekend Retreats is a wonderful look inside some of the chicest second homes in Connecticut's Litchfield county.
The party was hosted by one of the largest stores in the design district - Epoca. Known for it's unique collection and impeccable taste, Epoca is a must for anyone who is passionate about home decor.
One piece that stopped me in my tracks was a French Linen Press in Walnut. This beautiful example of French woodworking is rarely seen in the United States. I was immediately reminded of a piece I know from NYC. While the two look very similar, a closer look reveals there is a major difference.
FRENCH LINEN PRESS - CHRISTOPHE POURNY, NYC
The piece at Epoca is from the Basque region, shown by the concentric circles prominently displayed. The oxblood stain and the twisted carving shows a strong Spanish influence.
The second piece is physically larger, but the real difference is found in the carving. Pointe de diamant or Diamond Points is a very typical design found in the Toulouse region. This piece is part of the private collection of Christophe Pourny. Both are from the 17th century and fine examples of artisanal detail and would be the focal point of any room they would decorate.
To see more items in the EPOCA collection, shop the store on their website - EPOCA , or visit -1stDibs.
To buy Susanna's book, click Amazon.