Mid-19th Century French Black and Gilt Painted Iron Fire Safe by “Fichet”

$5,300

About

This antique iron safe, with secret combination, was crafted in Paris France, circa 1860. The black and gilt painted safe is dressed with a three bronze medallions (including one covering the key entry), which read: “Fichet Brevete 43 Rue Richelieu Paris”, “”Charlier & Guenot Succursalles Paris” and “”Fichet rue de Richelieu”. The door opens to reveal two inside adjustable shelves for storage. The lock has an intricate mechanism to open the safe (watch video). The bottom has a bottom door for additional storage. The secure safe is in excellent condition with a beautiful finish throughout. Two keys included. Weight over 200 pounds. The Fichet company is a notable company in the world of safe engineering. Born February 7, 1799 in Etrepilly, France, Alexandre Fichet opened a locksmiths in Paris in 1825; at the age of 26, he registered his first patent in 1829 for a safety lock and further patents followed in 1834 and 1836. Shortly after, Fichet set up a small workshop in Paris and began expanding into the manufacture of safes. In 1840, he made his first modern fire safe made entirely of steel and using his now renowned Fichet lock and key. As production outgrew the workshop, Fichet built a factory in Monceau in Paris, followed by a second and third in Lyon and Marseille. Fichet died in 1862 at the age of 63 and the business changed hands frequently from Louis and Apolline Bonnet, to Monsieur Charlier, manager of the workshops, and then to businessmen, Monsieur Guénot and Monsieur Pinot. In 1879, the Fichet Company built its first bank vault room with rentable safe deposit lockers. New factories were opened one after the other, most notably in Oust-Marest in the Somme region where security locks were manufactured. This factory was supported by the nearby “Fichet Village” and by a factory in Creil which made bank safes. Measures: 20.25″ W x 15.25″ D x 37.5″ H.

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