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ID #SA1230700
FOR SALE
£2,200
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Fireproof Strong Box by Bauche
Hatchwell Antiques
for sale €2,574     $2,794
£2,200
Hatchwell Antiques

Hatchwell Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Sep 2016
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    Furniture & lighting alongside clocks, scientific & optical instruments.
  • Trade Associations
    Hatchwell Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA  BADA  CINOA
Id #SA1230700
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Fireproof Strong Box by Bauche

19th century
Description

Fireproof strong box by Bauche, Gueux, France, circa 1865.

Front with Napoléon III Imperial coat of Arms.

Keyhole covers: Medals from the 1865 Bordeaux exhibition.

Top label:

INCUMBUSTIBLE SYSTEME BAUCHE

BREVETE S.G.D.G.

USINE A GUEUX MARNE

Width: 38 cm.

Depth: 28 cm.

Height: 21 cm.

With Key.

The Bauche company:

In 1864, Auguste-Nicolas Bauche, expert in fire resistant materials, began to produce safes and founded his first production factory in Gueux, near Reims in France. By 1867, the Gueux workshops had become too cramped. The factory was moved to Reims with more modern workshops incorporating a technological breakthrough of the time: a cementation furnace for the extreme hardening of the surface of certain steels.

This led to great advancements in the protection safes could offer. In 1879, Bauche demonstrated the efficacy of his fire safes with a live demonstration and several thousand francs emerged intact from a safe after having been repeatedly subjected to fire. Then the invention of the “ironclad” safe, both fire resistant and armour plated, in 1895, solidified Bauche’s name in the safe industry.

In 1967, Fichet and Bauche merged. The newly merged Fichet-Bauche company focused on producing safes, vaults, and locks.

Declaration

Hatchwell Antiques has dated this Antique French Metal Strongbox to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1230700
Description
Fireproof strong box by Bauche, Gueux, France, circa 1865.

Front with Napoléon III Imperial coat of Arms.

Keyhole covers: Medals from the 1865 Bordeaux exhibition.

Top label:

INCUMBUSTIBLE SYSTEME BAUCHE

BREVETE S.G.D.G.

fig 1. A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques.
fig 1. Fireproof Strong Box by Bauche

USINE A GUEUX MARNE

Width: 38 cm.

Depth: 28 cm.

Height: 21 cm.

With Key.

The Bauche company:

“
In 1864, Auguste-Nicolas Bauche, expert in fire resistant materials, began to produce safes and founded his first production factory in Gueux, near Reims in France.
Hatchwell Antiques

By 1867, the Gueux workshops had become too cramped. The factory was moved to Reims with more modern workshops incorporating a technological breakthrough of the time: a cementation furnace for the extreme hardening of the surface of certain steels.

fig 2. A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques.
fig 2. Fireproof Strong Box by Bauche

This led to great advancements in the protection safes could offer. In 1879, Bauche demonstrated the efficacy of his fire safes with a live demonstration and several thousand francs emerged intact from a safe after having been repeatedly subjected to fire. Then the invention of the “ironclad” safe, both fire resistant and armour plated, in 1895, solidified Bauche’s name in the safe industry.

In 1967, Fichet and Bauche merged. The newly merged Fichet-Bauche company focused on producing safes, vaults, and locks.

Date of Manufacture

Hatchwell Antiques has dated this Antique French Metal Strongbox to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1230700
Hatchwell Antiques
Hatchwell Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Sep 2016

Furniture & lighting alongside clocks, scientific & optical instruments.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Hatchwell Antiques Profile Page

Trade Associations

Hatchwell Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA  BADA  CINOA

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A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques.
1 / 15
Archive I A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques.

Fireproof Strong Box by Bauche

Archive II A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques. View II
Archive III A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques. View III
Archive IV A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques. View IV
Archive V A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques. View V
Archive VI A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques. View VI
Archive VII A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques. View VII
Archive VIII A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques. View VIII
Archive IX A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques. View IX
Archive X A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques. View X
Archive XI A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques. View XI
Archive XII A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques. View XII
Archive XIII A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques. View XIII
Archive XIV A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques. View XIV
Archive XV A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques. View XV
Enlarged Archival View
Hatchwell Antiques

Hatchwell Antiques
Telephone 020 7351 2344
Location
533 Kings Road
London
SW10 0TZ
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/hatchwellantiques
Verified Since Sep 2016
Items For Sale 143
Items Sold 10
Hatchwell Antiques
Hatchwell Antiques
Verified Since Sep 2016
View Dealer Info
Location: 533 Kings Road, London, SW10 0TZ, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/hatchwellantiques
Verified
Sep 2016
For Sale
143
Sold
10
A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques.
Fireproof strong box by Bauche
Ref: SA1230700
A heavy rectangular metal strongbox featuring riveted steel straps, raised studs, an embossed coat of arms, and maker plaques.
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FAQs

Manufactured in the 19th century by Auguste-Nicolas Bauche, these fireproof strongboxes were engineered using double-walled iron construction filled with heat-insulating materials to protect valuable documents and currency.

These security containers were typically constructed from heavy cast iron or wrought steel plates, reinforced with riveted iron straps, heavy-duty tumbler locks, and decorative brass or bronze insignia.

Authentic examples feature heavy riveted joinery, maker marks embossed on brass or iron plaques, intricate locking mechanisms, and substantial weight proportional to their external size.

Display the item as a tactile accent piece on an office desk, industrial console, or wooden sideboard to contrast structured metalwork against organic wood textures.

Dust regularly with a soft dry cloth and apply a thin layer of microcrystalline wax to bare metal surfaces to prevent oxidisation while protecting the existing patina.
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