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STRONG BOXES DRY AND SECURE STORAGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT FOR PEOPLE OVER THE CENTURIES WORLDWIDE. THE CHEST OR BOX HAS FULFILLED THAT FUNCTION AS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF STORAGE FURNITURE. A SELECTION OF PREDOMINANTLY EUROPEAN CHESTS SHOWN HERE DEMONSTRATE THE HUGE VARIETY FROM THE 16TH CENTURY ONWARDS. SOMETIMES WHAT GIVES A CHEST IT'S STRENGTH HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A DECORATIVE FEATURE SUCH AS THE LARGE IRON LOCK AND STRAPWORK ON LOT 348. ALTERNATIVELY, SURFACES ARE PAINTED, CARVED OR INLAID. THE MARQUETRY DETAIL ON LOT 350 RESEMBLES THE TOWERS ON KING HENRY VIII'S PALACE AT NONESUCH, LENDING IT'S NAME TO THIS GROUP OF CHESTS, THOUGH ORIGINALLY THEY WERE MADE IN THE COLOGNE AREA OF GERMANY AND IMPORTED TO ENGLAND.

A GERMAN IRON-BOUND OAK CHEST

16TH CENTURY

Details

A GERMAN IRON-BOUND OAK CHEST
16TH CENTURY
THE STUDDED IRONWORK WITH POPPY-HEAD DETAIL AND WITH CONCAVE-SIDED LOCK-PLATE, THE SIDES WITH CARRYING HANDLES AND EXTENDING TO FEET
31 IN. (79 CM.) HIGH; 70½ IN. (179 CM.) WIDE; 24½ IN (62 CM.) DEEP INCLUDING PROJECTING FEET

Special notice

This lot will be removed to an off-site warehouse at the close of business on the day of sale - 2 weeks free storage

Lot Essay

A VERY SIMILAR CHEST, BUT ON WHEELS, IS ILLUSTRATED IN KREISEL HIMMELHEBER DIE KUNST DES DEUTSCHEN MOBELS, 1981, FIG 45

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