RARE LATE- ELIZABETHAN OAK CHEST (c. 1600 ENGLISH)

Zoom Exit

130.20cm wide    72.40cm high    57.80cm deep (51.26 inches wide  28.50 inches high  22.76 inches deep)

An important late-Elizabethan oak chest, or coffer, of superb quality, with plank top over a frieze carved with overlapping lunettes enclosing stylised leaves; the heavily moulded framing of the three deeply recessed panels is embellished all over with carved and punched decoration, while each of the three panels is carved with a five-pointed star (pentagram). The strongly architectural stiles are in the form of pilasters decorated with beautifully carved stop-fluting; the base of the chest is defined by a deep moulding.

English, probably East Anglia, circa 1600.

The overall construction and sophisticated decoration of this chest reflects Continental inspiration, while the Elizabethan interest in geometry and geometrical forms (seen, for instance, in the Triangular Lodge at Rushton, Northamptonshire) might be seen to influence the decoration.

OTHER EXAMPLES OF EARLY OAK CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR OWN WEBSITE www.hirschhornantiques.com