Featured MEDIEVAL ENGLISH CHURCH CHEST?

I always disagreed with the "expert". It looks like Oak to me and I'm 99% sure it's Spanish.

 

So Spanish, walnut, and dating from 1600-1640? According to your English furniture expert?

Debora

 

Yes but I did more research which seems to confirm Bob Raver's comments yesterday on this thread. Spanish and 1400-1550. If possible I'd love tonarrow down the time frame a bit.

 

And why is it given that attribution? Wood? Motifs? Construction?

Debora

 

If you read Page 2 of this thread it is gone on to in detail.

 

I did read Page 2. While I accept "I think Spain or Portugal" a well-educated supposition from a knowledgable fellow member, it would be helpful if we could support that with additional information such as... Is it made of a wood commonly used on the Iberian Peninsula? Are the motifs typical of the Iberian Peninsula? Is the construction typical of there?

Debora

 

I sent pictures to 2 of the biggest Museums in Spain with antique furniture collections. I'll post their replies. Thanks

 

Which Spanish museums did you submit photographs to?

Debora

 

The reason I said Spanish was by the lock and hinges, the carving ruled out church carving, if it were it would have been far finer and of a ecclesiastical design. I don't know what wood it is but I have a box of Spanish make (although made in S America) that has the same colour wood with the same type clasp lock and the exact same hinges

 

Thank you. How kind of you to amplify. So the box is Colonial Spanish?

Debora

 

The style of lock (hinged from the top, with a projection that engages with the adjacent key) is referred to as a "drop fork lock", and examples can be found on medieval chests from various countries -


From Sweden -

Ironbound wooden money chest with drop fork lock for turning key and adapted for two padlocks. Rogslösa church, Östergötland. Photo by the author.
https://www.historicallocks.com/en/site/h/safes/20-money-chests/medieval-sweden/

This one on a chest at Corpus Christi College in Cambridge, England -

https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news...d-the-moonwort-fern-a-medieval-mystery-solved

 

Thanks Bob for all your insight I appreciate the time you're taking. That's interesting about the lock. I have many English coffers and document boxes with those snipe hinges and they were the earliest hinges I know of. Even though this lid had 4 snipe hinges I'm surprised they weren't replaced with strap hinges as they had nohope of supporting this heavy lid for very long. I know you said 1400- 1550 which is great. If you had to guess and I won't hold you to it what date in that range would you give? Thanks!

 

I'm reasonably sure it is ( https://www.antiquers.com/threads/worthpoint-help-please.84724/ ) It did come from the US and it's the only other example I've found like it.

 

Yeah I agree, I did say it might be the wrong country, there were other reasons, if it were English it would be made of oak and it doesn't look like oak to me. Also the lack of strap work, I'm not entirely sure about anything on this chest, if I were seeing in person I might be a little more informed and I'm very happy for members to set me right.

 

indeed, while those hinges support 808's lid nicely ....even 4 would seem a design flaw in trying to support your massive lid.!!

Do you have a pic of the back of the box.....or did I miss that?

 

Lol it's not Bob, it's 808, anyway with antiques you get a feel but this can always be wrong, I would expect to see strap hinges and more metal work if it were UK/French/Dutch/German. If I owned it I would spend the next week or years looking it up to the point I'm happy with date and origin, I have antiques that took over 5 years of research to pin down and that's with asking every expert I could find. Good luck

 

Lol! Ok 808 my eyes are going! I love doing research so I'll keep everyone posted. I believe it's Spanish because of the Rooster especially. As far as date goes that's harder. Thanks

 

Spain has wine and cups too..
I thought the rooster would be more...Portugal..?

 

Here's some pics of the back, hinges, and the way the panels are put together

 

No doubt that's a chalice and Portugal might be were it comes from.