Featured MEDIEVAL ENGLISH CHURCH CHEST?

It looks like some sort of Cedar, I can't pin down the wood my box is made from either.

 

Well...... cedar would be lighter than the weight u say the chest carries.... imo
& looking at the large gash and craters where the hinges are leads me to believe that those hinges were later additions to just hold the lid in place.... replacing the original hinges meant to support opening the lid.

( which were insufficient for the lids weight and eventually tore off !! ) imho.....

 

This comment no doubt shows my appalling ignorance of the subject, but that octagonal box looks like it’s from the 1970s with 17th-century hardware.

I say that because of the marquetry, which is in amazingly good condition, and because it resembles 1970s work on tourist trinket boxes I’ve seen from those years.

 

Owww, them's fighting words......

look out .....here comes 808 !!!!

.........

 

The only chests I see with the rooster motif seem to be Spanish. I believe the snipe hinges on my chest are original. There's no evidence or outlines of Strap hinges. Snipe hinges were the earliest hinges and correspond with supposed date of the chest.

 

Would you show us an example?

Debora

 

Both sides had double sets of snipe hinges for a total of 4 hinges. Both sides only have remnants of one hinge so the gouges are from the missing snipe hinges.

 

Here's 2 Spanish chests from the period with roosters and 1 with other motifs similar to mine.

 

Here's one with my grapes!

 

As to the species of wood, it might be chestnut. Here is a site that gives many examples, with closeups of the distinguishing features of chestnut -

http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/chestnut.htm

 

well then...let's dig.
Yours may well be Spanish , but I find it lacks the balance & symmetry of the ones you've shown.


also , where's the bottom row of beautiful carvings..?

 

they may be original....... photo's can be misleading....

 

I think that the examples I posted were probably made in urban fine furniture workshops. Mine looks more rural.

 

What's wrong with 1970's boxes? lol
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/unicorn-mother-mary-antique-coca-tea-169076633
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To me it looks like maybe something done by trainee Carvers learning their trade,its such a mis-match of work.,the only section with any sort of a pattern is the centre panel,and also that it seems likely that the carver that carved the spiral and trellis work was more experienced than the carver who carved the [chicken,jug and chalice] which seem very crude work and not in proportion, compared to the spirals and trellis work,possibly a practice piece.