International studio (23.1904)

on her marriage by her father, the King of
Denmark. It is many centuries old, and is
supposed to have belonged to the beautiful
daughter of a famous viking.
In the South Kensington Museum may be seen
many wedding-coffers of great beauty and antiquity.
One of the most elaborate, perhaps, is that shown
in our first illustration. It is made entirely of
chestnut-wood, is oblong in shape, and has a raised
lid. The panels, bands, and pilasters are decorated
with flowers and foliage in raised stucco, richly
gilt. At each side there is a band of gilt foliage
on a dark ground. The coffer rests on four claw-

feet, which are also gilt.
It is of massive propor-
tions, and capable of
holding a trousseau large
enough to satisfy the most
exacting bride. This coffer,
which is of Italian work-
manship and belongs to
the sixteenth century, was
bought by the authorities
of the Museum at the
Castellani sale in 1884
for ^34 ios.
Another very beautiful
wedding - coffer is shown
in our next illustration. It is made of solid oak
carved with a conventional floral pattern. The
sides, top, and back are plain. On either side of
the key-hole is incised the following legend : “This
is Esther Hobsonne chist, 1637.” Though the
writer has made many enquiries as to who
Esther Hobsonne was, he has only been able to
discover that she was the daughter of a gentleman
who lived in Chester during the early part of the
seventeenth century, and married a certain William
Hobsonne in 1638. This wedding-coffer, which is
of English make, was probably made specially for
Esther Hobsonne, as the workmanship dates back


PANEL OF ITALIAN WEDDING-COFFER FIFTEENTH CENTURY


FRONT OF WEDDING-COFFER, PROBABLY ITALIAN
3°4

FIFTEENTH CENTURY