International studio (23.1904)

Some Ancient Wedding-Coffers

VENETIAN WEDDING-COFFER

with Gothic tracery. The design includes small
figures of what are presumably saints, as well as
the representation of the crowning of a sovereign.
This coffer comes from Spain, where it was made
during the fifteenth century. It is of immense
weight, and is provided with a very artistic lock of
great strength and durability. The ends of the
chest are also extremely artistic in design, the
graceful pillars being surmounted with figures of
saints This handsome and unique coffer may also
be seen at South Kensington.
The two quaint little coffers shown next are
essentially Dutch in design. They are from a
private collection, and were brought over from
Holland a few years ago. The workmanship dates
back to the early part of the fifteenth century, and
the coffers are in an excellent state of preservation.
They are both made of box-wood, elaborately
carved with grotesque figures, and finished off with
metal locks and mounts. Indeed, the lock in
the smaller one is the first thing that strikes the

beholder, taking up as
it does a large portion
of the front part of the
box. It will be noticed
that the design is not with-
out a touch of humour,
though what species of
animal it is that the gentle-
man is (presumably) driving
to market it would be diffi-
cult to say.
The Venetian coffer next
shown is a really beau-
tiful example of sixteenth
century work. It is
made of marquetry of
ivory and coloured woods
inlaid in interlacing bands,
enclosing geometrical
designs, bordered with ebony and ivory. The
colours have been made to blend most har-
moniously, and the whole effect is artistic in the
extreme. The interior of this coffer is also most
elaborately finished, the designer evidently being
one who thought the inside of the platter worthy
of equal attention. The coffer is perfectly plain
at both ends and the back, and is provided with a
couple of substantial handles. It was bought in
1863 for ^30, and is considered to be the most
perfect Venetian coffer at South Kensington.
Our last illustration shows a coffer made of teak,
with waved mouldings in ebony and rose-wood. It
is of Dutch workmanship, and was made about the
year 1640. This chest, which was bought in 1855
for jQ6, is also in beautiful preservation. It is
rather smaller than the majority of dower-chests to
be found in South Kensington Museum, being
only 5 feet 6 inches in length, 2 feet 8| inches in
width, and 1 foot 7^ inches in height.
It is a curious but none the less beautiful trait