Studio: international art (32.1904)

Some Ancient Wedding-Coffers

_________; ■.w~-ug-^y: J -. "~ % ding-coffer the sum of ,£20

fepr^"^" «j^pj^ ' ' "^^K was paid.

4.? V S%. -.jr-^ft ... \ ' ill Another chest in the

KS^g^nHp;.' '£^~ ••••If same museum, but not il-

J^h. , „• . ■ lustrated here, is worthy of

i§|jBig notice, being decidedly

-^^B^^^^^^g^^p'? 3jp!<i':<>'.v'c' j^jjayB novel and unique in de-

j|^^S^^^i"£iy,t®li^i| «gn. It is made of a

Hgv'.,:„--_ ' }- ^"1^'" - j^^t*-'*-V.*y» "j| dark wood, probably wal-

S^^^^^^^1^ } nut, and ornamented with

JkL" - gilt nails. The design is a

beautiful one in scroll work,

^Hi^LiL! ** '■* "'• •■' * ■ . . • J and the number of nails

tw-r-r-t—ffTw iiViFPay»a)fg3agi^g^^M used exceeds 3,000. If

one so desired, it would be

y 'I t^i'w'-mM easy to make a dower-chest

_____J I ~ °f this description, the

only stock-in-trade required
~" being a fairly solid chest,

german wedding-coffer sixteenth century a numDer 0f pretty braSS-

headed nails, and a fair
amount of artistic taste.

painting is more original than beautiful, and not One seen recently by the writer was quite as
the sort of wedding coffer to present to a nervous effective as the one described, and was the
bride. entire work of a lady who had a taste for

Another Italian coffer of about the same period carving and carpentry. Instead of putting nails
is also to be seen at the South Kensington at the sides and front of the coffer, however,
Museum. It is made of wood overlaid with she inserted carved panels, which added to the
plaster, in which is moulded a kind of mediaeval general effect. The whole chest, she affirmed,
marriage procession. The relief is decidedly cost no more than five pounds,
unique, and shows the bride and bridegroom Our next illustration shows a very fine example
about to be joined together in holy matrimony. of Indian work. This coffer, which is not very
The gentleman who is performing the ceremony large (probably owing to the fact that the trousseaux
appears to be rather amused than otherwise, for of Indian princesses are made almost entirely of
his countenance wears an expression hardly con- silk and consequently do not take up much room)
sistent with the solemnity of
the occasion. The bride's
father stands with folded
arms and a somewhat stern
expression of countenance,
while the motner is evi-
dently showing some aigns
of grief. A procession of
gentlemen in short skirts
and carrying what appear
to be dishes of blanc-
mange (probably intended
for the wedding feast) is
seen marching through a
forest of prize daisies,
while a couple of trumpet-
ers are shown sounding
a fanfare of congratulation.
For this remarkable wed- Turkish wedding-coffer eighteenth century

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