DOI Heft:
No. 138 (September, 1904)
DOI Artikel:Jones, Francis Arthur: Some ancient wedding-coffers
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19882#0332
Some Ancient IVedding-Coffers
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
VENETIAN WEDDING-COFFER SIXTEENTH CENTURY ivOry and Coloured WOOds
inlaid in interlacing bands,
enclosing geometrical
with Gothic tracery. The design includes small designs, bordered with ebony and ivory. The
figures of what are presumably saints, as well as colours have been made to blend most har-
the representation of the crowning of a sovereign. moniously, and the whole effect is artistic in the
This coffer comes from Spain, where it was made extreme. The interior of this coffer is also most
during the fifteenth century. It is of immense elaborately finished, the designer evidently being
weight, and is provided with a very artistic lock of one who thought the inside of the platter worthy
great strength and durability. The ends of the of equal attention. The coffer is perfectly plain
chest are also extremely artistic in design, the at both ends and the back, and is provided with a
graceful pillars being surmounted with figures of couple of substantial handles. It was bought in
saints This handsome and unique coffer may also 1863 for ^30, and is considered to be the most
be seen at South Kensington. perfect Venetian coffer at South Kensington.
The two quaint little coffers shown next are Our last illustration shows a coffer made of teak,
essentially Dutch in design. They are from a with waved mouldings in ebony and rose-wood. It
private collection, and were brought over from is of Dutch workmanship, and was made about the
Holland a few years ago. The workmanship dates year 1640. This chest, which was bought in 1855
back to the early part of the fifteenth century, and for £6, is also in beautiful preservation. It is
the coffers are in an excellent state of preservation, rather smaller than the majority of dower-chests to
They are both made of box-wood, elaborately be found in South Kensington Museum, being
carved with grotesque figures, and finished off with only 5 feet 6 inches in length, 2 feet 8| inches in
metal locks and mounts. Indeed, the lock in width, and 1 foot 7^ inches in height,
the smaller one is the first thing that strikes the It is a curious but none the less beautiful trait
DUTCH WEDDING-COFFER
308
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
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
VENETIAN WEDDING-COFFER SIXTEENTH CENTURY ivOry and Coloured WOOds
inlaid in interlacing bands,
enclosing geometrical
with Gothic tracery. The design includes small designs, bordered with ebony and ivory. The
figures of what are presumably saints, as well as colours have been made to blend most har-
the representation of the crowning of a sovereign. moniously, and the whole effect is artistic in the
This coffer comes from Spain, where it was made extreme. The interior of this coffer is also most
during the fifteenth century. It is of immense elaborately finished, the designer evidently being
weight, and is provided with a very artistic lock of one who thought the inside of the platter worthy
great strength and durability. The ends of the of equal attention. The coffer is perfectly plain
chest are also extremely artistic in design, the at both ends and the back, and is provided with a
graceful pillars being surmounted with figures of couple of substantial handles. It was bought in
saints This handsome and unique coffer may also 1863 for ^30, and is considered to be the most
be seen at South Kensington. perfect Venetian coffer at South Kensington.
The two quaint little coffers shown next are Our last illustration shows a coffer made of teak,
essentially Dutch in design. They are from a with waved mouldings in ebony and rose-wood. It
private collection, and were brought over from is of Dutch workmanship, and was made about the
Holland a few years ago. The workmanship dates year 1640. This chest, which was bought in 1855
back to the early part of the fifteenth century, and for £6, is also in beautiful preservation. It is
the coffers are in an excellent state of preservation, rather smaller than the majority of dower-chests to
They are both made of box-wood, elaborately be found in South Kensington Museum, being
carved with grotesque figures, and finished off with only 5 feet 6 inches in length, 2 feet 8| inches in
metal locks and mounts. Indeed, the lock in width, and 1 foot 7^ inches in height,
the smaller one is the first thing that strikes the It is a curious but none the less beautiful trait
DUTCH WEDDING-COFFER
308
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY