Studio: international art (51.1911)

A ncient Swiss Coffers



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FIG. 15.—COFFER FROM CANTON SCHWYZ, WITH DRAWERS AND INLAID PANELS. DATE 1594

(Landes museum, Zurich )

carving and iron bands. The one may have been
a bridal chest, while the other pretty certainly
answered the purpose of our modern safes. The
coffer shown in Fig. 7 has a socle from which it
could be easily moved in case of necessity, and
the fact that this coffer bears two monograms—on
the right a Gothic “M” and on the left a Gothic
cross, these representing Our Lady and Our Lord
—gives colour to the supposition that it was
originally destined for. a bridal chest.

The other coffer (Fig. 8) was intended to be
kept permanently at the bedside of its owner, whose
eye could rest on it the moment he awoke. It is
staunch and strong, though smaller in size than
those already mentioned. The ornament is rather
more delicate than that which we are accustomed
to look for on a strong box, but nevertheless it has
the appearance of iron scroll work at first sight.

Though early Gothic in ornament the next coffer
(Fig. 9) bears on its face the influence of the

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FIG. 16.—COFFER FROM WEST SWITZERLAND. DATE ABOUT 16CO
(Landesmuseum, ZiiHch)