Beech wood box; Germany; ca. 1600-50

Iron-mounted wood box with fall front, fitted with drawers and lidded compartments, lined with paper and tooled leather.

The exterior of oak stained black, bound with iron hasps and studded with iron nails. Iron key hole escutcheon. The hasp that closes the box with shaped scroll-end tongue, the upper part foliated. Iron carrying handle at centre of lid, iron hinges. The fall-front lined with marbled paper and containing three stained drawers with recessed mouldings and circular drawer knobs. Above the drawers a fixed tray with front edges covered with marbled paper similar to that lining the fall-front. The interior is divided into six compartments with three removeable vertical dividers (stained red). Four of the compartments contain drawers that lift out, with lids covered with tooled leather and metal ring handles (one missing). Two other smaller lids are missing. At the lower left hand corner is an ink well compartment with a circular aperture in the centre (missing its sliding lid and a 'fixed iron lid'.

Modifications: Corner mounts on lid, front flap hinges, and two long strap mounts underneath the box all apparently added. Fragments of a dark red linen(?) lined leatherette survive, presumed to be a replacement for the original leather exterior covering

Pasted to the inside of the lid is a single leave woodcut, (Flugblatt) depicting the parable of Dives and Lazarus, not earlier than first half of 16th century (1530 - 1580). the name, probably reads: Hans Banschaw, with the text as follows:

Ein reicher Mann hie Christus weld /
Der prächtig war het Gut un Geld.
Mit Purpurkleidt una mit Sindon /
Diss war ein Leinwath so gethon.
Das man dem Goldt gleich schätzen thet /
Lebt täglich wol het viel P--cket.
In Uberfluss und Hoffart g -------
Sein H ----------- doch uppigk ----
----
Vor ---- aro den armen Mann /
------s sich die Handlein / nemen an.
Die ihm sein Schwer ablecken thäten.
Und gross Mitleiden mit ihn hatten.
Letztlichen Gott ihn zu Stich nam /
In die Schoss Abraham er kam.
Das ist zur ewigen Frewd /
Der Reich dar gegen kam in Leid.

----
Dann er auch --------------- begrabn /
Doch in Abgrund der Hell ihn haben
Die bösen Geister bald getragen /
Da er in Qual führet gross klagn.
Una bittet Abraham er wolt /
Lazarum senden das er solt.
Diss zeigen an den Brüdern sein /
Das sie nicht kämen such in pein.
---
Abraham -------- ihm absch -----
Und saget: Solches ----- hett sug.
Sie haben Mosen und Propheten /
Wann sie nicht solche hören theten.
So wurden sie nicht glauberl dem /
So von den Lob --------------- kem.
Wegen ------ achtung Geist Hofart
-------------- et deiser Reich Ward.

Zu Lübeck/ bey Hans Bansclaw Brieffmaler und Kartenmahler /
Wonhafftig in der Kolk bey Holsstrassen.

Gift from Miss M.M. Elder

Gift. RP: 59/2577
Gift from Miss M.M. Elder

Comparable objects
A similar strong-box with fitted compartments and with the lid lined with a German print dated 1652 was offered by Hansord (Lincoln), 2016: HWD - 12 x 19.5 x 15"

This German strong box was made between about 1600 and 1650. It is bound in iron bars and divided into various compartments for storing jewellery and other valuables. The inside of the lid is decorated with a popular moralising print depicting the parable of the rich and self-indulgent Dives and Lazarus, the beggar at his gate. Popular Bible stories were often set to verse, illustrated and sold as prints for the devout to use as simple objects for worship or in this case as a reminder to the owner not to put wealth and luxury before God.

W.21-1959