North Italian, cedar?, c. 1600 rebuilt 17c? 57/762

Chest with incised decoration. On the front two tiers of panels. In the middle of the upper tier an heraldic panel, flanked by panels containing classical scenes (now one panel is on the dexter side and two on the sinister). Below is a panel with a tent scene flanked by park of a panel with standing figures (dexter side) and a panel with a chariot scene (sinister). The top incised with formal designs. Plain ends with iron handles.

Notes from inspection at Great Yarmouth, The Elizabethan House Museum, NH 2006-03-08
Through dovetailed (x14 front and back) to hold the right end, butt jointed front and back at left end, and nailed (x 7 or 8). Fitted with 3 iron corner bands (pre 1700?) nailed at each corner, and under the right end an iron U shaped strap nailed in place.
The ends, front, back and lid all consist of a one wide and one narrow plank butt jointed. The bottom of 2 boards, butt jointed.
Each end with a wrought iron handle on 2 ring fittings (one handle 1 ½ cm positioned higher than the other).
With a central lock of early date, the original lock at what was the centre of the front removed and the keyhole filled.

The lid with integral mouldings all round, with unequal overhangs at the ends, and shadow and nail evidence of a batten under each end. 2 recent oak battens on the underside of the lid fixed with modern screws. With traces of 5 wire hinges concealed under shaped plugs, but no corresponding evidence on the back, suggesting that the lid came from a separate cypress wood chest of similar type. Fixed with 2 long wrought iron strap hinges fitted with hand made nails on the exterior back and modern screws inside the lid. Infill patch at centre right of front edge, and right end of back at upper corner. Along the outside face of the narrow plank are 4 rectangular fill areas.

Around the ends and back of the interior a recent, shaped 5 sided moulding nailed in place (now partly loose) presumably to hold a shelf (missing).

The ends plain. On the plain back parallel incised lines along the top edge and down the right hand end.

It is clear from the discrepancy in corner joints and the front design, that the present chest is the cut down (sawn) remnant of a longer chest (about 181cm wide), to which the lid from another chest was added; handles and current metalwork all probably added when the chest was rebuilt, the handles possibly reused. As there is no evidence of dovetails on the left end, it must be presumed that the left end was added at the time of rebuilding, not reused.

The front and lid (exterior) with low relief, intaglio carving over a punched background, and no traces of the original inked design:
Front rh end: standing figure of St John the Baptist (?) above standing figure of a Cardinal (?).
Right side (below): large scene with carriage pulled by horses, with soldiers (?), and above putti sitting on swags.
Right side (above): 2 small scenes with foliage, male and female figures
Centre: armorial within circular frame, flanked by scrolling foliage
Centre below: a scene with tent, and soldier with raised sword
Lh side below: curtailed large scene with figures and above putti sitting on swags
Lh side above: small scene with figures

The lid with 2 roundels (centred), the borders edged with incised parallel lines, worked with foliage pattern.

Given by Frederick Gurney

Given by Frederick G. Gurney, Claridges, Egginton, Leighton Buzzard (RF 47/606)

Notes from registered file on Frederick G. Gurney:
letter from FGG, 14/3/1947 to the Director
'...a large cedar-chest of mid-15th century Italian work, with the front incised with the story of Troy, & the figures in the amour of c1470 (salades, etc). It came from an ancient house at Singleborough (Bucks), & was no doubt used at one time as a sea-chest. The original ornamental corner-irons are preserved. This thing is very large & heavy...more or less complete specimen...'
letter from FGG, 30/3/1947 to Ralph Edwards, Keeper of Woodwork
'The chest contains the beautiful and characteristic irons of the period. The most recognisable of the panels (all of which, however, are quite clear in design, but less so in interpretation) represents the Judgment of Paris, with the 'hero's' figure, & those of the three nude goddesses. The whole is in fair preservation but the lid is split & has a loose fragment; it is of different wood also, & rather less carefully ornamented.'

The chest on loan to Great Yarmouth since 1952 (Registered File 52/2142).

Reduced in size and fitted with lid from another chest, probably during 17th century

On loan to National Trust Elizabethan House Museum.

W.13-1947