Panelled oak chest, carved on the 4-panel front with intricate, leafy strapwork bands, English, 1600-1640

Oak, panelled chest with carved (four panel) front, plain two-panelled sides (with scroll brackets underneath), and plain panelled back. Of joined and pegged construction.

The four panels of the front are decorated with similar designs, each consisting of a cinquefoil (five petalled) rosette in the middle within a framework of scrolling bands, with which are interlaced scrolling leafy bands. The end stiles, which are prolonged to form plain rectangular feet, have on their front face a sunk compartment carved with wavy leafy stems above the level of the bottom rail. The three muntins are each decorated with rosettes within scrolling and interlacing bands forming alternately square and round compartments. The top rail is ornamented with a row of 8 semicircular lunettes with floral scrolls. The carved design took account of the lock (now missing) and is interrupted at this point. The four front panels, and stiles and rails all have a plain integral border (without any chamfering). On the sides the top and bottom rails and central muntin have moulded edges. The bottom front rail is plain and appears to have lost brackets where it meets the front legs. The cleated lid (modern) consists of two full-length, butted boards with moulded front and sides.

Modifications
The lid with cleats replaced, hung on new hinges.
The bottom replaced.
Missing brackets between the front feet and the front bottom rail.
The front top rail missing a lock plate, with a hole.
Left side with conspicuous worm damage.

(Description made November 2011, the interior inaccessible)

Bought for £20 from J. Charbonnier, Art Gallery, Lynmouth, Devon '1 Oak chest, carved with conventional floral ornament (generally damaged) £20
RF 4658/1909

Stated by Mr Charbonnier to have come from the barn of a farm-house in Cornwall, out of which he bought it. [But this reference not found in RF Jan 2012]

This chest was said to have been found in a barn on a farm in Cornwall, and several aspects of its richly carved front are characteristic of Jacobean West country woodwork, which is oten marked with a strong French influence: the elaborate panel design with stems that intertwine with more formal elements, the cursive ornament running up the stiles, the double-band circles and squares alternating on the muntins and the frieze of inturned scrolls. However, other closely comparable Cornish chests have not been found, and the quality of the carving is more accomplished than that found on fixed woodwork Cornwall. For these reasons a south-west origin in one of the larger ports such as Plymouth or Exeter, both in Devon, could also be possible.

On long term loan to Turton Tower, Bolton.

W.35-1909