Panel of walnut, the front of a chest, Cretan, 1700-1800, carved in low relief with a central vase of flowers set within a formal garden, the whole surrounded with scrolls.

Front panel from a chest, of walnut, with shallow carved decoration of a formal garden scene, including cypress trees and two arcaded pavilions, symmetrically arranged on either side of a central urn with flowers, above a double-headed eagle, all within a frame formed of a serpentine stem with leaves and flower heads between the stem and a narrow, chip-carved outer border. The panel is pierced with a keyhole at the centre, near the top. The top edge is lightly punched with a repeating star ornament. The panel is painted mid-brown. Where this paint has worn off at the lower edge, there are traces of a pink stain. The back of the panel is not coloured or painted.

The lower corners on either side extend approximately 3 cm, showing the receiving recesses for dovetails (trimmed off higher up the panel).

The panel is broken into two pieces with an irregular horizontal break just above the remaining dovetail extensions. The lower edge shows old worm damage. On the underside it shows the remains of wooden pins at irregular intervals (13 cm in one case), which are the remains of the pins attaching the base. The back face shows a chiselled recess for a lock (now missing). The upper part of the panel, behind the left (PR) side, is cut with an L-shaped rebate for a till, the recesses approximately 1.4 cm wide and 0.5 cm deep

Given by M.N. Elliadi

The chest front was given by Mr G.P. Baker of the textile firm G.P.& J. Baker as a gift from Mr Elliadi, who had passed it to him. Mr Elliadi was the British Vice-Consul at Candia, Crete. Mr Baker described it as Venetian but it was accessioned as 'Cretan, 17th century'. (Nominal File: Elliadi, M.N. does not record any earlier history of the chest)

Condition at acquisition: Cut at the edges and much rubbed and chipped.
Director’s RP 5323/27

This panel originally formed the front of a chest, made in the island of Crete at some time in the 18th century. The front is carved with a design centreing on a vase of flowers, set within a formal garden, with pavilions and cypress trees. The urn with flowers was based on baroque designs first used in the 17th century. In many areas of Europe, from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, baroque style motifs continued in popular use throughout the 18th century. Here they are combined with tall cypress trees, a motif echoing Middle Eastern design. Underneath the lower edge of the panel are remnants of wooden pins which would have fixed this panel to the plank that formed the base of the chest. This form of construction ('plank construction') was the simplest method for making box forms and survived in popular use even when more sophisticated 'frame and panel' construction had been adopted in the main centres of cabinet-making.

W.39-1927