Chest Front thumbnail 1
Chest Front thumbnail 2
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Not currently on display at the V&A

Chest Front

ca. 1560 (made)
Place of origin

Carved with a shield, foliated scrolls and shells, and with bands of varied ornaments, at the ends are demi-figures.

Design (from top):
The upper frieze with scrolling trefoil leaf motif against a punched background. A convex moulding of overlapping leaf. The main panel within a guilloche border (outside) and double bead and reel (inside). A central cartouche with 3 kiosks above a field of X motifs, lettered PCP, from which emerge scrolling acanthus, against a punched background. At each end is a large shell motif flanked by a female term figure. Along the lower edge is an ogee moulding above a deeply gadrooned cushion moulding.
Note that the carving is particularly fine.

The reverse with a lock mortise and groove (PL) for a till. The surface is neatly planed. Setting out marks are visible.

Construction
A single wide (notably thin) board onto which are applied a series of facings and mouldings with a deep gadrooned moulding along the bottom. The ends are rebated (not dovetailed). Various clinched nails, from the original construction and holding the mouldings remain.

Condition
One long split. The PR female term on backboard missing (July 2017): 25cm H x 8cm



Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved walnut
Brief description
walnut; Italian, c.1560, carved
Physical description
Carved with a shield, foliated scrolls and shells, and with bands of varied ornaments, at the ends are demi-figures.

Design (from top):
The upper frieze with scrolling trefoil leaf motif against a punched background. A convex moulding of overlapping leaf. The main panel within a guilloche border (outside) and double bead and reel (inside). A central cartouche with 3 kiosks above a field of X motifs, lettered PCP, from which emerge scrolling acanthus, against a punched background. At each end is a large shell motif flanked by a female term figure. Along the lower edge is an ogee moulding above a deeply gadrooned cushion moulding.
Note that the carving is particularly fine.

The reverse with a lock mortise and groove (PL) for a till. The surface is neatly planed. Setting out marks are visible.

Construction
A single wide (notably thin) board onto which are applied a series of facings and mouldings with a deep gadrooned moulding along the bottom. The ends are rebated (not dovetailed). Various clinched nails, from the original construction and holding the mouldings remain.

Condition
One long split. The PR female term on backboard missing (July 2017): 25cm H x 8cm

Dimensions
  • Height: 46cm
  • Width: 161.5cm
  • Thickness: 9cm
Measured NH July 2017 Dimensions from catalogue: H. 45.7 cm, W. 152 cm, D. 10cm
Object history
Bought for £1-10-0. from Mr. J.C. Robinson (contact V&A registry for further details).
Historical context
Based on certain features an origin in Trentino, specifically Valle dell'Adige might be considered: the pronounced undulating vine stem/leaf motif (also found particularly in Val di Non), the design with term figures and stymmetrical half circle (or 'fan') motifs

See Umberto Raffaelli, Arte e Tradizione in Trentino: La Cassapanca (con il patrocio del Museo degli Usi e Costumi della Gente Trentina di S. Michele a/Adige (Trento, 1989).
Collection
Accession number
40-1881

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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