Chest Front
1500-1520 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Detached front of a dovetailed chest. Carved with a grotesque design of scrolling acanthus centred on a harpy candelabrum with basket of fruit on her head (canephora), from which spring scrolling stems with grotesque birds, putti and bucrania.
The front consists of a single plank carved in the solid, incorporating a lock plate surround and moulded borders. Both ends are cut with 7 mitred dovetails. The reverse cut (PR) with grooves for a till with false bottom and a round mortice for the lid pin. Nails survive for the interior lock which is missing.
Condition (2019): extensive worm damage along the lower edge, and numerous small losses to the carving.
The front consists of a single plank carved in the solid, incorporating a lock plate surround and moulded borders. Both ends are cut with 7 mitred dovetails. The reverse cut (PR) with grooves for a till with false bottom and a round mortice for the lid pin. Nails survive for the interior lock which is missing.
Condition (2019): extensive worm damage along the lower edge, and numerous small losses to the carving.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Carved walnut |
Brief description | French, 1500-1550. Ex Peyre Collection. Carved walnut |
Physical description | Detached front of a dovetailed chest. Carved with a grotesque design of scrolling acanthus centred on a harpy candelabrum with basket of fruit on her head (canephora), from which spring scrolling stems with grotesque birds, putti and bucrania. The front consists of a single plank carved in the solid, incorporating a lock plate surround and moulded borders. Both ends are cut with 7 mitred dovetails. The reverse cut (PR) with grooves for a till with false bottom and a round mortice for the lid pin. Nails survive for the interior lock which is missing. Condition (2019): extensive worm damage along the lower edge, and numerous small losses to the carving. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Object history | Acquired from Emile Peyre of 146 Avenue Malakoff, Paris, at the price of £50 Condition 'split, much wormeaten and worn' Listed in Peyre's house as no. 107 'Large renaissance coffer front' in a typed version of the 'Inventory of the contents rooms [sic] containing that part of Monsieur Peyre's Collection, iron-work and wood-work which he is willing to sell. The rooms are all on the ground floor of the house.' The inventory is numbered 1-329, with description and price, arranged by room; it was drawn up in early March 1895 by Thomas Armstrong (Director for Art 1881-98) and Caspar Purdon Clarke (Assistant Director and from 1896 Director of the Art Museum, later Director of the Metropolitan Museum, New York). Located in the room marked C in an annotated sketch plan of the ground floor of Peyre's house, which apparently accompanied a letter dated 28/2/1895 from Armstrong to Major General Sir John Donnelly (secretary of the Science and Art Department). |
Historical context | Comparable chests Detached chest front with scrolling carving; Paris, Musee des Arts Decoratifs inv. 6309(?) |
Collection | |
Accession number | 689-1895 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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