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

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.


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
  • Height: 54.5cm
  • Width: 160.5cm
  • Thickness: 4.3cm
Measured NH 2019 from file H 21 3/4" W 5' 3 1/8"
Marks and inscriptions
  • PETITE VITESSE PARIS (Printed shipping label on the reverse )
  • ...coffre... Mons (On the reverse fragments of another label pasted and nailed, with manuscript writing (unclear))
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 createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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