Bench chest with an undulating form at the base, outlined by a carved moulding. French (Bas-Poitou), ca. 17th century.

Bench-chest with two projecting ends shaped at the front. The base is of undulating form outlined by a carved moulding. The bench is divided into two equal sections which have lifting lids attached by iron hinges, and forming coffers. The right hand section is also fitted with a large iron lock, and has a shaped escutcheon at the front fitted with a wrought iron key.
Condition at acquisition: worm-eaten. The base chipped and repaired left-hand corner.

Board thicknesses: ends 25-9mm, front 33mm, back 26mm

A double-ended bench-chest of boarded construction, with raised end-pieces, the carcase divided into two equal parts, each with a hinged lid, divided by a partition. The front and plain back fastened to the ends using 3 hand-made nails. The single base board held in grooves cut into the front and back boards and ends; the partition resting in a groove cut (front to back) down the centre of the base board. Note that the front board is cut with a dovetail 20mm (ie not full depth) where it meets the end boards.

The front with a shaped and moulded lower edge, both ends with a shaped forward edge and M shaped foot, with a cleat along the top edge, held on three pegs onto a long tenon. The seat formed by two lifting lids with three nailed battens, and with an ovolo moulded front edge. The left hand lid fitted with a lock (locked) and early escutcheon with double-ended trefoil ornament, fastened on two round-headed nails. The right lid (without lock) held on two iron strap hinges, each fed through a slot cut into the back board and held on hand-made nails (apparently original, allowing for some shrinkage of the lid) and a single square nut and threaded bolt (of early date). Matching square metal, countersunk caps fit over the bolts, and over a fitting next to the lock.

Repairs
Worm and some losses particularly on the lower edge of the front and right end. The PL front corner repaired with a scarfed-in piece, and some additional nails added. Otherwise wear, movement and bruising is consistent with an early date.

Given by Lady Janet Clark

Given by Lady Jane Clark, 78 Sydney Street, London SW3, RF 1352/41; described by Ralph Edwards before acquisition as 1 bench (with key), (chipped, repaired, restored, worm-eaten)...It dates probably from about 1630, though earlier in style...an interesting and attractive example of a type which is not represented [in the Museum]

Inspected at Hexham Old Gaol, August 2007.

Information supplied by Laurence Fligny:
Central-west France, Bas-Poitou (Vendée et sud des Deux-Sèvres). Bourgeois and well-off peasant homes of this region used beds "à quenouilles" (distaff) with four columns supporting a wooden tester with textile. These beds were raised on high feet against the damp of beaten-earth floors, especially in towns and villages nearly the poitevin et vendéen marshes. In order to get into bed, a bench-chest was placed along the bed, which was used as a step up into bed. The chests were often divided into two, one part for the husband's clothes, one for the wife's. They thus had three uses, as a step, storage and seating during the day.

The hinges fixed with square-head screws are typical on this type of chest.

On en trouve quelques modèles dans des livres sur le mobilier régional :
- R.Baschet, C. Gendron, Le Val de Loire . La Vendée. Le Poitou . Les
Charentes . Le Berry, Collection Styles de France - Les Styles régionaux, Ed.
L'Illustration, Paris, 1981, p.59 et 84 ; E. Mannoni, Mobilier régional
Charentes-Poitou, p103.

See also, Marie-France Boyer, 'The Wood Life', in World of Interiors, Dec. 2016, p.132ff [first published May 1996], describing a farmhouse in the Margaride region, Ferme de Pierre Allegre - Ecomusee de Margeride, Le Bourg, 15320 Loubaresse, Cantal, France

Bas-Poitou (Central west)

This bench-chest came from central-west France. In 17th-century bourgeois homes of the region, beds "à quenouilles" -- "with distaves" -- had four columns supporting a tester or canopy, and were raised off the floor on high feet. A bench-chest was placed along the bed, and used as a step to get up into bed. The seat plank was hinged giving access to two storage compartments inside, one for the husband's clothes, one for the wife's. During the daytime, the bench-chest could also serve as a useful seat.

On loan to Hexham Old Gaol.

W.19-1941