Oak chest carved with fruit and foliage ornament, English, 1703

Panelled chest with low relief carved floral decoration.
The top is made of three parallel planks with nailed end battens (breadboard construction) reinforced with three cross bars on the underside. The sides are composed of two plain panels with moulded top and bottom rails. The back is plain panelled (four panels). The carved front is divided into two long narrow panels above (with scrolling leaves and flowers) and four square ones below (with stylised flowers including tulips). The two wide, top and bottom rails and two stiles are carved with stylised scrolling stems, tulips and berries. The mid rail is carved with fleshy, scrolling leave. The three muntins between the four lower panels are moulded. In the centre below the brass lock escutcheon (a later addition) is a rectangular muntin carved EB 1703. The lid is supported on two iron hinges (original) consisting of a ring nailed to the outside of the top rail, and a strap nailed to the inside of the lid. The feet are plain. The bottom consists of eight boards running front to back which meet at birds' mouth joints, with two modern supporting battens.

Interior
At the left, inside, are grooves for an end shelf. Vertical battens nailed at the centre of the front and back appear to have been added to hold a central partition (now missing) in place.


With a dark varnish overall. Lock missing.

Bequeathed by H. C. Coleman

Chest, dresser & cupboard, bequeathed by H C Coleman of Durford Rising, Durford Wood, Petersfield, Hants

Notes from R.P. 49/517

Form listed as
"Chest - - English, carved oak, dated 1703. W.23-1950
Dresser - - English, late 17th century. W.24
Cupboard - - English, dated 1716. W.26"

26/2/49 inspection by Thorpe at Durford Rising for the V & A
listed as in The Dining Room
"A Chest. Carved oak. Dated 1703" (W.23)
"A Dresser. Oak. On turned legs, with a superstructure of shelves. Mid 18th century" (W.24)
and on The First Floor Landing
"A cupboard. Carved oak. Date 1716" (W.26)

This chest has been on long term loan to Oak House West Bromwich since at least 1968.

On loan to Oak House Museum, West Bromwich

W.23-1950