Howgego Historic & Modern Blanket Chests

- Rare small size, would work as a sofa or low table with the advantage of storage space - Characterful chip carving, ironwork and figuring injecting atmosphere into any interior - W...

A late-16th Century, Museum Quality, Italian Walnut & Fruitwood Marquetry Marriage Chest with a Coat of Arms & Retaining Traces of the Original Gilded Decoration - Exceptionally rar...

- Really unusual, characterful conversation piece of military/aeronautical history ex British Army or Air Force - In totally original condition - Can be used as a occassional table f...

Long black metal trunk, bearing brass label inscribed 'J E Holmes Esq, Volunteer Artillery'. Metal carrying handles. Locks no keys. Wonderful deep and rich patina reflecting their hi...

A matched pair of 19th century black metal travelling trunks. Metal carrying handles. Locks no keys. One stamped made in England. Both with Union-Castle Line & Safmarine, G, Mr & Mrs Gale, Cabin 151 & 155, Vessel SA Oranje, 7th April, Port of Embarkation Southampton, Port of Disembarkation Cape Town Both with S.A.R. S.A.S. labels numbered 58 One with South African Railways Label One marked 'No III' Wonderful deep and rich patina reflecting their history from years of travel Can be repurposed as chests on stands in the bedroom or hallway or as decorative objects. each trunk Length 70 cm., " Depth 40 cm., Height 24 cm. Union-Castle Line & Safmarine, The Union-Castle Line was a British shipping line...

A characterful 19th century, domed, overseas, travelling, steamer, trunk in canvass with leather trim, handles and brass hardware with lock. No key. The exposed straps removed. Bearing an old Southern Railway paper label no 2812 from Dover Priory and remains of numerous travel labels...

A fine, high quality leather suitcase, the top leather embossed 'JGV', with reinforced corners, leather handle and brass hardware, the lock stamped 'EHOFMANN 11457' No key. The inside with brass label 'To Dr John...

A fine, 19th century, high quality, leather, overseas, travelling, steamer suitcase with exposed straps, handles and brass hardware with lock stamped with a crown and 'VR (Victoria Rex) patent' and key. Bearing brass owners label incised 'J Tully' and the front embossed 'Warrantied Solid Leather'. Original blue and white ticking and leather interior with straps and internal folding divider and compartments. Bearing maker's label 'J C Sweeney, manufacturer of portmanteaus, trunks, India overlands, ladies boxes, travelling bags, hat cases...

A fine large 19th century, thick, high quality leather overseas travelling trunk with reinforced exposed straps, handles and chrome hardware stamped USA with internal locking mechani...

- Charming and characterful nautical design - Depicting a fleet of five galleons or warships at anchor in a bay with three men in a dingy rowing ashore on the top - The front with ...

Rare, early 17th century, Spanish, leather, ‘Arcon’ or domed travelling coffer with a gilded armorial & ornamented with brass studwork. Surviving utalitarian pieces such as travel...

Rare, small, late-Renaissance, Nuremberg, iron, 'armada box', strongbox or travelling safe with its original, naïve, painted decoration This is a rare, s...

Exceptional, early 17th century, Spanish, leather, ‘Arcon’ or domed travelling coffer ornamented with brass studwork Surviving utalitarian pieces such as travelling coffers from t...

Lovely cassone with classical form, the beautiful figuring of the oak creates subtle, decorative patterning and the simple mouldings give a light, contemporary feel. The rich, lustr...

Serpentine-shaped ottoman, mid-19th century, English, Victorian, with mahogany skirt and feet and upholstered in burgundy leather This handsome ottoman is really practical offering ...

This striking chest is made from a Brazilian hardwood which I have not been able to identify. The color and figuring of the timber together with the Classic form and ornamentation su...

This vernacular chest exudes character and charm. The moulded panels and inlay inject gravitas. It has a lovely mellow lustrous patina. It is unusual being large and providing a copi...

This handsome cassone has ornament with romantic associations and was most likely a marriage chest. It is a good example of the Italian vernacular, simple in a sophisticated manner. ...

This standing chest is of clamp-front construction, extensively decorated with long, ironwork straps with quatrefoil finials which ‘wrap’ around it, and has an ornate, central lockplate, and front legs with full, height stiles. The ironwork straps and finials are fixed with convex, headed nails: running along the front, five long straps; the two side straps; and the five straps on the top. On the chest front, centrally placed, is a large, iron lockplate with four outer, radiating spade finals in each corner and three, superimposed spade finials (a symbol of nobility) which are pierced with the initials ‘BB’. The lockplate receives a corresponding, external hasp fitted to the lid. Below the floor of the chest, the two front stile legs retain most of their original height. The lid is supported by substantial iron strap hinges that extend right down the back of the chest. Inside the chest at the left end is a shallow, oak till. Construction The chest is of joined, 'clamp-front' construction, reinforced by the nailed, iron mounts. In total it uses ten, oak boards which were riven and planed. The back and front are each formed from a large single plank held to the full height stiles by long, pegged tenons. The sides are also single boards joined into the stiles using long tenons held by dowels, and extend down below the chest bottom, concealing the ends of the bottom boards. The bottom consists of a single board cut into the sides and shallow rebates in the stiles. The front and back boards are dowelled into the bottom boards. The lid which overhangs the sides has a narrow cleat at each end, and consists of one wide plank which has bowed a little as a result of shrinkage. Ironwork : The wrought ironwork straps, lockplate, hasp and lock all appear all appear to be early, and of the same original manufacture and are fixed with convex headed nails. There is mild dark staining of the oak around the iron mounts, possibly because of low tannin content in the oak. Length 172 cm., 67 ¾ in., Height 71.5 cm., 28 ¼ in., Depth 63 cm., 24 ¾ in., Related to: No 900:2-1904 V&A Museum, London. Stadtmuseum Dusseldorf. Decorative Arts Museum Berlin. Museen Schleswig-Holstein & Hamburg. A related example featuring elaborately-carved feet and formerly in the Horsham Museum, West Sussex, sold at Christie's in 2010 for £97,250 and another example, again with carved feet sold at Sothebys in 2006 for £48,000. Literature: A similar example is illustrated in H. Lüttgens, Alt- Aachener Wohnkultur; Ein Rundgang durch ein altes Aachener Haus im Wohnstil des 18. Jahrhunderts, Aachen, n.d., ill. 12, and another comparable iron-bound chests...