17th Century William and Mary Period Kingwood Oyster Strongbox or Coffre Fort

A William and Mary Kingwood / Princes Oyster Strongbox or Coffre Fort of Diminutive Proportions, Circa 1680-1700, England. Adorned with highly decorative gilt brass strapwork and decorated entirely in knife cut oysters of kingwood, this box is fit for the most discerning of collectors. The large gilt brass shield-shaped clasp opens on a push-spring release to reveal a box interior lined in rosewood with one drawer and securing bolts. Once the lid is opened you can reach inside to slide the original gilt brass bolt lock to open the fall. Once the fall is open you will find a drawer lined in oak and simulated kingwood. The box appears decorative, but it was also very difficult to break open or steal. It has a strong lock to the centre and two bolts concealed in the sides, so that it could be screwed down into floorboards if necessary or that of a horse-drawn carriage. Strong boxes veneered in oysters of Princewood such as this were luxury objects. The cabinet-makers who would have constructed and veneered the carcase apparently sold them, often using tropical hardwood veneers, and mounted it with sets of mounts, handles and locks bought in from brass founders. The elaborate veneering and conspicuous gilded brass mounts show that the appearance of these objects was important. Thomas Pistor, of Ludgate Hill, London worked with the renowned cabinetmaker Gerrit Jensen...

A William and Mary Kingwood/Princes oyster strongbox or Coffre Fort, circa 1680-1700, England. Adorned with highly decorative gilt brass strapwork and decorated in knife-cut oysters ...

A Fine Miniature William and Mary 17th Century Diminutive Olive Oyster chest. From the reign of King William & Queen Mary (1688-1702), England. The...

The unique 17th-century William and Mary rosewood coffre forte, circa 1690, raised on George I walnut stand, circa 1720. The rosewood veneered exterior...

A fine miniature William and Mary 17th century diminutive walnut chest. From the reign of King William & Queen Mary (1688-1702), England. The cross...

A fine late 17th-century olive oyster 'Lace Box' of small proportions, circa 1680-1690, England. The cross-grain moulded and holly banded top is finely veneered in hand-cut veneers ...

A William and Mary laburnum oyster veneered and line inlaid chest of drawers ca 1690. The top with well-chosen oyster inlays contained within contra...

An 18th Century William and Mary Oak Chest. Especially desirable size and proportion. This chest features the classic straight lines and sim...

Featured is an extremely rare 17th century Dutch William & Mary Chinoiserie style coffer trunk on stand. This gorgeous piece was constructed of oak in the traditional William and Mary style. The trunk is japanned with red lacquer and was hand painted with Chinoiserie scenes of life in China. There are two iron straps that mount the top to the case. There is also one iron lock, although the key is absent the latch closes and holds the top securely in place. The lacquer is 90% complete with only small losses around the edges and in various places. The top has been reinforced with oak straps underneath to prevent the jointed board from moving. The lacquer has a warm patina throughout and shows very well. The lower stand is fitted with a pair of drawers that are also japanned and hand-painted with Chinoiserie scenes on the drawer fronts. Both drawers are fitted with Dutch style brass tear drop pulls. The stand itself is built of oak with turned legs that are pinned together with traditionally carved Jacobean Influenced leg stretchers on both the right and left sides as well as one main lower center stretcher. If you are looking for a very rare and well preserved piece this is the one. This item was almost surely on a Dutch East India Trading company...

Late 17th century William and Mary walnut chest on stand circa 1690. Good quality 2 piece William and Mary period chest on ori...

An English William & Mary period oyster laburnum and walnut chest ca 1700. William lll (1650-1702). A classic oyster-veneered chest of two short and three long graduated drawers all faced with exquisite oyster veneers banded in fruitwood. The top with well-chosen oyster inlays...

An extremely rare English William & Mary Oak Chest on stand, dating back to circa 1690, beautifully proportioned, fantastic colour and deep patination . featuring two short drawers and three long drawers, with a single long drawer positioned above an arcaded apron. Supported on its original stand , turned supports , pear drop handles , connected by shaped stretchers and resting on bun feet, the chest showcases its originality through the presence of all original boards, including the back boards secured by hand forged nails. The inclusion of the original stand further enhances its desirability. Provenance: This exceptional Chest was prominently featured on the front page of a well known English oak furniture...