Rare and Important German Renaissance Chest

IMPORTANT FRENCH RENAISSANCE CHEST ORIGIN : BURGUNDY, FRANCE PERIOD : 16th CENTURY, 2nd FRENCH RENAISSANCE Height: 85cm Length: 170cm Depth: 68cm Oak wood Good condition Original lock Chest is an essential item of Medieval and Renaissance furniture. With its handles it was conceived to be easily moved from one house to another. It would hold linens, dishes or jewellery. Chest was also the ideal wedding present and would enclose the bride’s trousseau. In the middle of the 16th century chests are decisively transformed, their conception now favouring architecture, sculpture and images. This oak wood chest shows impressive proportions with a solid frame. Large mullions are assembled with mortise and tenon joints also securing three carved panels. The facade lower part comprises a high plinth hiding the base of the jambs and acting as feet. It is carved with a frieze of canal motifs topped with palm leaves. The carved decor spreads over the facade of the chest and underlines its structure. On the mullions appears a vegetal decor including roses and palm leaves executed with rigorous symmetry. They frame three rectangular panels. The central one is enriched with two female sphinxes back to back. They wear helmets and spread their wings while their body is partially hidden by long leaves. In the centre a female mask is positioned over draperies. The two lateral panels show a similar but not identical decor. Indeed we can notice a few variations in the motifs. The left hand side panel is adorned with a cut-out leather upon which is depicted two extraordinary ram heads. Their bodies are intertwined with the leather and vegetal motifs in elegant scrolls. A large chou bourguignon stands between both heads. The panel is centred with another ram’s head carved in high relief. On the right hand side panel the composition is alike. The chou bourguignon has been replaced with a shell and the lower part of the panel is adorned with two large fully bloomed flowers. The chest is topped with a frieze of geometrical motifs including scrolls, ovals and rectangles. On the sides, the surface is divided in two moulded rectangular spaces adorned with frame-like scrolls, rectangular cartouches and palm leaves. The chest closes with a massive original lid that can be locked with a key. The important and abundant sculpted decor of this chest allows us to locate its conception in the Burgundy region, France. The regular composition is allied to a remarkable imaginative freedom in the execution of the figures. The very rich iconography draws from the art of Fontainebleau as well as Italian art. The Italian Wars have indeed favoured artistic exchanges and influences between France and the peninsula. The craze for Italian art, particularly during the reign of King François I...

Important Italian Renaissance Polychrome chest with coat-of-arms Origin: Italy Period: early 16th century Height: 71cm Length: 190cm Depth: ...

This large chest stands on high legs prolonging the lateral jambs. Presenting a sober and severe appearance the chest still belongs to the Medieval tradition. The piece is made from very high quality Hungarian wood. The jambs are joined to the facade and the lateral sides thanks to pegged mortise and tenon securing a great stability and squareness between each parts. The upper lid is made of two joined parts and so is the facade. The ironwork is present all over the surface of the chest and brings both an additional stability to the construction as well as a rich decor. The lid is secured with hinges. Hinges also run all over the chest in horizontal and vertical lines, ending in a floral motif. The hasp lock is also very ornamental. Those chests always present important proportions especially when they are made early in the period. This model was very popular in Germany and stayed in vogue until the 16th century. However the feet Gothic decor...

IMPORTANT TRAVEL CHEST WITH A DOMED TOP ORIGIN : SPAIN PERIOD : 16th CENTURY Height : 72 cm Length : 125 cm Depth : 56 cm Walnut Boarded and Studded Good Condition ...

Italian Renaissance wedding cassone Origin : Northern Italy, Between Milan And Bologne Period : 15th Century Height : 55 cm Width : 156.5 cm D...

RARE GOTHIC CHEST OF FLAMBOYANT STYLE ORIGIN: NORTHERN FRANCE PERIOD: 15th CENTURY Height : Length : Depth : Oakwood Good condition Original lock This large chest...

Composed of antique architectural elements which include carved female figures, arabesques and arched panels, this hinged chest made of ...

XVI Century, Italian Renaissance wood chest. This important noble chest of the Tuscan Renaissance was built towards the end of the sixteenth centur...

Superb chest called cassone in walnut from the 16th century from the Italian Renaissance Very beautiful large chest in walnut where each side is made up of a single board which is a...

Small renaissance Oak chest. Front with profiled fillings. Handles made in cast iron. Original lock ( No key ). Charming chest in original untouched condition. Denmark 17th century.

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

Whereas many pieces of furniture during the Italian Renaissance were heavily painted or inlaid with decorative motifs, French examples utilized hand-sculpted elements as the predomin...