Featured Paneled Oak Coffer

looking at this oak coffer tomorrow. any thoughts on the when and where of this style?

 

Think perhaps a mod could move this to the furniture forum so you get more views.

@Bookahtoo or @daveydempsey

 

@verybrad or any other furniture people. . .help with this piece?

 

Bit out of my league but think circa 1880. The straight sides makes me think this might have been a built-in.

 

Agrees on late 19th century because of the feet, don't think built in as the sides are panel construction which is typical for this form.
Probably not American, guesses european.

 

The style in america is "pilgrim century" in england/europe "jacobean", popular in the 17th century.
This chest is a revival piece & is not period. One nice feature is the lid, it appears to have "pintle hinges", (wood hinges that require no iron).

Reproduction 17th century chest with wood pintle hinges

 

Thank you. Certainly looks much older in person. I will get better photos once it's unloaded. I was thinking French or Italian maybe. Possibly chestnut.

 

Continental, C19th for me. Perhaps a shop counter? Is there a slightly ecclesiastical look to those pieces at the front bottom corners?

This piece is being offered online as a French shop counter - similar-ish form and combination of high utility with modest aesthetic flourishes.

Shop counter by Phil Harrison posted Aug 23, 2019 at 6:15 PM

 

Thinking walnut, and the articulation of the base does not suggest a shop counter, as it would require you to take a couple of steps back from the top surface.

 

after a closer look it seems the feet and moulding are revival period replacements.
The top has one board that looks original. Original hinge loop showing and the later hinges with rose heads. The paneled facade is all pegged on. another fragment of an old piece.

 

https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/s...tury-painted-renaissance-cassone/id-f_264267/ this is probably the idea.

 

100% NOT C19th. I stand corrected.

The great majority of that piece, on closer inspection, would seem to be late 17th/very early 18th century, tops. If it’s less than 300 years old then I’m a Frenchman (I’m not). I’ll say 1680.

That’s a candle box to the left hand side and those metal hooks next to the hinges are indeed where the original wire hinges would have attached. Wire hinges, you’re talking pre-1700 for the most part. You might expect to see corresponding markings on the first plank of the lid, where those wire hinges would have attached. If you don’t see them then either the lid, or at any rate that closest plank, has been replaced, as you appear to suspect.

I’m not totally convinced that the sections at the foot of the piece aren’t contemporary to it. No obvious signs of grafting or architectural awkwardness that leap out of these images - perhaps some little colour differences. Nice thing.

 

I would like to throw Spanish into the mix. I like it.

 

Spanish is a great shout.

 

I can even shout it in Spanish.

 

It does kinda look Spanish to me as well, or maybe Portuguese? it's not english, that's for sure. It is not 17th century though i don't think, the construction just isn't right and the plain jane front panels just don't look like early Spanish chests I've seen. Spain had/has wonderful carvers & this chest has virtually no carving decoration.
Mid 17th Century Spanish Chestnut coffer
https://www.christies.com/lotfinder...-coffer-second-half-17th-6010982-details.aspx

 

Yes, cobbled together from older & newer elements, guesses 18th & 19th century parts. The feet are weird, ditto that front apron, not sure what that is about. The lid is 3 boards so it surely has had work done.
I wouldn't get to fired up about "rose head nails", you can buy hand forged iron nails today just like in the old days.

 

A quick google brought this one up at 1stdibs, it has somewhat similar feet, from a dealer in the NL.
https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/m...sh-chestnut-carved-trunk-chest/id-f_14797971/

mid 17th century Spanish chestnut chest

 

Another issue i see with OP chest is, it is trying to have it both ways, i.e. it's a "boarded" chest (boards that are nailed/dovetailed together) that is trying to be a "joined" panel construction chest ( M&T stiles & rails that are joined together with draw bore joints).
Best guess is, manufactured "antique" chest with older & newer parts.

 

I think it was rebuilt late 19th. Front, back and side don't seem to have ever been apart. The ⅜ inch panel facade over the front board seems like an alteration, exposed on side, but pegs and feel is that it is a lot earlier that the other later bits.

another Spanish one I found