Oak Coffer

Rare 17th century Oak coffer or joined chest with blind drawer. Circa 1640-70. West Country. Owners' initials MD to the front. Original interior till.

In the publications – ‘Oak Furniture in Dorset:  Some Introductory Thoughts’ (1976) and ‘Oak Furniture From Gloucestershire and Somerset’ (1976), Anthony Wells-Cole writes that it is difficult to establish exactly where pieces of portable furniture were made. It was discovered that a dated chest existing in Dorset was later found to have been made in the Lake District. One can only start with fixed woodwork ie pulpits, screens, choir stalls furniture which was made specifically for a church or house.

The style of coffer many people think of as being from Dorset would be one with relatively shallow geometric carving which is often painted with red, black and sometimes blue paint or stain.

The naturalistically carved foliage to the top rail and drawer front is identical to that on a table illustrated Fig. 10c of Wells-Coles publication on Dorset Furniture. However, he states that this band is unusual for Dorset furniture which was more commonly carved with run-moulding, scrolls and rope decoration. There is a table shown in his work on Somerset items which shows a table with a similar frieze – but the leaves on this are more geometrical in feel.

The ’rope’ type carving to the uprights, lower section of the drawer and rail is featured on a coffer from Gloucestershire dated the second half of the 17th century and on an armchair dated 1630-50 currently in the V and A, London from the Riviere family in Glos. But also features on a joined stool with drawer circa 1630 from Salisbury as shown by Victor Chinnery in his book on Oak furniture page 229 Fig 3:113. And a livery cupboard again dated 1630 again from the Gloucestershire area Page 275 Fig 3:261

The three carved panels which retain the original marking out lines (used to keep to the exact pattern), feature carnations, flanked by tulips. These designs are said to have been influenced by embroidery and folk art patterns. Floral and foliage carving is common in many regions, for example,  Yorkshire with its inlaid designs of holly and bog oak.

This coffer bears a remarkable similarity to a coffer in our archives which has ties to the workshop of Humphrey Beckham in Salisbury and the Speke family in Somerset– the rope style carving to the uprights, the naturalistic foliage. Again deep and crisp carving – a rich dark colour and fine patination. The rope carving is shown in Chinnery Page 407 and 409 on both a joint stool and armchair – dated circa 1620.

Dimensions

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance