Once in a great while is a rived, hand-carved coffer from the Pilgrim century era ever seen. This one was made about 1580 to about 1640, in the Mannerist style, with hard yellow pine and wrought iron. It is a six-board chest, with decorative molding planed on the top and front sides to emulate applied molding and with decorative chip carving on the ends. The blacksmith work on the lengthy hinges and massive lock suggests added strengthening for long travels, as does the massive thickness of the timbers. The primary joints are ship-lapped and fastened with large rose-head nails, suggesting a coastal shipwright as the maker. The early colonies in Virginia, especially Jamestowne, Henricus, and Elizabeth Cittie, saw such coffers as the storage choice for the first pilgrims settling there. Microanalysis of the wood is pending.
$8000.00
Dealer 326
