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A WONDERFUL LATE MEDIEVAL CARVED PLANK COFFER. PROBABLY DEVONSHIRE. CIRCA 1525.

A WONDERFUL LATE MEDIEVAL CARVED PLANK COFFER. PROBABLY DEVONSHIRE. CIRCA 1525.

THE FRONT PLANK CARVED WITH TWO PINWHEELS (CELTIC "TRISKELES") FLANKING A STYLIZED DEPICTION OF A POMEGRANATE. THIS LATTER MOTIF IS LIKELY USED EITHER AS TRADITIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBLEM OF FAITH OR AS A REFERENCE TO KATHERINE OF ARAGON. AN ORIGIN IN THE SOUTH WEST, AND PROBABLY DEVONSHIRE, IS LIKELY BASED UPON THE FORM OF THE CUT-OUT ON THE SIDE BOARDS (AN ACUTE TRIANGLE SURMOUNTED BY CIRCULAR APERTURE) AND THE RICH REDDISH-BROWN OF THE OAK TIMBER. THE UNUSUAL GOUGED "DIMPLES" THAT DECORATE THE SURFACE OF THE POMEGRANATE MOTIF ALSO APPEAR FREQUENTLY ON LATE MEDIEVAL DEVON AREA CHURCH WOODWORK.
ALL ORIGINAL (THIS INCLUDES THE LID WHICH IS ORNAMENTED WITH MOULDINGS MATCHING THOSE ON THE CHEST) SAVE FOR REPLACED HINGES AND THE LOCK PLATE IS AN OLD REPLACEMENT, HASP LACKING. CARRYING HANDLES WERE ONCE ATTACHED TO THE SIDES PROBABLY IN THE 18TH CENTURY, AN IMPRINT OF THESE A FEW HOLES REMAIN. THE SURFACE AN ANCIENT DEEP IRON-OXIDE RED PAIN. THIS COFFER IS ILLUSTRATED IN "THE ENGLISH SMILE" BY MICHAEL DANN, PAGES 137,138,139.

38" WIDE X 23" HIGH X 14" DEEP.
STOCK NO 1074.