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AN AMAZING 16TH CENTURY CARVED OAK TABLE CASKET. CIRCA 1550.

AN AMAZING 16TH CENTURY CARVED OAK TABLE CASKET. CIRCA 1550.

THE THICK TOP WITH APPLIED RAISED MOULDINGS WITH CENTRAL CARVED DETAIL, THE WONDERFUL PROTRUDING PEGS ALL PATINATED. THE ORNATE IRON HINGES WITH PUNCH DECORATION, WITH FRAGMENTS OF RED SILK REMAINING,WHICH WOULD HAVE ORIGINALLY LINED THE WHOLE OF THE INSIDE, WITH TWO IRON HEARTS TO THE FRONT OF THE LID.

THE FRONT OF THE CASKET HAS A CIRCULAR CARVED ESCUTCHEON FLANKED BY BIBLICAL CARVED SCENES WITHIN ARCHITECTURAL SURROUNDS , FROM THE LEFT DEPICTS CAIN AND ABEL, THE FIRST SONS OF ADAM AND EVE, CAIN SACRIFICING HIS BROTHER ABEL TO GOD AFTER HIS OFFERS OF PRODUCE WERE REJECTED. THE RIGHT HAND SIDE CARVED WITH THE PELICAN-IN-HER-PIETY SHOWING THE MOTHER PECKING AT HER OWN BREAST IN ORDER TO DRAW BLOOD FOR THE NURTURE OF HER YOUNG, AN IMAGE OF SELF SACRIFICE AND FLANKED BY CROWNED FIGURES.

THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE CASKET CARVED WITH THE ANNUNCIATION WHEN ANGEL GABRIEL APPEARED TO THE VIRGIN MARY AND GAVE HER A WHITE LILY AS A SIGN OF HER PURITY, THE SECOND CARVING DEPICTS THE TWO SPIES SENT BY MOSES TO THE PROMISED LAND, RETURNING WITH A LARGE BUNCH OF GRAPES WHICH IT TOOK TWO MEN TO CARRY, SHOWING THAT INDEED THE PROMISED LAND DID FLOW WITH MILK AND HONEY AND AGAIN FLANKED BY CROWNED FIGURES.

THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE CASKET CARVED WITH KING HEROD HOLDING THE HEAD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST WHO HE UNWILLINGLY SACRIFICED FOR HIS DAUGHTER SALOME AFTER GRANTING HER ANY WISH SHE DESIRED. THE FINAL CARVING SHOWING ADAM AND EVE AND THE TREE OF LIFE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

THE PLAIN BACK WITH TWO CARVED FIGURAL EDGES. THIS WONDERFUL MID 16TH CENTURY CASKET IS STANDING ON ITS ORIGINAL FEET.

19" WIDE X 11.5" HIGH X 13.5" DEEP.

STOCK NO 1408.