Enquiry information

AN EARLY 16TH CENTURY ENGLISH FIGURAL CARVED OAK CHEST. CIRCA 1520.

THIS RARE CHEST CARRIES A MESSAGE ABOUT ITS ORIGINAL OWNERS SALVATION, THE FIVE PANELLED FRONT AS FOLLOWS- AT EITHER END STANDS THE PILLARS OF THE MEDIEVAL CHURCH ST PETER AND ST PAUL, THEY CARRY THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND THE SWORD OF THE WORD. TO THE LEFT OF ST PAUL A NAKED ADAM COVERS HIMSELF IN MODESTY, REPRESENTING THE FALLEN CONDITION OF HUMANITY, HE POINTS UPWARD TO INDICATE THE WAY TOWARD SALVATION. ADAMS GESTURE IS MATCHED BY THE ROBED FEMALE FIGURE ON THE CENTRAL PANEL. THE FASHIONABLY CLAD FIGURE TO THE LEFT OF THE CENTRE AND OPPOSITE ADAM IS LIKELY TO BE THE CHESTS ORIGINAL OWNER, BY POSITIONING HIMSELF IN OPPOSITION TO ADAM (THE FIRST MAN WHO COMITTED ORIGINAL SIN) AND NEXT TO ST PETER (THE GUARDIAN OF THE GATES OF HEAVEN) THIS MAN PROCLAIMS HIS CERTAINTY THAT HE WILL BE SAVED!. FOR A PROSPEROUS MERCHANT OR GENT IN THE LATE MEDIEVAL AGES, OWNERSHIP OF THIS CHEST WITH ITS CLEAR VISUAL MESSAGE WOULD HAVE PROVIDED A COMFORTING REMINDER OF NOT ONLY HIS STATUS IN THIS LIFE BUT ALSO HIS DESTINATION IN THE NEXT.
ORIGINAL HINGES AND LOCK PLATE.



49" WIDE X 28" HIGH X 20" DEEP.

STOCK NO 1414.