CONTINENTAL 18TH CENTURY CARVED FRUITWOOD COFFER

Description

CONTINENTAL 18TH CENTURY CARVED FRUITWOOD COFFER CIRCA 1700.

RARE FRUITWOOD MARRIAGE COFFER OF SMALL PROPORTIONS.

RECTANGULAR BOX WITH HINGED LID, THESE PIECES WERE OFTEN GIVEN AS GIFTS ON THE COUPLES WEDDING DAY. LID OPENS TO REVEAL A PLAIN INTERIOR, WITH EVIDENCE OF PREVIOUSLY HAVING A CANDLE COMPARTMENT. HAND CARVED AROUND THE TOP EDGE. HAND CARVED TO THE FRONT WITH A CENTRAL FLEUR DE LYS AND THE INITIALS M P, FLANKED EITHER SIDE BY INWARD FACING DOVES.

NO LOCK PRESENT.

TOP WITH OBVIOUS RESTORATIONS TO AGE SPLITS TO LID, WITH HARD WAX FILL AND LATER INTERIOR SUPPORTS. EXPECTED MINOR SURFACE MARKS AND LOSSES AND MINOR EVIDENCE OF DEAD INACTIVE WORM, WHICH WOULD BE EXPECTED IN A GENUINE PIECE OF THIS AGE AND TYPE OF WOOD.