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 12,869 antiques pages browsed today 21 antiques uploaded 17 July

A Museum-grade Mid-17th Century Dutch Silver Marriage Coffin Or Knottekistje, Circa 1660

£9,500    $12,870    €11,192
A museum-grade mid-17th century Dutch silver marriage coffin or knottekistje, circa 1660.
 
Raised on solid silver bun feet the miniature coffin is profusely engraved to all faces depicting a courting couple and architecture entwined in scrolling foliage. The reverse of the coffin depicts the last supper, however, if you look closely, you can see a boy stealing food or wine from underneath! Possibly, this is the courting gentleman showing that he had a sense of humour.
 
The scratch lined moulded top is surmounted with an intricate handle (once gilt) and floral patera to the centre. There are two inscriptions each within a cartouche ‘In L˙fde Beltact het al’ and ‘Getrouw tot in den doot’ which loosely translates to ‘faithful until the death’ and ‘love is everything’.
 
Wedding caskets such as this were a speciality of Friesland. Traditionally, a man’s promise of marriage to his future bride and was formal when he presented her with a coin knotted into a costly cloth (knottedoek). Th...
Antique SA1006398 shown on this page was made in the 17th Century. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was created:
←C17th
Famous inventions historic timeline graphic to help to give historical context to the date of this antique.
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ALEXANDER GEORGE ANTIQUES LTD. PROFILE PHOTO WHICH LINKS TO DEALER PAGE
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Alexander George Antiques Ltd.
Offering carefully selected antique masterpieces from the 17th & 18th centuries
Alexander George Antiques Ltd. is also an antique trade association member of LAPADA
Oxfordshire
United Kingdom
Tel: 07787 536199
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