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ID #SA1193072
FOR SALE
£495
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Rare French Iron Three Dial Combination Safe/cash Box Coffres-forts
For sale by Terrier Antiques at Hebden Bridge
for sale €579     $629
£495
Terrier Antiques at Hebden Bridge

Terrier Antiques at Hebden Bridge

Sellingantiques Verified Since Nov 2021
Browse dealers 102 items
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Id #SA1193072
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Rare French Iron Three Dial Combination Safe/cash Box Coffres-forts

19th century
Description

Here we have a rare French triple dial combination painted iron cash/safe box, the box has the original maufacturers label on the inside for 'Coffres-Forts', Chevet Rouen, Place Verdzel. The box is opened by turning the three dials a precise number of turns each which then allows the top left dial to slide sideways and open the lid, the exact opening instructions are supplied with the box on purchase.

c1900

Size: 200 x 150 x 110mm

Weight: 2.7kg

Date of Manufacture

Terrier Antiques at Hebden Bridge has dated this Antique Iron Cash Box to the 1890s.

Independent Date Guide ID 09351504
Dealer's Item Date1890s
Sellingantiques Date1890s
Sellingantiques agingItem 115-150 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1890s:
Turned brass combination dials with knurled edges: standard French safe fittings of the era.
Continuous iron hinge with dome-head rivets: late Victorian mechanical assembly.
Printed paper label inside the lid: typical French retailer typography of the period.
Red lead-type internal paint: expected finish on late 19th-century security boxes.
Worn japanned black finish over iron: natural age across decades of handling.

This Independent Date Guide was compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. It works only from the photographs shown on this page and is never told the date the dealer has declared. It is a guide, not a guarantee of age, and occasional errors can occur.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1193072
Dealers Internal Reference
8360
Dealers Notes

We are more than happy to ship items abroad and ask you to contact us prior to purchasing to obtain a quote which will include professional packaging of your item, we will endeavour to ship your item as economically as possible, within the UK items will be posted using the Royal Mail and carry a tracking number.

Description
Here we have a rare French triple dial combination painted iron cash/safe box, the box has the original maufacturers label on the inside for 'Coffres-Forts', Chevet Rouen, Place Verdzel. The box is opened by turning the three dials a precise number of turns each which then allows the top left dial to slide sideways and open the lid, the exact opening instructions are supplied with the box on purchase.

c1900

Size: 200 x 150 x 110mm

Weight: 2.7kg

Date of Manufacture

Terrier Antiques at Hebden Bridge has dated this Antique Iron Cash Box to the 1890s.

Independent Date Report ID 09351504
Dealer's Item Date1890s
Sellingantiques dating1890s
Sellingantiques agingItem 115-150 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 1890s:
Turned brass combination dials with knurled edges: standard French safe fittings of the era.
Continuous iron hinge with dome-head rivets: late Victorian mechanical assembly.
Printed paper label inside the lid: typical French retailer typography of the period.
Red lead-type internal paint: expected finish on late 19th-century security boxes.
Worn japanned black finish over iron: natural age across decades of handling.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1193072
Dealers Internal Ref
8360
Terrier Antiques at Hebden Bridge
Terrier Antiques at Hebden Bridge
Sellingantiques verified Since Nov 2021
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Terrier Antiques at Hebden Bridge Profile Page

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A rectangular black iron safe box featuring a top metal handle and three brass combination dials on the front.
1 / 6
Archive I A rectangular black iron safe box featuring a top metal handle and three brass combination dials on the front.

Rare French Iron Three Dial Combination Safe/cash Box Coffres-forts

Archive II A rectangular black iron safe box featuring a top metal handle and three brass combination dials on the front. View II
Archive III A rectangular black iron safe box featuring a top metal handle and three brass combination dials on the front. View III
Archive IV A rectangular black iron safe box featuring a top metal handle and three brass combination dials on the front. View IV
Archive V A rectangular black iron safe box featuring a top metal handle and three brass combination dials on the front. View V
Archive VI A rectangular black iron safe box featuring a top metal handle and three brass combination dials on the front. View VI
Enlarged Archival View
Terrier Antiques at Hebden Bridge

Terrier Antiques at Hebden Bridge
Telephone 01422 843189 or 07917 652471
Location
26 Market Street
Hebden Bridge
West Yorkshire
HX7 6AA
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/terrierantiques
Verified Since Nov 2021
Items For Sale 102
Items Sold 665
Terrier Antiques at Hebden Bridge
Terrier Antiques at Hebden Bridge
Verified Since Nov 2021
View Dealer Info
Location: 26 Market Street, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 6AA, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/terrierantiques
Verified
Nov 2021
For Sale
102
Sold
665
A rectangular black iron safe box featuring a top metal handle and three brass combination dials on the front.
Rare French Iron Three Dial Combination Safe/Cash Box Coffres-Forts
Ref: SA1193072
A rectangular black iron safe box featuring a top metal handle and three brass combination dials on the front.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectCash Boxes
  • Period19th century
  • Style19th Century French
  • MaterialIron, Brass
  • ColourBlack
  • MotifsBrass combination dials, Drop handle, Painted iron casing, Mechanical locks

This nineteenth-century French cash box combines a painted black iron casing with bright brass hardware, including three circular combination dials on the front panel and a decorative drop handle mounted on the flat top lid. Visible signs of age include surface wear and scuffs across the dark painted finish of the metal body. The mechanical lock mechanism operates by turning the three brass dials a precise number of turns to release the lid. Practical in scale, the box measures 20 x 15 x 11 cm. This portable security chest suits placement on an office desk or library table within a traditional interior, serving as a secure container for small valuables or documents while bringing period character to a workspace.

FAQs

A French iron combination cash box, historically known as a coffre-fort, is a secure portable container crafted during the nineteenth century. These boxes were engineered with internal locking mechanisms operated by external rotary dials or keys to safeguard currency, deeds, and personal valuables.

These security boxes were typically constructed from heavy wrought or cast iron to prevent forced entry, often finished with dark protective paint. Functional external components, such as combination dials, escutcheons, and handles, were commonly made from cast brass or steel.

Authentic period examples demonstrate substantial physical weight, hand-assembled mechanical components, and natural wear or oxidisation around high-contact areas like dials and handles. Original maker stamps, French patent marks, or characteristic lettered dials also help confirm origin.

An antique iron cash box serves as a compelling tactile accent when placed on an executive office desk, a dark timber sideboard, or open library shelving. Its dark metal finish contrasts effectively against lighter wooden surfaces, stone, or glass.

Maintain iron surfaces by dusting with a dry microfibre cloth and applying a light coat of clear microcrystalline wax to guard against humidity and rust. Mechanical dials should be kept free of debris, with occasional light application of machine oil to the interior mechanism if accessible.
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