Webberley Antiques has dated this Antique Welsh Oak Coffer to the 17th Century.
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.
With an exceptionally good natural colour and very rich natural patina.
The coffer has provenance by way of a signed letter from Violet V. David of Fairwater House, Cardiff, dated Easter Monday 1930, which states
“This coffer came from Mary Phillips of Brynteg Cottage, Ystrad Mynach in April 1930*.
Ben Phillips married one of the daughters and they were given this chest as a wedding present.”
Violet was the wife of Major Evan John Carne David who served as High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1930 and who had inherited Fairwater House.
The house was designed by David Vaughan and built in 1844 for Major David’s great grandfather Evan David – a significant landowner in Wales.
At some point after the second world war ended in 1945, the Major and Violet moved out and the house became a local hostel for elderly men, closing in the 1980s. It was later demolished to make way for a large housing development.
The reference to “Ben Phillips” appears to be the marriage between Benjamin Meyrick and Elizabeth Phillips in around 1840 and the coffer came to Mary Phillips in 1900. Mary may not have known that it was her ancestor Elizabeth who was the “Phillips” and not Benjamin.
The chest is in excellent condition with no new timbers other than a half width removable shelf to the interior which was added professionally many moons ago.
The planks of the lid have been hinged – no doubt because the weight of the lid and height of the coffer required above average height and strength to lift it! Now the lid is simple to lift and fold back and the coffer offers a huge amount of easy to use storage.
Colour and patina such as this takes centuries to develop and this chest dates from the late 17th Century and has clearly always been much loved, cared for and carries its long and fascinating history with it. The original letter from Violet David will be provided to the purchaser.
Very sturdy, robust and usable.
A fantastic Welsh oak coffer of exceptional colour and patination.
Dimensions are:
36 inches high, 53.5 inches wide and 24 inches deep.
Webberley Antiques has dated this Antique Welsh Oak Coffer to the 17th Century.
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.
Specialists in 18th century and earlier furniture for more than 45 years
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Webberley Antiques Profile Page
17th Century Welsh Oak Coffer with Superb Patina and Provenance C. 1680
