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sellingantiques.co.uk
ID #SA701004
FOR SALE
£2,100
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Early Welsh Oak Coffor Bach (Small Chest), Circa 1690
WelshAntiques
for sale €2,457     $2,667
£2,100
WelshAntiques

WelshAntiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since May 2011
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    Leading specialist in welsh furniture and folk art for 56 years
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Early Welsh Oak Coffor Bach (Small Chest), Circa 1690

17th century
For Sale by WelshAntiques
Description

Welsh miniature chest of the particular style and proportions which is universally known by its Welsh-language term of coffor bach.

The detachable lid has a moulded edge and is fitted to the plain dovetailed box beneath by long wooden hinges; beneath a narrow moulding is a single drawer with circular brass handles above a deep base moulding which is raised on turned ball feet.

Wonderful original colour and surface patination.

(The iron lock plate is false, that is, there is no lock. On the drawer, the brass handles are possibly replacements, but of the correct type; there is evidence of a central wooden knob at some point. The rear feet are replacements.)

Carmarthenshire, west Wales, circa 1690.

The coffor bach was traditionally associated with marriage and went with the bride to her new home.

I think that this is probably the earliest example that I've ever come across - any earlier and it would simply be described as a box with a drawer and would not be of these proportions or have the same constructional details.

Height: 19.5 inches; 49 cms

Width: 24.5 inches; 63 cms

Depth: 14 inches; 36 cms.

Physical Dimensions
Height
49cm (19.29")
Width
63cm (24.80")
Depth
36cm (14.17")
Declaration

WelshAntiques has dated this Welsh Oak Coffer Bach to the 17th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA701004
Dealers Notes

Items purchased can be stored and collected by mutual agreement, although we are always happy to help with delivery arrangements (just email us at with your postcode or country & zip code to obtain a competitive quote).

Please click on the 'About Us' button on the top left hand side of the screen for more information, including Terms and Conditions of sale.

Description
Welsh miniature chest of the particular style and proportions which is universally known by its Welsh-language term of coffor bach.

The detachable lid has a moulded edge and is fitted to the plain dovetailed box beneath by long wooden hinges; beneath a narrow moulding is a single drawer with circular brass handles above a deep base moulding which is raised on turned ball feet.

fig 1. A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet.
fig 1. Early Welsh Oak Coffor Bach (Small Chest), Circa 1690

Wonderful original colour and surface patination.

(The iron lock plate is false, that is, there is no lock.

“
On the drawer, the brass handles are possibly replacements, but of the correct type; there is evidence of a central wooden knob at some point.
WelshAntiques

The rear feet are replacements.)

fig 2. A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet.
fig 2. Early Welsh Oak Coffor Bach (Small Chest), Circa 1690

Carmarthenshire, west Wales, circa 1690.

The coffor bach was traditionally associated with marriage and went with the bride to her new home.

I think that this is probably the earliest example that I've ever come across - any earlier and it would simply be described as a box with a drawer and would not be of these proportions or have the same constructional details.

Height: 19.5 inches; 49 cms

Width: 24.5 inches; 63 cms

Depth: 14 inches; 36 cms.

Height
49cm (19.29")
Width
63cm (24.80")
Depth
36cm (14.17")
Date of Manufacture

WelshAntiques has dated this Welsh Oak Coffer Bach to the 17th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA701004
WelshAntiques
WelshAntiques
Sellingantiques verified Since May 2011

Leading specialist in welsh furniture and folk art for 56 years

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the WelshAntiques Profile Page

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A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet.
1 / 12
Archive I A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet.

Early Welsh Oak Coffor Bach (Small Chest), circa 1690

Archive II A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet. View II
Archive III A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet. View III
Archive IV Scale Reference for A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet.
Archive V A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet. View V
Archive VI A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet. View VI
Archive VII A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet. View VII
Archive VIII A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet. View VIII
Archive IX A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet. View IX
Archive X A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet. View X
Archive XI A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet. View XI
Archive XII A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet. View XII
Enlarged Archival View
WelshAntiques

WelshAntiques
Telephone 01554 890 534
Location
WelshAntiques
Castle Mill
Kidwelly
Carmarthenshire
SA17 5AJ
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/welsh
Verified Since May 2011
Items For Sale 143
Items Sold 114
WelshAntiques
WelshAntiques
Verified Since May 2011
View Dealer Info
Location: WelshAntiques, Castle Mill, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, SA17 5AJ, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/welsh
Verified
May 2011
For Sale
143
Sold
114
A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet.
Early Welsh Oak Coffor Bach (Small Chest), circa 1690
Ref: SA701004
A small 17th-century Welsh dark oak coffer bach featuring a hinged top, single lower drawer with brass ring handles, and turned bun feet.
Detail View 1
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Scale Reference
Archival Detail

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FAQs

A coffer bach is a small traditional Welsh storage chest, historically produced in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, featuring a hinged top lid and a single lower drawer.

Early coffers were crafted from native hardwoods such as Welsh or English oak, using hand-cut dovetail joints, wooden pegs, forged iron lock plates, and brass drop handles.

Authentic period oak furniture exhibits hand-planed surfaces, irregular hand-cut joinery, pegged construction, authentic wear around handles, and natural wood shrinkage over time.

A coffer bach functions well as an accent side table or hallway storage piece, contrasting rich oak timber against neutral walls and modern textured fabrics.

Clean historical oak by dusting with a dry microfiber cloth and applying a clear beeswax polish annually to protect the patination from environmental drying.
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