Good Welsh oak coffer of desirably small size, with boarded sides and triple-panelled front within a channel-moulded frame, the panels carved with lozenges with foliate centres. The whole piece is made from the same heavy oak timber and the inside and reverse are unfinished and nice and dry. The legs are unusually tall - I''ve always considered that this was probably the norm, but they have nearly always been reduced because of rot and wear.Circa 1640. Untouched original finish with a wonderful colour and surface.(The hinges were originally formed of two interlocking pieces of wire - this was usual on seventeenth century Welsh coffers (and occasionally cupboard doors) and has virtually never survived the daily use of these pieces. The present hinges are wrought iron, probably eighteenth or early nineteenth century. The lock is missing and the brass escutcheon is later. There is a nice wrought iron strap on the right hand side and a couple of later straps on the inside....