WelshAntiques has dated this piece to the 17th Century.
Untouched original condition with a wonderful colour and surface.
Montgomeryshire, circa 1640
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 early nineteenth century. The lock is also later, there is no key. The drawer brass handle appears to be original, it is certainly early and there is no evidence of any other.
The chest is fully panelled, on the sides and reverse. The whole piece is made from the same heavy oak timber and the inside and rear is unfinished and nice and dry. The drawer has all of its original oak linings.
I have had a number of chests of this type, size and layout, all from mid-Wales, but i have never seen one with a drawer. If you look at the sideways pic, you can see that the drawer part is not paneled and without the drawer it would have the tall legs usually found on this type. It was as if the client asked for a drawer - but the carpenter wanted to keep to his template. See "Welsh Furniture 1250 - 1950: A Cultural History of Craftsmanship and Design", Vol 1, plate 512.
Width: 41¾ ins; 106 cms
Height: 25.5 ins; 65 cms
Depth: 19¾ ins,; 50 cms
WelshAntiques has dated this piece to the 17th Century.
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Welsh Oak Chest or Coffer of Small Proportions, C.1640
