17th Century Oak Welsh Borders Serpent Coffer

Name: 17th Century Oak Welsh Borders Serpent Coffer
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1245002
Price: 3250 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing

ObjectCoffers & Chests
Period17th century
Style17th Century
MaterialOak
ColourDark Brown
MotifsSerpent carving, Panelled lid, Guilloche pattern, Mortise and tenon joinery
SizeH 72 cm (28 in) x W 130 cm (51 in) x D 56.5 cm (22 in)

This seventeenth-century oak Welsh borders serpent coffer stands 72 cm high, 130 cm wide and 56.5 cm deep. The dark brown timber chest has a moulded triple-panel top resting on a frame carved with strapwork and a keyhole. Below lies a pair of rectangular panels depicting scrolled serpents with teeth and pointed tongues set against a black-stained ground. The vertical stiles display a notched gouge pattern, while the base drawer shows a running guilloche motif with central propeller designs. In a contemporary home, this coffer suits a hallway, living room or bedroom for storing linens or blankets while serving as a traditional storage chest. The sturdy rectangular structure rests on straight upright feet formed from the extended corner posts of the mortise and tenon frame. Additional black staining highlights the carved details throughout the front facade, providing visual depth and contrast against the warm medium-brown grain of the polished oak.

FAQs

A 17th-century Welsh Borders coffer is a joined oak storage chest crafted in the border region between England and Wales. These chests typically feature panelled construction and regional carving styles, including geometric patterns, serpents, and stylized floral motifs.

Early coffers were constructed from native English oak using mortise-and-tenon joinery secured with wooden pegs (treenails). The panels were hand-planed, and decorative patterns were carved directly into the surface before assembly.

Authentic period coffers exhibit hand-hewn surfaces, irregularities in timber thickness, original wooden peg construction, and natural dark oxidisation within the timber grain. Wear around the base and interior lid hinges is consistent with age.

A period oak chest functions well in contemporary settings as a hallway anchor, a low sideboard alternative, or storage at the foot of a bed. Pairing heavy timber pieces with clean modern lines or neutral upholstery provides visual balance.

Maintain oak furniture by dusting with a soft dry cloth and applying beeswax polish once or twice a year to nourish the wood. Keep the piece away from direct heat sources and high humidity to prevent timber movement or splitting.

Wakelin and Linfield

17th Century Oak Welsh Borders Serpent Coffer