What is the difference between a coffer and a chest?

A coffer strictly refers to a lidded box traditionally used for keeping valuables secure, whereas a chest generally denotes a broader category of storage furniture. In practical terms of the period, the words were often used interchangeably by makers and owners alike. Over time, collectors have tended to apply the term coffer to panelled or heavily framed receptacles, while reserving chest for boarded constructions or later drawer-based formats.

How were early chests used in the home?

These pieces functioned primarily as secure storage for household textiles, silver, legal documents, and perishable foodstuffs. Because wardrobes were uncommon, families kept their belongings packed inside these heavy timber boxes. They also served secondary roles as benches, tables, or travelling luggage when reinforced with iron straps and carrying handles on the ends.

How can I tell a Jacobean chest from a later piece?

Jacobean pieces display characteristic joinery methods, such as pegged mortise and tenon frames, alongside specific decorative motifs like guilloche carving, lunettes, and geometric mouldings. The timber weight and tool marks left by early saws provide further physical evidence of age. Later copies or adaptations often betray themselves through machine-cut joints, incorrect secondary woods, or uniform surfaces lacking the natural wear accumulated over centuries.

Where were these pieces manufactured?

The listings encompass regional English and Welsh workshops, alongside continental centres in Italy and Flanders. Local timber availability heavily dictated production, with English makers relying on native oak while Italian craftsmen utilised cypress and walnut. Regional styles often reveal themselves through specific carving patterns, construction quirks, and the choice of secondary woods used inside the compartments.

Home > Early 17th Century Chest > Page 2

Early 17th Century Chest

47 items · page 2 of 3

← Page 2 of 3 →

When you examine an early 17th century chest, you handle heavy timber built to hold valuables, documents, or household linen centuries ago.

17th century

Save

17th Century Charles II Oak Geometric Chest of Drawers, C1680

From Anthony Short Antiques

£2,900

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

Exceptionally Fine Oak Mule Chest from the Jacobean Period.

17th century

Save

Exceptionally Fine Oak Mule Chest from the Jacobean Period.

From Stalham Antique Gallery

£1,150

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

17th century

Save

Small 17th Century Oak Coffer

From Cross Antiques

£445

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

17th century

Save

Antique 17th Century Panelled Oak Coffer/chest

From London City Antiques

£1,585

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

17th century

Save

A Large 17th Century Welsh Coffer.

From Youngs Antiques

£795

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

19th century

Save

17th Century Oak Six Plank Coffer

From Walton House Antiques

£675

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

17th century

Save

17th Walnut Century Chest of Drawers

From Holmes Antiques

£3,500

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

Early 17thc West Country Oak Coffer C1610

17th century

Save

Early 17thc West Country Oak Coffer C1610

From Mike Melody Antiques

£695

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

Small Early English Oak Chest of Drawers C1680

17th century

Save

Small Early English Oak Chest of Drawers C1680

From Shaun King Antiques

£2,450

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

17th century

Save

17th Century Arcaded Oak Coffer

From Holmes Antiques

£850

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

Several boxes retain their original complex steel locks, designed to foil sixteenth-century household intruders who fancied making off with the family silverware.

Flemish Walnut Collectors Cabinet on Stand

18th century

Save

Flemish Walnut Collectors Cabinet on Stand

From I M Chaney Antique Furniture

£850

3+ MONTHS AGO

cabinets

18th century

Save

A Small Early Oak Coffer

From The Ark Stores

£480

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

17th century

Save

Early 17th Century Oak Coffer

From Dickinsons Antiques

£925

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

17th century

Save

17th Century Oak Coffer.

From Dickinsons Antiques

£750

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

17th century

Save

Early 17th Century Oak Coffer

From Holmes Antiques

£1,200

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

18th century

Save

Early 18th Century Oak Moulded Front Chest of Drawers from the Stuart Period

From Martlesham Antiques

£2,550

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

← 1 2 3 →

Early 17th Century Chest

17th Century Charles II Oak Geometric Chest of Drawers, C1680

Exceptionally Fine Oak Mule Chest from the Jacobean Period.

Small 17th Century Oak Coffer

Antique 17th Century Panelled Oak Coffer/chest

A Large 17th Century Welsh Coffer.

17th Century Oak Six Plank Coffer

17th Walnut Century Chest of Drawers

Early 17thc West Country Oak Coffer C1610

Small Early English Oak Chest of Drawers C1680

17th Century Arcaded Oak Coffer

Flemish Walnut Collectors Cabinet on Stand

A Small Early Oak Coffer

Early 17th Century Oak Coffer

17th Century Oak Coffer.

Early 17th Century Oak Coffer

Early 18th Century Oak Moulded Front Chest of Drawers from the Stuart Period

Add keywords to the filter

Price

Era

Movements

Material

Origin

Stock Location

Freshness

Online Payments

Categories