A Fine 17th Century William and Mary Kingwood Strongbox or Coffre Fort, Circa 1690
£10,900
Follow Us
A Fine 17th Century William and Mary Kingwood Strongbox or Coffre Fort, Circa 1690
A William and Mary Kingwood/Princes oyster strongbox or Coffre Fort, circa 1680-1700, England. Adorned with highly decorative gilt brass strapwork and decorated in knife-cut oysters of kingwood, this box is fit for the most discerning of collectors.
The large gilt brass shield-shaped clasp opens on a push-spring release to reveal a box interior lined in rosewood with two drawers below and two secret compartments hidden within the frieze.
Once the fall is open you will find two drawers lined in Kingwood. Two secret compartments and boxes are discreetly hidden above each drawer.
The box appears decorative, but it was also very difficult to break open or steal. It has a strong lock to the centre and two bolts concealed in the sides so that it could be screwed down into floorboards if necessary or that of a horse-drawn carriage. Strong boxes veneered in oysters of Princewood such as this were luxury objects.
The cabinet-makers who would have constructed and veneered the carcase apparently sold them, often using tropical hardwood veneers, and mounted it with sets of mounts, handles and locks bought in from brass founders. The elaborate veneering and conspicuous gilded brass mounts show that the appearance of these objects was important.
Thomas Pistor, of Ludgate Hill, London worked with the renowned cabinetmaker Gerrit Jensen. Gerrit Jensen supplied a walnut-veneered ‘strongbox’ to Colonel James Grahame in 1668, Levens Hall. It is recorded that Thomas Pistor’s remaining stock was sold off post his death in 1711, included ‘three fine Princes wood strongboxes’.
The present example relates almost exactly to a strongbox held in the Victoria & Albert Museum. Accession Number: W.10-1951.
Condition
Wear consistent with age and use. A superb and original example of very good colour and patination.
Dimensions
Height: 8.47 in (21.5 cm)
Width: 14.18 in (36 cm)
Depth: 9.26 in (23.5 cm)
PREVIOUSLY SOLD
Rare 17th Century Charles II Miniature Silver Trumpet form Candlesticks, C 1660
Rare 17th Century Charles II Miniature Silver Trumpet form Candlesticks, C 1660 SoldFollow UsRare 17th Century Charles II Miniature Silver Trumpet form Candlesticks, C 1660 An extremely rare pair of 17th-century cast miniature trumpet form...
A Pair of 18th Century George II Silver Candlesticks by John Cafe, London 1751
A Pair of 18th Century George II Silver Candlesticks by John Cafe, London 1751 SoldFollow UsA Pair of 18th Century George II Silver Candlesticks by John Cafe, London 1751 A fine pair of 18th Century George II cast silver candlesticks with...
A fine and rare 17th-century William and Mary olive oyster marquetry lace box, circa 1670-1690.
Important 17th Century Charles II Marquetry Olive Oyster Lace Box, Circa 1680 SoldFollow UsImportant 17th Century Charles II Marquetry Olive Oyster Lace Box, Circa 1680 A fine and rare 17th century William and Mary olive oyster marquetry lace...
Important 17th Century Charles II Burr Walnut Coffre Fort Strong Box, Circa 1675
Important 17th Century Charles II Burr Walnut Coffre Fort Strong Box, Circa 1675 Sold Follow UsImportant 17th Century Charles II Burr Walnut Coffre Fort Strong Box, Circa 1675 A rare and important 17th-century Charles II burr walnut coffre...
18th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Arabesque Marquetry Lace Box, C.1690
17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Arabesque Marquetry Lace Box, C.1690 SoldFollow Us17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Arabesque Marquetry Lace Box, C.1690 An extremely rare late 17th-century arabesque marquetry and olive...
18th Century George III 12″ Bronze Sundial by Watkins & Smith London Circa 1760
18th Century George III 12" Bronze Sundial by Watkins & Smith London Circa 1760 SoldFollow Us18th Century George III 12" Bronze Sundial by Watkins & Smith London Circa 1760 A beautifully patinated 12" George III bronze sundial by...
Rare 17th Century Charles II Miniature Silver Trumpet form Candlesticks, C 1660
Rare 17th Century Charles II Miniature Silver Trumpet form Candlesticks, C 1660 SoldFollow UsRare 17th Century Charles II Miniature Silver Trumpet form Candlesticks, C 1660 An extremely rare pair of 17th-century cast miniature trumpet form...
A Pair of 18th Century George II Silver Candlesticks by John Cafe, London 1751
A Pair of 18th Century George II Silver Candlesticks by John Cafe, London 1751 SoldFollow UsA Pair of 18th Century George II Silver Candlesticks by John Cafe, London 1751 A fine pair of 18th Century George II cast silver candlesticks with...
A fine and rare 17th-century William and Mary olive oyster marquetry lace box, circa 1670-1690.
Important 17th Century Charles II Marquetry Olive Oyster Lace Box, Circa 1680 SoldFollow UsImportant 17th Century Charles II Marquetry Olive Oyster Lace Box, Circa 1680 A fine and rare 17th century William and Mary olive oyster marquetry lace...
Important 17th Century Charles II Burr Walnut Coffre Fort Strong Box, Circa 1675
Important 17th Century Charles II Burr Walnut Coffre Fort Strong Box, Circa 1675 Sold Follow UsImportant 17th Century Charles II Burr Walnut Coffre Fort Strong Box, Circa 1675 A rare and important 17th-century Charles II burr walnut coffre...
18th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Arabesque Marquetry Lace Box, C.1690
17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Arabesque Marquetry Lace Box, C.1690 SoldFollow Us17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Arabesque Marquetry Lace Box, C.1690 An extremely rare late 17th-century arabesque marquetry and olive...
18th Century George III 12″ Bronze Sundial by Watkins & Smith London Circa 1760
18th Century George III 12" Bronze Sundial by Watkins & Smith London Circa 1760 SoldFollow Us18th Century George III 12" Bronze Sundial by Watkins & Smith London Circa 1760 A beautifully patinated 12" George III bronze sundial by...
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
A Fine 18th Century George II Mahogany Tripod Table, Circa 1760
A Fine 18th Century George II Mahogany Tripod Table, Circa 1760 £5,800Follow UsA Fine 18th Century...
17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Chest of drawers, Circa 1690. England
17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Chest of drawers £17,900Follow Us17th Century William...
Rare 18th Century George III Lacquer Tea Caddy with Original Lacquer Canisters
Rare 18th Century George III Lacquer Tea Caddy with Original Lacquer Canisters £4,250Follow UsRare...
Important 18th Century Goncalo Alves Serpentine Chest Signed J N Teague 1779
Important 18th Century Goncalo Alves Serpentine Chest Signed J N Teague 1779 £15,900Follow...
18th Century Queen Anne Burr Walnut Double Dome Bureau Bookcase
18th Century Queen Anne Burr Walnut Double Dome Bureau Bookcase £28,000Follow Us18th Century Queen...
18th Century George III Burr Yew Tea Caddy with Star Inlay and Brass Accents
18th Century George III Burr Yew Tea Caddy with Star Inlay and Brass Accents £2,200Follow Us18th...
A Fine 18th Century George II Mahogany Tripod Table, Circa 1760
A Fine 18th Century George II Mahogany Tripod Table, Circa 1760 £5,800Follow UsA Fine 18th Century...
17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Chest of drawers, Circa 1690. England
17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Chest of drawers £17,900Follow Us17th Century William...
Rare 18th Century George III Lacquer Tea Caddy with Original Lacquer Canisters
Rare 18th Century George III Lacquer Tea Caddy with Original Lacquer Canisters £4,250Follow UsRare...
Important 18th Century Goncalo Alves Serpentine Chest Signed J N Teague 1779
Important 18th Century Goncalo Alves Serpentine Chest Signed J N Teague 1779 £15,900Follow...
18th Century Queen Anne Burr Walnut Double Dome Bureau Bookcase
18th Century Queen Anne Burr Walnut Double Dome Bureau Bookcase £28,000Follow Us18th Century Queen...
18th Century George III Burr Yew Tea Caddy with Star Inlay and Brass Accents
18th Century George III Burr Yew Tea Caddy with Star Inlay and Brass Accents £2,200Follow Us18th...