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

17th Century Late Stuart Period Diminutive Olive Oyster Lace box
17th Century Late Stuart Period Diminutive Olive Oyster Lace box SoldFollow Us17th Century Late Stuart Period Diminutive Olive Oyster Lace box A fine and rare Charles II / William and Mary 17th-century olive oyster lace box of small...

17th C. Diminutive William and Mary Kingwood Strongbox or Coffre Fort, C. 1690.
17th C. Diminutive William and Mary Kingwood Strongbox or Coffre Fort, C. 1690. SoldFollow Us17th C. Diminutive William and Mary Kingwood Strongbox or Coffre Fort, C. 1690. A William and Mary Kingwood/Princes oyster strongbox or Coffre Fort,...

Miniature William and Mary 17th Century Diminutive Olive Oyster Chest, C.1690
Miniature William and Mary 17th Century Diminutive Olive Oyster Chest, C.1690 SoldFollow UsMiniature William and Mary 17th Century Diminutive Olive Oyster Chest, C.1690 A Fine Miniature William and Mary 17th Century Diminutive Olive Oyster...

17th Century William & Mary Walnut Strongbox or Coffre Fort, Circa 1680-1700
17th Century William & Mary Walnut Strongbox or Coffre Fort, Circa 1680-1700 Sold Follow Us17th Century William & Mary Walnut Strongbox or Coffre Fort, Circa 1680-1700 17th century William and Mary Period walnut strongbox or coffre...

17th Century Museum Grade William and Mary Olive Oyster Marquetry Lace Box
17th Century Museum Grade William and Mary Olive Oyster Marquetry Lace Box Sold Follow Us17th Century Museum Grade William and Mary Olive Oyster Marquetry Lace Box 17th century Museum Grade William and Mary Olive Oyster Marquetry Lace box, C....

18th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Chinoiserie Table Cabinet
18th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Chinoiserie Table Cabinet SoldFollow Us18th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Chinoiserie Table Cabinet Depicting figurative scenes to all planes and opening on engraved strap hinges to a fitted interior of...

17th Century Late Stuart Period Diminutive Olive Oyster Lace box
17th Century Late Stuart Period Diminutive Olive Oyster Lace box SoldFollow Us17th Century Late Stuart Period Diminutive Olive Oyster Lace box A fine and rare Charles II / William and Mary 17th-century olive oyster lace box of small...

17th C. Diminutive William and Mary Kingwood Strongbox or Coffre Fort, C. 1690.
17th C. Diminutive William and Mary Kingwood Strongbox or Coffre Fort, C. 1690. SoldFollow Us17th C. Diminutive William and Mary Kingwood Strongbox or Coffre Fort, C. 1690. A William and Mary Kingwood/Princes oyster strongbox or Coffre Fort,...

Miniature William and Mary 17th Century Diminutive Olive Oyster Chest, C.1690
Miniature William and Mary 17th Century Diminutive Olive Oyster Chest, C.1690 SoldFollow UsMiniature William and Mary 17th Century Diminutive Olive Oyster Chest, C.1690 A Fine Miniature William and Mary 17th Century Diminutive Olive Oyster...

17th Century William & Mary Walnut Strongbox or Coffre Fort, Circa 1680-1700
17th Century William & Mary Walnut Strongbox or Coffre Fort, Circa 1680-1700 Sold Follow Us17th Century William & Mary Walnut Strongbox or Coffre Fort, Circa 1680-1700 17th century William and Mary Period walnut strongbox or coffre...

17th Century Museum Grade William and Mary Olive Oyster Marquetry Lace Box
17th Century Museum Grade William and Mary Olive Oyster Marquetry Lace Box Sold Follow Us17th Century Museum Grade William and Mary Olive Oyster Marquetry Lace Box 17th century Museum Grade William and Mary Olive Oyster Marquetry Lace box, C....

18th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Chinoiserie Table Cabinet
18th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Chinoiserie Table Cabinet SoldFollow Us18th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Chinoiserie Table Cabinet Depicting figurative scenes to all planes and opening on engraved strap hinges to a fitted interior of...
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Rare Burr Walnut George II 18th Century Kneehole Desk, circa 1730-1740. England
Rare Burr Walnut George II 18th Century Kneehole Desk, circa 1730-1740. England £28,900Follow UsRare Burr Walnut George II 18th Century Kneehole Desk, circa 1730-1740. England Rare Burr Walnut George II 18th Century Kneehole Desk / Bachelor's...

A Fine George III Chippendale Mahogany Dumb Waiter, Circa 1760 England
A Fine George III Chippendale Mahogany Dumb Waiter, Circa 1760 England. £5,600Follow UsA Fine...

A Rare Chinese Chippendale George III cabinet on stand, circa 1760 England
A Rare Chinese Chippendale George III cabinet on stand, circa 1760. England £38,000Follow UsA Rare...

George III mahogany spider-leg table attributed to Thomas Chippendale 1768
A George III mahogany spider-leg table attributed to Thomas Chippendale 1768 £12,000Follow UsA...

Museum Grade George I Cocus Wood Card Table, Circa 1725, England
Museum Grade George I Cocus Wood Card Table, Circa 1725. England £32,000Follow UsMuseum Grade...

A Rare and Important Charles II 17th Century Table Clock by Henry Jones
A Rare and Important Charles II 17th Century Table Clock by Henry Jones £85,000Follow UsA Rare and...

Rare Burr Walnut George II 18th Century Kneehole Desk, circa 1730-1740. England
Rare Burr Walnut George II 18th Century Kneehole Desk, circa 1730-1740. England £28,900Follow UsRare Burr Walnut George II 18th Century Kneehole Desk, circa 1730-1740. England Rare Burr Walnut George II 18th Century Kneehole Desk / Bachelor's...

A Fine George III Chippendale Mahogany Dumb Waiter, Circa 1760 England
A Fine George III Chippendale Mahogany Dumb Waiter, Circa 1760 England. £5,600Follow UsA Fine...

A Rare Chinese Chippendale George III cabinet on stand, circa 1760 England
A Rare Chinese Chippendale George III cabinet on stand, circa 1760. England £38,000Follow UsA Rare...

George III mahogany spider-leg table attributed to Thomas Chippendale 1768
A George III mahogany spider-leg table attributed to Thomas Chippendale 1768 £12,000Follow UsA...

Museum Grade George I Cocus Wood Card Table, Circa 1725, England
Museum Grade George I Cocus Wood Card Table, Circa 1725. England £32,000Follow UsMuseum Grade...

A Rare and Important Charles II 17th Century Table Clock by Henry Jones
A Rare and Important Charles II 17th Century Table Clock by Henry Jones £85,000Follow UsA Rare and...