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
A Rare Figured Walnut Queen Anne – George I Lace Box, circa 1700-1720.
A Rare Figured Walnut Queen Anne - George I Lace Box, circa 1700-1720. SoldFollow UsA Rare Figured Walnut Queen Anne - George I Lace Box, circa 1700-1720. A rare figured walnut Queen Anne - George I period lace box, circa 1700-1720. The...
Fine American Two Day Marine Chronometer, Signed T. S & J. D Negus New York
Fine American Two Day Marine Chronometer, Signed T. S & J. D Negus New York SoldFollow UsFine American Two Day Marine Chronometer, Signed T. S & J. D Negus New York A Classic beautifully produced mid-19th century American chronometer...
17th Century Charles II Carved Oak Writing Box or Desk Box circa 1660 England
17th Century Charles II Carved Oak Writing Box or Desk Box SoldFollow Us17th Century Charles II Carved Oak Writing Box or Desk Box A rare 17th-century Charles II carved oak writing or desk box, circa 1660. England. The box opens on the...
Pair of George IV Regency Specimen Wood Parquetry Boxes of Sarcophagus Shape
Pair of George IV Regency Specimen Wood Parquetry Boxes of Sarcophagus Shape SoldFollow UsPair of George IV Regency Specimen Wood Parquetry Boxes of Sarcophagus Shape An extremely rare and fine pair of George IV Regency exotic timber boxes of...
17th Century North Italian Needlework Tapestry, circa 1680
17th Century North Italian Needlework Tapestry, circa 1680 SoldFollow Us17th Century North Italian Needlework Tapestry, circa 1680 Late 17th-century North Italian needlework panel, circa 1680, of a party of courtiers arriving at an Inn....
George IV Regency Exotic Wood Specimen Parquetry Games Box or Jewellery Box
George IV Regency Exotic Wood Specimen Parquetry Games or Jewellery Box SoldFollow UsGeorge IV Regency Exotic Wood Specimen Parquetry Games or Jewellery Box An extremely rare and fine example, decorated to all surfaces with exotic timbers....
A Rare Figured Walnut Queen Anne – George I Lace Box, circa 1700-1720.
A Rare Figured Walnut Queen Anne - George I Lace Box, circa 1700-1720. SoldFollow UsA Rare Figured Walnut Queen Anne - George I Lace Box, circa 1700-1720. A rare figured walnut Queen Anne - George I period lace box, circa 1700-1720. The...
Fine American Two Day Marine Chronometer, Signed T. S & J. D Negus New York
Fine American Two Day Marine Chronometer, Signed T. S & J. D Negus New York SoldFollow UsFine American Two Day Marine Chronometer, Signed T. S & J. D Negus New York A Classic beautifully produced mid-19th century American chronometer...
17th Century Charles II Carved Oak Writing Box or Desk Box circa 1660 England
17th Century Charles II Carved Oak Writing Box or Desk Box SoldFollow Us17th Century Charles II Carved Oak Writing Box or Desk Box A rare 17th-century Charles II carved oak writing or desk box, circa 1660. England. The box opens on the...
Pair of George IV Regency Specimen Wood Parquetry Boxes of Sarcophagus Shape
Pair of George IV Regency Specimen Wood Parquetry Boxes of Sarcophagus Shape SoldFollow UsPair of George IV Regency Specimen Wood Parquetry Boxes of Sarcophagus Shape An extremely rare and fine pair of George IV Regency exotic timber boxes of...
17th Century North Italian Needlework Tapestry, circa 1680
17th Century North Italian Needlework Tapestry, circa 1680 SoldFollow Us17th Century North Italian Needlework Tapestry, circa 1680 Late 17th-century North Italian needlework panel, circa 1680, of a party of courtiers arriving at an Inn....
George IV Regency Exotic Wood Specimen Parquetry Games Box or Jewellery Box
George IV Regency Exotic Wood Specimen Parquetry Games or Jewellery Box SoldFollow UsGeorge IV Regency Exotic Wood Specimen Parquetry Games or Jewellery Box An extremely rare and fine example, decorated to all surfaces with exotic timbers....
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Important Early Edo Period 17th Century Miniature Japanese Lacquer Cabinet
Important Early Edo Period 17th Century Miniature Japanese Lacquer Cabinet £36,000Follow...
Fine Scottish Two-Day Marine Chronometer Signed and Numbered D. McGregor
Fine Scottish Two-Day Marine Chronometer Signed and Numbered D. McGregor £6,500Follow UsFine...
18th Century George III Mahogany Tripod Table, Circa 1770
18th Century George III Mahogany Tripod Table, Circa 1770 £2,200Follow Us18th Century George III...
Fine William and Mary 17th Century Olive Oyster Lace Box
Fine William and Mary 17th Century Olive Oyster Lace Box £2,600Follow UsFine William and Mary 17th...
A Fine and Rare George III Octagonal Figured Satinwood Box, C.1790
A Fine and Rare George III Octagonal Figured Satinwood Box, C.1790 £2,200Follow UsA Fine and Rare...
A Rare and Vibrant Framed 18th Century George II Needlework Picture, Circa 1730
A Rare and Vibrant Framed 18th Century George II Needlework Picture, Circa 1730 £16,000Follow UsA Rare and Vibrant Framed 18th Century George II Needlework Picture, Circa 1730 A rare and vibrant early 18th century George II pictorial...
Important Early Edo Period 17th Century Miniature Japanese Lacquer Cabinet
Important Early Edo Period 17th Century Miniature Japanese Lacquer Cabinet £36,000Follow...
Fine Scottish Two-Day Marine Chronometer Signed and Numbered D. McGregor
Fine Scottish Two-Day Marine Chronometer Signed and Numbered D. McGregor £6,500Follow UsFine...
18th Century George III Mahogany Tripod Table, Circa 1770
18th Century George III Mahogany Tripod Table, Circa 1770 £2,200Follow Us18th Century George III...
Fine William and Mary 17th Century Olive Oyster Lace Box
Fine William and Mary 17th Century Olive Oyster Lace Box £2,600Follow UsFine William and Mary 17th...
A Fine and Rare George III Octagonal Figured Satinwood Box, C.1790
A Fine and Rare George III Octagonal Figured Satinwood Box, C.1790 £2,200Follow UsA Fine and Rare...
A Rare and Vibrant Framed 18th Century George II Needlework Picture, Circa 1730
A Rare and Vibrant Framed 18th Century George II Needlework Picture, Circa 1730 £16,000Follow UsA Rare and Vibrant Framed 18th Century George II Needlework Picture, Circa 1730 A rare and vibrant early 18th century George II pictorial...