17th C. Diminutive William and Mary Kingwood Strongbox or Coffre Fort, C. 1690.
Sold
Request Information
Follow Us
17th C. Diminutive William and Mary Kingwood Strongbox or Coffre Fort, C. 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 entirely 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 and securing bolts.
Once the lid is opened you can reach inside to slide the original gilt brass bolt lock to open the fall. Once the fall is open you will find two drawers lined in walnut divided by a secret compartment.
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
Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Superb original condition. Fabulous colour.
Dimensions
Height: 8.27 in. (21 cm)
Width: 14.18 in. (36 cm)
Depth: 9.45 in. (24 cm)
PREVIOUSLY SOLD
Large George III 18th Century Mahogany Wine Cooler Cellarette or Jardinière
Large George III 18th Century Mahogany Wine Cooler Cellarette or Jardinière SoldFollow UsLarge George III 18th Century Mahogany Wine Cooler Cellarette or Jardinière A fine and large mid-18th century George III oval mahogany cellarette or wine...
Rare 19th Century Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Watkins & Hill London
Rare 19th Century Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Watkins & Hill London £2,600 Follow UsRare 19th Century Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Watkins & Hill London A beautifully weathered circular bronze sundial by Watkins & Hill, first...
Early 19th Century Grand Tour Framed Pulvinated Micro Mosaic of the Colosseum
Early 19th Century Grand Tour Framed Pulvinated Micro Mosaic of the Colosseum SoldFollow UsEarly 19th Century Grand Tour Framed Pulvinated Micro Mosaic of the Colosseum A fine and rare early 19th century framed grand tour pulvinated micro...
Early 19th Century English Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Cary of London
Early 19th Century English Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Cary of London £2,450 Follow UsEarly 19th Century English Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Cary of London An early 19th-century horizontal sundial by Cary London. This 12” diameter bronze...
A Fine William and Mary 17th-Century Olive Oyster Lace Box
A Fine William and Mary 17th-Century Olive Oyster Lace Box Sold Follow UsA Fine William and Mary 17th-Century Olive Oyster Lace Box A Fine Late 17th Century Olive Oyster 'Lace Box' of Small Proportions. Circa 1680-1690 England. The...
Fine Brass Pocket Sundial and Compass by Michael Butterfield Paris, circa 1700
Fine Brass Pocket Sundial and Compass by Michael Butterfield Paris Sold Follow UsFine Brass Pocket Sundial and Compass by Michael Butterfield Paris A fine brass Anglo-French octagonal pocket sundial with compass by Michael Butterfield, circa...
Large George III 18th Century Mahogany Wine Cooler Cellarette or Jardinière
Large George III 18th Century Mahogany Wine Cooler Cellarette or Jardinière SoldFollow UsLarge George III 18th Century Mahogany Wine Cooler Cellarette or Jardinière A fine and large mid-18th century George III oval mahogany cellarette or wine...
Rare 19th Century Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Watkins & Hill London
Rare 19th Century Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Watkins & Hill London £2,600 Follow UsRare 19th Century Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Watkins & Hill London A beautifully weathered circular bronze sundial by Watkins & Hill, first...
Early 19th Century Grand Tour Framed Pulvinated Micro Mosaic of the Colosseum
Early 19th Century Grand Tour Framed Pulvinated Micro Mosaic of the Colosseum SoldFollow UsEarly 19th Century Grand Tour Framed Pulvinated Micro Mosaic of the Colosseum A fine and rare early 19th century framed grand tour pulvinated micro...
Early 19th Century English Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Cary of London
Early 19th Century English Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Cary of London £2,450 Follow UsEarly 19th Century English Bronze Horizontal Sundial by Cary of London An early 19th-century horizontal sundial by Cary London. This 12” diameter bronze...
A Fine William and Mary 17th-Century Olive Oyster Lace Box
A Fine William and Mary 17th-Century Olive Oyster Lace Box Sold Follow UsA Fine William and Mary 17th-Century Olive Oyster Lace Box A Fine Late 17th Century Olive Oyster 'Lace Box' of Small Proportions. Circa 1680-1690 England. The...
Fine Brass Pocket Sundial and Compass by Michael Butterfield Paris, circa 1700
Fine Brass Pocket Sundial and Compass by Michael Butterfield Paris Sold Follow UsFine Brass Pocket Sundial and Compass by Michael Butterfield Paris A fine brass Anglo-French octagonal pocket sundial with compass by Michael Butterfield, circa...
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
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...
A Fine George II 18Th Century Chippendale Period Carved Mahogany Torchiere. Circa 1755-1765, England
A FINE GEORGE II 18TH CENTURY CHIPPENDALE PERIOD CARVED MAHOGANY TORCHIERE Circa 1755-1765, England £25,000Follow UsA FINE GEORGE II 18TH CENTURY CHIPPENDALE PERIOD CARVED MAHOGANY TORCHIERE, Circa 1755-1765, England An exquisitely fine and...
Fine 19th-century French ormolu mantel clock (pendule) by Leroy a Paris, c. 1825
Fine 19th century French ormolu mantel clock (pendule) by Leroy a Paris, c. 1825 £7,495Follow...
A Fine Early 18th Century George I Burr Walnut Bureau Bookcase, Circa 1715
A Fine Early 18th Century George I Burr Walnut Bureau Bookcase, Circa 1715 £11,500Follow UsA Fine...
A Unique Early 18th Century Diminutive George I Figured Walnut Bachelors Table
A Unique Early 18th Century Diminutive George I Figured Walnut Bachelors Table £12,800Follow UsA...
A Fine 18th Century George II Mahogany Marble Topped Console Table, Ireland
A Fine 18th Century George II Mahogany Marble Topped Console Table, Ireland SoldFollow UsA Fine...
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...
A Fine George II 18Th Century Chippendale Period Carved Mahogany Torchiere. Circa 1755-1765, England
A FINE GEORGE II 18TH CENTURY CHIPPENDALE PERIOD CARVED MAHOGANY TORCHIERE Circa 1755-1765, England £25,000Follow UsA FINE GEORGE II 18TH CENTURY CHIPPENDALE PERIOD CARVED MAHOGANY TORCHIERE, Circa 1755-1765, England An exquisitely fine and...
Fine 19th-century French ormolu mantel clock (pendule) by Leroy a Paris, c. 1825
Fine 19th century French ormolu mantel clock (pendule) by Leroy a Paris, c. 1825 £7,495Follow...
A Fine Early 18th Century George I Burr Walnut Bureau Bookcase, Circa 1715
A Fine Early 18th Century George I Burr Walnut Bureau Bookcase, Circa 1715 £11,500Follow UsA Fine...
A Unique Early 18th Century Diminutive George I Figured Walnut Bachelors Table
A Unique Early 18th Century Diminutive George I Figured Walnut Bachelors Table £12,800Follow UsA...
A Fine 18th Century George II Mahogany Marble Topped Console Table, Ireland
A Fine 18th Century George II Mahogany Marble Topped Console Table, Ireland SoldFollow UsA Fine...