Important 17th Century Charles II Burr Walnut Coffre Fort Strong Box, Circa 1675
Sold
Request Information
Follow Us
Important 17th Century Charles II Burr Walnut Coffre Fort Strong Box, Circa 1675
A rare and important 17th-century Charles II burr walnut coffre fort adorned in highly decorative gilt brass mounts and strapwork concealing six secret compartments.
Attributed to the Royal cabinetmaker, Gerrit Jensen. Circa 1675, England.
Decorated entirely in the finest burr walnut veneers and adorned with highly decorative thick foliate gilt brass mounts and strapwork, this is one of the finest examples to be discovered and should be noted as the benchmark for all coffre forts of the entire 17th century. Every single detail in this example exceeds in quality.
The large elaborate gilt brass clasp opens on a push-spring release to reveal the crossbanded interior lined in cascading book-matched figured walnut with two drop-down compartments, each concealing its original hidden box.
Open the original brass bolt lock to open the fall. Once the fall is open you will find two short drawers lined in fiddleback walnut retaining what appears to be the original silk pulls. To access the secret boxes you must first remove the drawers. You can then slide out a small mitred piece situated above each drawer and the original boxes will drop down from each side. The central drawer division can also be removed revealing a secret compartment accessed from the back by sliding a small dovetail-housed piece of oak, after removing this, you can slide down a section of the interior to reveal the most hidden of the six secret boxes.
Gerrit Jensen. Jensen’s earliest recorded customer was Charles Stuart, 3rd Duke of Richmond, who in October 1672 paid him £10 for a table, stands and a strongbox.
Gerrit Jensen supplied a walnut-veneered ‘strongbox’ to Colonel James Grahame in 1688, Levens Hall. Levens Hall, Cumbria. A walnut and iron-bound strongbox still at the house was supplied in 1688.
The present example relates to a strongbox held at Ham House, Surrey. National Trust Collection: NT 1139751.1 According to Thornton and Tomlin, this strongbox could be one of the two described in the inventory of 1683, in the Duchess’s Bedchamber.
Thornton and Tomlin 1980 Peter Thornton, and Maurice Tomlin. “The Furnishing and Decoration of Ham House.” Furniture History, The Journal of The Furniture History Society Vol.XVI, 1980, fig 68
Museum Grade.
Condition
Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Superb original condition. Fabulous colour and patination to the original surfaces.
Dimensions
Height: 32.5 cm (12.8 in)
Width: 51 cm (20.08 in)
Depth: 39 cm (15.36 in)
PREVIOUSLY SOLD

18th Century George III Mahogany Secretaire Chest on chest, circa 1770-1780
18th Century George III Mahogany Secretaire Chest on chest, circa 1770-1780 Sold Follow Us18th Century George III Mahogany Secretaire Chest on chest, circa 1770-1780 18th Century George III Mahogany Secretaire Chest on Chest, circa 1770-1780....

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...

William and Mary 17th Century Olive Oyster Chest on Stand, circa 1680-1690
William and Mary 17th Century Olive Oyster Chest on Stand, circa 1680-1690 Sold Follow UsWilliam and Mary 17th Century Olive Oyster Chest on Stand, circa 1680-1690 A superb and fine olive oyster chest on stand from the reign of King William...

Huguenot 17th-Century Charles II William and Mary Walnut Two-Piece Bureau
Huguenot 17th-Century Charles II William and Mary Walnut Two-Piece Bureau SoldFollow UsHuguenot 17th-Century Charles II William and Mary Walnut Two-Piece Bureau A rare and Important late 17th century Charles II / William and Mary figured...

Very Rare English Carriage Clock Signed Brockbank & Atkins London
Very Rare English Carriage Clock Signed Brockbank & Atkins London SoldFollow UsVery Rare English Carriage Clock Signed Brockbank & Atkins London A very rare small nineteenth-century carriage clock signed and numbered on the silvered...

Early 18th Century Queen Anne/George I Japanned Chinoiserie Corner Cupboard
Early 18th Century Queen Anne/George I Japanned Chinoiserie Corner Cupboard SoldFollow UsEarly 18th Century Queen Anne/George I Japanned Chinoiserie Corner Cupboard A very atmospheric and original Queen Anne to George I black japanned...

18th Century George III Mahogany Secretaire Chest on chest, circa 1770-1780
18th Century George III Mahogany Secretaire Chest on chest, circa 1770-1780 Sold Follow Us18th Century George III Mahogany Secretaire Chest on chest, circa 1770-1780 18th Century George III Mahogany Secretaire Chest on Chest, circa 1770-1780....

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...

William and Mary 17th Century Olive Oyster Chest on Stand, circa 1680-1690
William and Mary 17th Century Olive Oyster Chest on Stand, circa 1680-1690 Sold Follow UsWilliam and Mary 17th Century Olive Oyster Chest on Stand, circa 1680-1690 A superb and fine olive oyster chest on stand from the reign of King William...

Huguenot 17th-Century Charles II William and Mary Walnut Two-Piece Bureau
Huguenot 17th-Century Charles II William and Mary Walnut Two-Piece Bureau SoldFollow UsHuguenot 17th-Century Charles II William and Mary Walnut Two-Piece Bureau A rare and Important late 17th century Charles II / William and Mary figured...

Very Rare English Carriage Clock Signed Brockbank & Atkins London
Very Rare English Carriage Clock Signed Brockbank & Atkins London SoldFollow UsVery Rare English Carriage Clock Signed Brockbank & Atkins London A very rare small nineteenth-century carriage clock signed and numbered on the silvered...

Early 18th Century Queen Anne/George I Japanned Chinoiserie Corner Cupboard
Early 18th Century Queen Anne/George I Japanned Chinoiserie Corner Cupboard SoldFollow UsEarly 18th Century Queen Anne/George I Japanned Chinoiserie Corner Cupboard A very atmospheric and original Queen Anne to George I black japanned...
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

A Fine and Rare 17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Table, Circa 1680-1700. England
A Fine and Rare 17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Table, Circa 1680-1700. England £14,250[wpforms_selector form_id="11387" show_title="on" _builder_version="4.23.1" _module_preset="default"...

17th Century Charles II Month Going 10″ Marquetry Longcase Clock by John Wise
A superb Charles II month duration floral marquetry longcase clock by the well-known maker John Wise, c. 1680-85. Measure: 10" Follow UsA superb Charles II month duration floral marquetry longcase clock by the well-known maker John Wise, c....

William and Mary 17th Century Walnut and Pollard Oak Chest on Stand
William and Mary 17th Century Walnut and Pollard Oak Chest on Stand £12,900Follow UsWilliam and...

Important Early George II Burr Walnut Diminutive Bureau / Bachelors C.1730
Important Early George II Burr Walnut Diminutive Bureau / Bachelors C.1730 £36,000 Follow UsImportant Early George II Burr Walnut Diminutive Bureau / Bachelors C.1730 Simply exquisite. Measure: 22" Rare and important all original George II...

A Rare 18th Century George II Carved Cut Gesso and Giltwood Mirror, Circa 1730
A Rare 18th Century George II Carved Cut Gesso and Giltwood Mirror, Circa 1730 £28,000Follow UsA...

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 and Rare 17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Table, Circa 1680-1700. England
A Fine and Rare 17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Table, Circa 1680-1700. England £14,250[wpforms_selector form_id="11387" show_title="on" _builder_version="4.23.1" _module_preset="default"...

17th Century Charles II Month Going 10″ Marquetry Longcase Clock by John Wise
A superb Charles II month duration floral marquetry longcase clock by the well-known maker John Wise, c. 1680-85. Measure: 10" Follow UsA superb Charles II month duration floral marquetry longcase clock by the well-known maker John Wise, c....

William and Mary 17th Century Walnut and Pollard Oak Chest on Stand
William and Mary 17th Century Walnut and Pollard Oak Chest on Stand £12,900Follow UsWilliam and...

Important Early George II Burr Walnut Diminutive Bureau / Bachelors C.1730
Important Early George II Burr Walnut Diminutive Bureau / Bachelors C.1730 £36,000 Follow UsImportant Early George II Burr Walnut Diminutive Bureau / Bachelors C.1730 Simply exquisite. Measure: 22" Rare and important all original George II...

A Rare 18th Century George II Carved Cut Gesso and Giltwood Mirror, Circa 1730
A Rare 18th Century George II Carved Cut Gesso and Giltwood Mirror, Circa 1730 £28,000Follow UsA...

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...