Chest
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1580 - 1620
Materials
Cypress, iron hinges
Measurements
186 cm (W); 76 cm (H); 75.5 cm (D)
Place of origin
Italy
Order this imageCollection
Montacute House, Somerset
NT 597603
Summary
A joined cypress chest, North Italian, late 16th / early 17th century. Incised and decorated with penwork and pokerwork with borders of meandering leaves and the top with a frieze of lions and a central rectangular diaper panel. The front with three panels carved with figures in horse drawn chariots above village landscapes with trees. The interior with penwork decoration of a central circular medallion surrounded by floral trellis work.
Full description
The technique of flat, incised decoration with a cut away, punched background, known as intaglio carving (from the Italian ‘cut in’), is a feature of northern Italian and Alpine woodwork from about 1300. Cypress wood chests of various sizes like this example with inked and scorched scenes over intaglio carving have traditionally been associated with the Adige region of NE Italy but actually seem to have been made more widely across northern Italy from about 1500-1620. Cypress wood (like cedar to which it is very similar), is moderately hard and smooth textured, highly durable and fragrant, the colour a warm pale brown or light orange. The distinctive intaglio surface designs were worked using very small chisels, square punches, hot metal and ink, presumably applied with a metal knib. A wide range of lively scenes are depicted: hunts and battles, Biblical or literary subjects, animals and mythical beasts. Chests of this class were exported to destinations all over Europe and are frequently mentioned in English inventories of the 16th and early 17th century. See V&A collection W.3-1951 for a similar example and analysis of the timber by Adam Bowett. (James Weedon, March 2019)
Provenance
Provenance uncertain.
References
Bowett, Adam 'Woods in British Furniture Making 1400-1900' London 2012