Chest
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1620 - 1640
Materials
Oak, holly, bog oak
Measurements
76 x 170 x 68 cm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Scotney Castle, Kent
NT 790924
Summary
A large oak and marquetry panelled chest, English, circa 1620-1640. The four-panel lid and the three panel front inset with geometric inlay, the twin-panel sides with diamond inlay centred with rosettes, the frieze carved with two opposing strange snake-like creatures with bird heads and wings, the front uprights with strapwork detail and the lower frieze chequer-banded, standing on stile feet.
Full description
The use of marquetry and carved strapwork are indications of high status, reinforced by the presence of additional marquetry on the lid panels too, a feature typically only encountered in high quality work. The extraordinary snake-like creatures with bird heads and wings are most unusual.
Provenance
Part of the Hussey collection. The contents were bequeathed to the National Trust in 2006 by Mrs. Elizabeth Hussey. The 1903 inventory for Scotney in Edward Windsor Hussey's handwriting records 'Large inlaid dower chest'.