A 17th century cyprus-wood 'pitch'-decorated boarded chest, Northern Italy


Of dove-tailed construction, the decoration filled with 'pitch/mastic', designed with the crowned Stuart Royal Arms, within a wreath, and with lion and unicorn supporters, 150cm wide x 56.5cm deep x 56cm high, (59in wide x 22in deep x 22in high)
|Literature:A related, but earlier, cedar boarded chest also embellished with the Stuart Royal Arms, but with the additional cypher 'J R' [James I, 1603 - 1625], is illustrated Victor Chinnery, Oak Furniture: The British Tradition (2016), p. 305, fig. 3:357.The decoration to the front of this North Italian imported chest signifies it was specifically made for the English market. The number of references to 'Cyprus' chests in contemporary English household inventories suggests they were imported in large numbers, although not all would be decorated with Royal Arms.