An exceptionally rare 17th century boarded oak chest painted with oyster veneered panels, probably Yorkshire
11100
The top painted with four oyster veneered fielded-panels and with cleated ends. The front also painted with four oyster veneered fielded-panels and the ends decorated with chip carving. The sides painted with the same decoration without the fielded edges, terminatiing in V-shaped cut-away ends. The interior with strap hinges and internal oak lockplate.
The decoration found on this chest is particularly rare as it imitates panelling with traditional decorative devices in the form of spandrels and bosses also applied rather than grained timber. Examples of a similar work found on wall panelling can be seen at Oakwell Hall, near Huddersfield.
Given that the boarded construction is dated to the late-16th and early 17th centuries and the wall panelling design to the mid-17th century it is highly likely that the decoration was applied at this time to modernise what would have been considered an older form.
17th Century
1650
oak
United Kingdom
David Knell, English Country Furniture 1500-1900 (2000), illustrates two pieces of late 17th century oak furniture with decorative painted finishes to simulate well-figured timbers such as walnut, see p. 53, pl. 11 & p. 56, pl. 16.
Commemorative
