17th Century Two-Toned French Walnut Wood Gothic Trunk

Whereas many pieces of furniture during the Italian Renaissance were heavily painted or inlaid with decorative motifs, French examples utilized hand-sculpted elements as the predomin...

Based on the facing portrait cartouches on the front facade, this chest was most likely presented to a couple for their wedding in 17th-century Northern France. The oak wood has a deep brown patina that accentuates the hand-carved frontage, depicting a man (on the left) facing a woman (on the right), surrounded by scrolls and a sprawling foliate margent. A quarter-round edge embellishes the lid, which can be opened to reveal deep storage, including a 5 ½ inch tall side compartment. Several thin layers of molding can be seen on the low profile apron above small bracket feet. A chest like this would have been offered as a wedding dowry, most likely commissioned by the parents of the bride or possibly even by the husband himself. The chest would have been used to store valuables for the couple’s new life together, with the wrought iron handles on the sides allowing the chest to be easily transported. Our 17th-century wedding chest can be used functionally as a small storage chest for a bedroom or bathroom or displayed as a well-carved room...

Often when centuries-old trunks did not survive the passage of time, 19th-century menuisiers (French woodworkers) would salvage the surviving wood and carve new furniture such as desks and similar trunks. The facade was typically the most ornate section of these antique trunks, making intact frontages highly valued antiques. Hand-carved from oak in Picardie, France, circa 1550, this period Gothic architectural is a beautiful example of an antique trunk facade that was not incorporated into a more recent furnishing. Picardie is a former administrative region in northern France that is home to many Gothic cathedrals. The Amiens Cathedral (mid-13th century) is the largest standing cathedral in Europe and is truly a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Our trunk frontage has five vertically oriented inset panels embellished with various forms of Gothic tracery, including high-arching niches...

More information coming soon… The light brown hue of the walnut wood used to construct this Italian trunk pairs well with the even lighter colored blonde walnut inlays. Hand-carved...

Great looking and patina antique Gothic trunk, made of solid elmwood. This impressive looking and practical size chest shows a number of deep and...

France / 16th century / Chest / oak / Gothic A remarkable French Gothic oak chest dating from the 16th century, showcasing intricate hand-carved detailing throughout its façade. The...

France / 16th century / bridal or blanket chest / oak / Gothic This impressive chest was hand-carved in solid oak in the 16th century in France. The construction is typical of very...

An antique Gothic French chest with a carved wood exterior and metal hardware.