17Th Century William And Mary Period Kingwood Strong Box / Coffre Fort On George

An Exceptional 17th Century William and Mary Period Kingwood Strong Box or Coffre Fort of Excellent Colour and Patina on George I Period Walnut Stand

England circa 1690 -1710

This wonderful strong box or coffre fort on period George I stand has the most exceptional patina and colour, so much so to be one of the best I have seen. These boxes were the staple of the great 17th century makers in London, designed to protect valuables either when travelling, having removable bolts that can be used to attach them to the floor for additional security in a horse drawn carriage or to be used as as a home safe. Having extremely elaborate gilt brass strapwork, conforming hasp and heavy duty lock with a thick carcass for added protection and security. To the side are heavy gauge carrying handles with whole piece being elaborately veneered in the most sought after wood of the period Kingwood / Princeswood which has acquired an excellent colour and patination.

These boxes were frequently regarded as treasured heirlooms by later generations of the families for which they were made and were often then displayed in the public rooms of fine houses on newly commissioned stands. It is extremely rare to find these boxes on stands but when one is found the stands are usually later in date than the boxes that they support. The present example rests upon a finely made George I period walnut stand with refined cabriole legs and pad feet.

Having the original bolts and working lock with key, the top opens and two lopers are pulled out from the base to hold the fall front which then reveals two internal drawers.

The form of this box, with its fall front in the form of a "scriptor" as it would have been known in the 17th century, relates to a piece supplied by the great London maker Gerrit Jensen to Colonel James Grahame. The bill for this piece survives and is dated 1688 and the piece is described as a 'strong box upon a frame'. Another piece attributed to Jensen but on a curious regency period Gothic revival stand survives at Nostell Priory in Yorkshire and can be viewed online here

https://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/959794

The veneers on this piece, and indeed the mounts, are not as impressive as on our example. Another piece which relates to the Nostell example but, like ours, has a George I period stand, is at Hardwick Hall

https://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1127724.1

Also at Hardwick is a pearwood veneered example with the same sort of George I stand but with higher quality mounts more akin to those on our piece

https://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1127734.1

One of the most famous of surviving examples of this form is a piece at Ham House on a late George I period gesso stand. The mounts on this example are perhaps too numerous, the fine veneers being almost entirely obscured by the metalwork

https://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1139751.1

Two examples of strong boxes without stands in the V&A are also worthy of reference here, both being of very high quality and remarkably similar to our piece in their design and execution

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O167479/strong-box-unknown/

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O77730/strong-box-unknown/

Our piece is a highly desirable example and is in exceptional original condition having fine patination and colour, the stand making it all the more interesting to the discerning collector and decorator alike.

Width: 24 inches - 61cm
Height: 34 inches - 86cm
Depth: 14 inches - 36cm