A rare and small medieval carved oak boarded chest 15th/16th century

with hinged cover, the front carved with acorns, leaves, stirrup-shaped motifs and two pantocrator, the rear carved with leaves, serpents, birds and stars, the sides with an incised trident motif enclosing three leaves above a Gothic arch, interior floor and hinges later

The Moller Collection, Thorncombe Park, Surrey;
An Important Private Collection of 16th, 17th and 18th Century Furniture Formed Under Guidance of R. W. Symonds, these rooms, 28th May 1982, lot 4.

Illustrated R. W. Symonds, Furniture Making In Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century England, London, 1955, frontispiece, pl. VI.

Good considering age and of small size with good carved details. Old chipping, indents, fragmenting and wear throughout that are commensurate with age and there are traces of old worm and insect damage. The cover with old split and traces of filler on this site which has slight movement in this split. The reverse with two later batons to secure the split and traces of former lock catch and residual fragmented timber. Indications of former loop hinges and now with old hasp hinges. The interior floor is a pine replacement. The front with old partial losses to carved details and losses to the metal rim of the lock plate. The reverse of the front with partial white paint on the interior. The rear of the chest with old partial losses to carved details and indications of former hinges. The sides with old fragmenting to the surfaces and a lot of wear and losses to the base. The front right foot with re-tipping. This chest is a rare and unique survivor.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Symonds (op. cit. p. 20) writes at length about this mysterious chest in his essay on this piece. He writes of a link with alchemy and philosophy and it is for a philosopher for whom he states this chest was made. This conclusion is drawn from the curious symbols which appear on the piece. Symbols which Symonds states 'do not serve any decorative purposes' but are representations of alchemical and philosophical symbols.

Symonds writes '...it depicts the alchemist's work (opus)... this was the transmutation of base metals into gold or the discovery of the elixir of life; however, as the alchemist sometimes pointed out, the gold he was seeking was not ordinary gold (aurum vulgi), but the philosopher's stone - the lapis, the meaning of which alchemist do not make clear.'

He goes on to say that the symbols at the front of the chest represents the transmission of the substance - this is performed by a union of opposites. This is represented by a clasping couple - traditionally a symbol of opposites. The acorns and leaves symbolising transmission. The cross representing the four elements - again opposites.

The reverse of the chest, Symonds writes, represents philosophy. There is a tree - traditionally associated with philosophy (arbor philosophica). The three ray luminary, symbol of the trinity and the two six-rayed stars, signs of completion. He also mentions the twin serpents of good and evil with the sun between.

After this rather romantic discussion about the piece and the mysticism of the carving, Symonds does go on to write that there are other interpretations of the carved symbols