The ‘Von Münchhausen Truhe’, A Renaissance painted carved and inlaid oak and fruitwood armorial chest late 16th century, Lower Saxony

the plain top above a central female figure flanked by four arches to each side with carved and painted crests with further carved figures to edges, all on a carved scroll-work and grotesque plinth, the coat-of-arms of those of von Munchhausen, von Hole, von Frese , von Mandelsloh, von Heimburg and von Rottorp families.

By family repute, Family von Sydow;

Family von Frese;

Thence by descent.

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

Kreisel, Himmelber, Die Kunst des deutschen Möbels, Von den Anfangen bis zum Hochbarock, Munich 1968, ill. 266.

This imposing chest is in overall good condition with marks and scratches consistent with age and use. There is scuffing to base and marks of old woodworm activity which is no longer active. The lid is slightly bent and painted decoration has been refreshed. There are small losses to carvings. The sides to bases with mouldings missing to front and back. For all sales which take place on or after 1 February 2015, please note that the rate of buyer's premium for each lot (charged as a percentage of the hammer price achieved for that lot) has been revised and shall be calculated at the thresholds set out below: Buyer's premium is 25% of the hammer price up to and including £100,000; Buyer's premium is 20% of the hammer price on any amount in excess of £100, 000 up to and including £1,800,000; Buyer's premium is 12% of the hammer price on any amount in excess of £1,800,000. As stated above, the revised thresholds are effective as of 1 February 2015.
"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."

This type of opulently decorated and expensive armorial chest (Wappentruhe) were not for strictly functional and personal use but rather intended as showpieces. Most Wappentruhen were made for marriages, usually as a gift for the bride and to commemorate the alliance between the families involved. Due to the presence of eight family crests on the present chest, it is however unlikely that this was a marriage chest, considering that there are no further allegorical allusions to a marriage. It is likely that this chest was on display in a public place – most likely a town or guildhall or a church – of a town where these families were influential. Kreisel (Die Kunst des deutschen Möbels, 1968) illustrates various Renaissance Wappentruhen, most of comparable architectural composition and with the main body standing on a loose plinth. A marriage chest in the Albrechtburg in Meissen dating from the last quarter of the 16^th century (Kreisel, op.cit., ill.266) shows a similar combination of carved decoration, intarsia inlay, and architectural construction with breakfront divided by three double pilasters as the present chest. The name von Münchhausen is widely associated with Baron Karl Friedrich Hieronymus von Münchhausen (1720-1797), whose adventurous and mendacious stories were immortalised by the writer Gottfried August Bürger (1747–1794) in the book "Wunderbare Reisen zu Wasser zu Lande, Feldzüge und lustige Abentheuer des Freyherrn von Münchhausen".