Henry VII Period Oak Carved Boarded Chest

A rare and outstanding early Tudor boarded chest, richly carved with Gothic pointed arches and traceried panels, the central section featuring a great cusped arch enclosing three Tudor roses with leafy infill. Flanking panels display elongated Gothic arches and geometric lozenges, all crisply executed in deep relief. The form is entirely original, with thick oak planks joined by traditional pegged construction, and retains one of its three early iron locks.
These earliest Tudor chests embody the transitional moment from the medieval Gothic to the emerging Renaissance style in England. Their decoration reflects the visual language of Henry VII’s reign: piety, strength, and dynastic legitimacy expressed through the rose motif.
Comparable examples are preserved in major museum collections including the Victoria & Albert Museum, York Minster, and the Burrell Collection, but very few survive in private hands. A closely related example sold at Bonhams, Oak Sale, 15 September 2011, lot 421 (£18,750).