Late Gothic Oak Coffer en Bahut, Northern France

An exceptional late Gothic oak coffer en bahut, of boarded construction with a domed lid, the front carved with a series of blind Gothic tracery arches above a plinth base, the tracery enriched with cusped panels and floral detailing. The sides retain the original wrought-iron carrying handles, and the interior preserves its two original storage compartments and back shelf. The dry, untouched surface throughout enhances its historic integrity.
This form, known as a coffer en bahut, was characteristic of late fifteenth-century France, serving both as secure storage and as a travelling chest. Its domed form, designed to deflect water in transit, reflects its practical role, while the elaborate tracery front echoes contemporary ecclesiastical architecture and aligns with the international Gothic taste that remained prevalent in France on the eve of the Renaissance.
Comparable examples are recorded in major collections, including one illustrated by Bruno Perrier (Haute Époque Moyen-Age Renaissance, 1993, no. 43), and related coffers have appeared on the art market: Sotheby’s, London, 30 October 2007, lot 515 (£10,000–15,000 estimate), and Château de Cornillon, France, 31 October 2006, lot 58 (£22,800).
This coffer represents not only a functional domestic object but also a portable expression of Gothic decorative culture, bridging the worlds of secular and ecclesiastical design. Its survival with original fittings and interior is of particular note, making it a fine and highly authentic example of late medieval French craftsmanship.