Late Gothic Walnut Chest

A substantial late Gothic walnut chest of boarded construction, the front carved from a single thick plank with deep linenfold panels, set above a boldly cut-out plinth. The ends retain their original wrought-iron carrying handles, testifying to the chest’s dual function as both a secure strongbox and a piece of domestic storage. The interior includes its original candle box, while the exterior preserves the original lock plate and strap hinges, rare survivals from the late medieval period.
The carving of linenfold directly into the solid boards reflects a transitional moment in French furniture-making, before the widespread adoption of lighter framed-and-panelled joinery after 1500. The massive timbers, great weight, and robust form suggest an object intended for both permanence and mobility, likely commissioned by a household of status. Its completeness — with fittings, plinth, and interior features intact — makes it an exceptional survival.
Closely related examples are illustrated in Jacqueline Boccador, Le Mobilier Français du Moyen Âge à la Renaissance (Paris, 1988), p. 40, no. 32, where they are dated to the late 15th century.