Early 17th-Century Italian Cedar Chest Depicting the Sacrifice of Isaac

This finely decorated cedar chest is an exceptional survival of continental craftsmanship created specifically for export to England in the early 17th century. The front panel is incised with a detailed narrative of the Sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22), a central theme of Christian salvation history. Abraham, dagger in hand, prepares to sacrifice his son Isaac upon the altar before an angel intervenes; the ram caught in the thicket, the attendant figures, and a walled city in the distance complete the biblical cycle.
Chests of this kind were commissioned by wealthy English gentry and merchants, eager to display biblical literacy and continental taste. The use of cedar — a prized, aromatic wood imported at great cost — ensured protection against moths and insects, making these coffers particularly suited for the storage of costly textiles, linens, and devotional garments.
The form speaks to both practicality and display: solid construction for daily use, but embellished with narrative carving that proclaimed faith, learning, and wealth. This example retains its rich colour and surface, the imagery still powerfully legible after four centuries.