Renaissance carved chest

Walnut French Renaissance chest of the highest quality and highly important.

This chest richly and finely carved with cherubs, foliate scrolled mythical beasts, winged humans, roundels with portraits and botanical imagery within three arcades. Original ironwork pierced brackets and carrying handles terminating with beasts.

The designs directly inspired from the Roman Imperial Palace frescoes. Kings such as Francois I and Henry VIII both contributed to this movement and had their palaces adorned with similar motifs and designs, they also furnished the palaces with furniture of this type.

This chest was shown at the ‘Art Treasures Exhibition’ 1932 cat.No. 8, held by the BADA and hosted by Christies.

A similar chest (front only) is in the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris. An image is shown on page 66 of ‘Le Mobillier, du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance en France’ Jacques Thirion. Possibly from the same workshop.