WALNUT THREE KEYS CHEST WITH WROUGHT IRONWORK, CASTILLE (SPAIN), 17TH CENTURY.
Antiques -
Reference: Z3404
Town Hall chest made of walnut wood and wrought iron fittings. Castile, 17th century. Rectangular box with a flat lid, resting on four spherical legs and featuring a prominent lower molding reinforced with corner pieces. It has two handles with a central disc on the sides and, on its front, three bolts with decorated lock shields set against a fabric background, along with their respective keys. The keys have decorated shafts and rings with openwork circular elements. These chests are called "Town Hall" or "Council" chests because of their three locks, each secured with its own key. These chests were used in all kinds of organizations, religious or civil, to store valuables, documents, or money. Each key was given to a designated person, and all three had to be present to open the chest, thus preventing any potential temptation. They were a very common feature in the council chambers of towns and other villages, hence their name. Stylistically, it belongs to the Baroque period due to the robust lower molding and the dynamic effect of the legs and the various fittings. This type of chest was already in use during the Gothic period and, given its popularity, continued to be common in cabinetmakers' and carpenters' workshops for many centuries. Sometimes they were made of iron, and, in very few cases, three keys were used to lock a silver chest (such as the one containing the body of Saint Isidore in Madrid). In many places, like La Rioja, it served as a municipal archive, following laws derived from a decree of June 9, 1500, by which the Catholic Monarchs compelled the councils of their territories to build town halls, prisons, and maintain a chest for privileges and deeds. Despite their abundance in the past, few examples have survived because they fell into disuse and were replaced. Compare with that of the Council of Villafranca de la Marisma (Los Palacios y Villafranca, Seville), that of Valdipiélago (León), that of Matapozuelos (Valladolid), that of the Cabildo of Buenos Aires of Argentina (18th century, following earlier models), etc.
· Size: 152x67,5x76 cms.
5.500 €
