GOTHIC CHEST. PINEWOOD, METAL. 16TH CENTURY.

Gothic chest. Carved pine wood, iron. Century XVI. Rectangular chest with a flat lid made of carved wood and decorated on the outside with a series of divisions into rectangular spaces using smooth moldings. On the front, these spaces have been decorated with a relief of the type known as “napkin” or “folded cloth” or “parchment”. The simple rectangular legs still retain some carved detail. In the center of the front there is a metal lock shield (probably wrought iron) to secure the contents. The relief of folded cloth was common in Gothic furniture, coming from Flanders in the 15th century and commonly used in Spain until well into the 16th century, although examples from the 17th century are preserved that maintain this decorative element. As for wood, although walnut is common in Spanish furniture, it is not unusual to find specimens carved from pine wood. It is currently possible to find Gothic arks in several prominent museums: the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid preserves four Gothic arks from the 15th century (with Gothic architectural decoration and other carved elements); the Lázaro Galdiano Museum has an Italian example from the 15th century with work on skylights and arches reminiscent of Muslim diamond-shaped panels (Inventory 2141); The Museum of Navarra has a wedding chest made of wood and embossed and polychrome leather from the last third of the 15th century (inventory CE000115); etc The National Museum of Decorative Arts has an oak wood sideboard (CE01616) decorated with “folded” or “scroll” carving panels, dated around 1500, and an ark with similar decoration dated between 1476 and 1525 (CE19287) .

· Size: 189x62x90 cms