AN IRON-BOUND STRONG BOX early 17th century, with ornate fa...

Hammer

£3,000

AN IRON-BOUND STRONG BOX

early 17th century, with ornate false lock plate incorporating a hidden key hole under a bar on the lid (opened by a catch), retaining the original painted decoration of swans and flowers on a green ground, 39.5cm x 26.5cm x 29.5cm

Note: During the Victorian period, these strong boxes were often referred to as "Armada chests"in the belief that they had been salvaged from the Spanish fleet when it was wrecked along the English coast in 1588. Although some of them may date from this period, this romantic historic description is discounted by modern scholars. The present chest is a rarity because of its diminuitive proportions.