17th Century William and Mary Rosewood Coffre Fort on Stand, Secret Compartments

A William and Mary Kingwood / Princes Oyster Strongbox or Coffre Fort of Diminutive Proportions, Circa 1680-1700, England. Adorned with highly decorative gilt brass strapwork and decorated entirely in knife cut oysters of kingwood, this box is fit for the most discerning of collectors. The large gilt brass shield-shaped clasp opens on a push-spring release to reveal a box interior lined in rosewood with one drawer and securing bolts. Once the lid is opened you can reach inside to slide the original gilt brass bolt lock to open the fall. Once the fall is open you will find a drawer lined in oak and simulated kingwood. The box appears decorative, but it was also very difficult to break open or steal. It has a strong lock to the centre and two bolts concealed in the sides, so that it could be screwed down into floorboards if necessary or that of a horse-drawn carriage. Strong boxes veneered in oysters of Princewood such as this were luxury objects. The cabinet-makers who would have constructed and veneered the carcase apparently sold them, often using tropical hardwood veneers, and mounted it with sets of mounts, handles and locks bought in from brass founders. The elaborate veneering and conspicuous gilded brass mounts show that the appearance of these objects was important. Thomas Pistor, of Ludgate Hill, London worked with the renowned cabinetmaker Gerrit Jensen...

A William and Mary Kingwood/Princes oyster strongbox or Coffre Fort, circa 1680-1700, England. Adorned with highly decorative gilt brass strapwork and decorated in knife-cut oysters ...

A fine late 17th-century olive oyster 'Lace Box' of small proportions, circa 1680-1690, England. The cross-grain moulded and holly banded top is finely veneered in hand-cut veneers ...

A Fine Miniature William and Mary 17th Century Diminutive Olive Oyster chest. From the reign of King William & Queen Mary (1688-1702), England. The...

A fine and rare 17th-century William and Mary period olive oyster lace box of perfect proportions. 1680-1700, England The cross-grain moulded top is entirely covered in well-place...

A fine and rare large parquetry inlaid 17th-century William and Mary period olive oyster lace box. 1680-1700, England The cross-grain moulded top is ent...

With rectangular hinged top with brass strap mounting. When open the front folds down to expose hidden compartments and wells. Case mounted the same as the lid. Side carry handles. I...

A strongbox was a type of travelling chest and these types of boxes were more common in England than anywhere else where they were fabricated between 1660 and 1720. The earliest proo...

A rare English coffre fort or strong box of princeswood (later known as kingwood) with brass strapping and side handles. The front opens to reveal one hidden drawer. The lock and key...

Rectangular with brass strapping and side handles. Lock plate and flap. Fitted sometime in the 19th century as a tea caddy. Labeled Orange Pekoe and Black tea...

A very charming late 17th century French Coffre - Box crafted from beautifully patina'd leather. A wonderful piece to serve as a jewelry box or to adorn any table top.

This early 19th century lap desk is constructed of flame grain Honduras mahogany and features the original brass fittings and an embossed leather...