Miniature William and Mary 17th Century Diminutive Olive Oyster Chest, C.1690
A Fine Miniature William and Mary 17th Century Diminutive Olive Oyster chest. From the reign of King William & Queen Mary (1688-1702), England.
The finely holly-banded and cross-grain moulded top is beautifully veneered in roundels of cross-grain, hand-cut olive oysters and lined in boxwood stringing in a geometric form. Over three thick hand cut and matched oyster veneered drawers, each fitted with brass star backplates, tear drop handles and shield-shaped escutcheons. The escutcheons appear to be the originals and while the handles cannot be guaranteed original they are certainly Period. The pine drawer linings are untouched and in original condition. They are beautifully dovetailed to the corners and retain the original Scotch/Animal glue, widely used by craftsman of the time. The sides are veneered in hand cut veneers of Walnut and edge banded in Holly.
Sitting on four superbly proportioned ‘bun’ feet which appear to be the originals of fine patination.
It should be noted that miniature or ‘toy’ chests from 17th-century England are extremely rare.
It is unknown whether these fine super rare pieces were indeed ‘miniatures’, ‘children’s toys’, or traveling salesman/cabinet made samples of what could be made in larger form or an exhibition of the skill of the craftsman of the time but pieces such as this remain incredibly rare in this condition and quality and very few examples are known.
This important miniature olive oyster ‘toy’ chest is quite simply a masterpiece and incorporates all of the features associated with larger examples of the period 1680-1700.
Miniature William and Mary 17th Century Diminutive Olive Oyster Chest, C.1690
A Fine Miniature William and Mary 17th Century Diminutive Olive Oyster chest. From the reign of King William & Queen Mary (1688-1702), England.
The finely holly-banded and cross-grain moulded top is beautifully veneered in roundels of cross-grain, hand-cut olive oysters and lined in boxwood stringing in a geometric form. Over three thick hand cut and matched oyster veneered drawers, each fitted with brass star backplates, tear drop handles and shield-shaped escutcheons. The escutcheons appear to be the originals and while the handles cannot be guaranteed original they are certainly Period. The pine drawer linings are untouched and in original condition. They are beautifully dovetailed to the corners and retain the original Scotch/Animal glue, widely used by craftsman of the time. The sides are veneered in hand cut veneers of Walnut and edge banded in Holly.
Sitting on four superbly proportioned ‘bun’ feet which appear to be the originals of fine patination.
It should be noted that miniature or ‘toy’ chests from 17th-century England are extremely rare.
It is unknown whether these fine super rare pieces were indeed ‘miniatures’, ‘children’s toys’, or traveling salesman/cabinet made samples of what could be made in larger form or an exhibition of the skill of the craftsman of the time but pieces such as this remain incredibly rare in this condition and quality and very few examples are known.
This important miniature olive oyster ‘toy’ chest is quite simply a masterpiece and incorporates all of the features associated with larger examples of the period 1680-1700.
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