Captain's chest

Italy, Venice, Adige region (Etsch), from around 1580

Cedar wood, old patina

Standing on four pear-shaped ball feet (probably added in the 18th or 19th century due to age, damage and wear). The body is finished with a multi-profile margin decoration.

The front is structured by three coffers. The centre coffer has a large three-mast vessel with wavy cloud staffage, the sails, details of the ship and clouds have a polychrome lining. The left-hand and right-hand coffers show high-society genre scenes with ornamental buildings, river and staffages. The vertical structure beside and between the coffers depicts noblemen in ornamental uniforms. There are vince scroll bands horizontally above and below the coffers, puttos playing music in the area of the key shield.

The carvings are created by figurative flat-cutting, used already since the 15th century in the Etsch region.

The recesses of the floral and figurative carvings are typically embossed. The contours of the carvings are also created by fire paintwork, typical for the Etsch region. A walking leopard respectively panther in the underwood are depicted on the narrow sides.

The view is limited by surrounding vine scroll bands. Bronze handles in the form of two entwined mythical animals are fixed in the two upper quarters.

The handles and the key shield are Dutch Renaissance from around 1660/80, fitted at a later date. The handles are authentic period additions because of the pres-sure marks of the fixation and must be regarded as an integral part of the history of this ornamental chest.

The inside of the lid is framed by a vine scroll band. High-society genre scenes of the time are depicted in two coffers. To provide a three-dimensional enhancement to the fire paintwork, both these scenes are also depicted as flat carvings, typical for the region.

A very richly ornamented cartouche with almond-shaped shield, two puttos with ornamental amphora are depicted in fire paintwork between the coffers. The ca-touche is limited by a double ornamental band. Puttos playing music, poultry as well as a nobleman and a high-society lady complete this rich fire paintwork.

The upper edge of the chest walls and the upper inside as well as the inside of the lower edge of the lid are stippled with rectangular embossment.

Height: 75 cm
Width: 175 cm 
Depth: 58 cm