Chest With Three Locks. Wood, Leather, Wrought Iron. Circa 1600.

Chest with three locks. Wood, leather, wrought iron. Circa 1600.
Rectangular chest with a flat lid made of carved wood, covered on the outside with leather and wrought iron accessories (three locks, corners, two handles, decorations, hinges). The interior is covered with red fabric, both on the body of the chest and on the lid (an area where we find embroidery based on geometric elements arranged in a symmetrical composition, including the missing details). This type of piece (rectangular box with a flat lid) is one of the most common in Spanish chests, and examples of this form have been found since the early Middle Ages. Regarding the use of textiles, it was common in Spain, as early as the 15th century, to make chests lined on the outside and inside, usually in red (the most expensive dyes were red and blue), both to enhance the piece and to protect its contents. It was also common to cover the wood with leather on the outside, always with the aim of enhancing and protecting the chest. Regarding the fittings, the wrought iron pieces in the shape of a lobed spear recall examples from the late Gothic period, already influenced by the Renaissance, with some more advanced forms. The three locks have openwork shields, decorated with waves and simplified plant elements, and the presence of all three in the same chest refers to a type called "town hall" or "council" (as there were three keys, it was necessary for the three authorities who possessed one to meet and agree to access the contents, which added an element of security). It is not very common for this type of piece to be preserved in good condition, and similar examples can be found in important private collections and in institutions such as the Cathedral Museum of Valencia, the Town Hall of Los Palacios y Villafranca, the Military History Museum of Seville, etc. -
Dimensions: 125x48x57 cm