"Coffret d'Marriage", (Marriage or bride's chest), or "boite á challes" (chest for cashmere shawls, precious goods). This large and elegant sarcophagus-shaped chest was the equivalent of a much later "Hope chest" or "Trusseau trunk". This one is French and dates c.1770-1830. Decorated with pique work in cut steel, this one survives extremely well, with both side handles and the original cut steel key to lock it up. A bride's goods, her sewing talents shown in embroidered and monogrammed linen bed sheets, pillow cases, her silk nightgowns and robes, jewelry - trousseau items she had made for her wedding night, honeymoon. Thereafter, kept as a memento and her own special treasures box. Shown also in the final photo, elegant elaborate vanity and sewing boxes from the same era, Palais Royal rarities (sold separately). Full measurements noted on the photos. Very large at 19 1/2" x 12 1/2" x 7 3/4" tall, closed
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. The chest is heavy, solid wood, old hardwood with density of natural old forest growth wood, which is much different from wood in our time. Cut steel nail pique decoration enhance the sarcophagus form, and repeats in the motif of the 2 handles still in their place at sides, and in the unique decorative original key, still working well in its lock. Chests of this age and type are particularly rare. This one is late 1700s to as late as Charles X, 1830 or so. This one has been professionally relined inside, done in France, in the same manner it would have been in its original time, thick moire silk in cream, criss-crossed ribbon over the lid lining into which letters, invitations, love notes might be tucked and kept.
