Coffret de messager - Strongbox - Wood, Leather, Iron
07
days
04
hours
26
minutes
35
seconds
Current bid
€ 345
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Paul Wullems
He accumulated 18 years' experience, worked as junior specialist at Sotheby’s and managed Kunsthandel Jacques Fijnaut.
Estimate € 1,200 - € 1,500
30 other people are watching this object
 Bidder 0797 | €345 | |
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Rare late Gothic French messenger chest from the 16th century, a wooden box covered in leather and bound with forged iron, 19 cm long, 13 cm wide and 10 cm high, with heavily used condition and minor surface losses.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
End of the 15th century
France
End of the Middle Ages – Late Gothic
Rare safekeeping casket, also called the messenger's box, made of wood covered with leather and bound with wrought iron, a striking testament to medieval art in its most essential function: to protect, contain, transmit.
Designed as a true miniature fortress, this domed-lid box blends the rigor of the blacksmith with the sensitivity of the carpenter in an architecture of metal, leather, and wood, conceived to endure against the passage of time as well as against desire.
The body, formed from dense wood and reinforced with riveted bands of wrought iron, adopts an arch-shaped profile characteristic of late Gothic.
Each fitting, riveted with a domed head, follows a functional path reminiscent of the arches and ribs of medieval timber framing.
The front lock, now incomplete, originally operated a retracting bolt—a device common in safes dating to the late 15th century.
The interior, lined with an original textile, bears the marks of careful use: this fabric, probably linen, was used to protect precious objects, sealed letters, or travel documents. It lends the room an intimate dimension, halfway between function and precaution.
This type of casket, portable yet sturdy, was intended for civil use — by merchants, notaries, or itinerant traders — rather than for liturgical purposes. Through its closed structure, its weight, and its austere formality, it embodies the medieval symbolism of the protective chest: an object of trust, of secrecy, and of durability.
Condition: antique fittings almost complete, some missing parts, uniform brown-black patina.
Dimensions: Length 19 cm – Width 13 cm – Height 10 cm
Delivery:
All deliveries are made exclusively by DHL Express.
Seller's Story
STUDIO ML+
Antiques dealer and passionate about French arts and heritage
Sacred Art, objects and decorations of religious life, devotional objects.
Objects from the 16th to the 18th century.
From time to time from Haute Epoque.
Asian art, porcelain, Okimono and Netsuke.
I don't close any doors, you can also find curiosities such as Napoleon III style decoration!
Translated by Google TranslateEnd of the 15th century
France
End of the Middle Ages – Late Gothic
Rare safekeeping casket, also called the messenger's box, made of wood covered with leather and bound with wrought iron, a striking testament to medieval art in its most essential function: to protect, contain, transmit.
Designed as a true miniature fortress, this domed-lid box blends the rigor of the blacksmith with the sensitivity of the carpenter in an architecture of metal, leather, and wood, conceived to endure against the passage of time as well as against desire.
The body, formed from dense wood and reinforced with riveted bands of wrought iron, adopts an arch-shaped profile characteristic of late Gothic.
Each fitting, riveted with a domed head, follows a functional path reminiscent of the arches and ribs of medieval timber framing.
The front lock, now incomplete, originally operated a retracting bolt—a device common in safes dating to the late 15th century.
The interior, lined with an original textile, bears the marks of careful use: this fabric, probably linen, was used to protect precious objects, sealed letters, or travel documents. It lends the room an intimate dimension, halfway between function and precaution.
This type of casket, portable yet sturdy, was intended for civil use — by merchants, notaries, or itinerant traders — rather than for liturgical purposes. Through its closed structure, its weight, and its austere formality, it embodies the medieval symbolism of the protective chest: an object of trust, of secrecy, and of durability.
Condition: antique fittings almost complete, some missing parts, uniform brown-black patina.
Dimensions: Length 19 cm – Width 13 cm – Height 10 cm
Delivery:
All deliveries are made exclusively by DHL Express.
Seller's Story
STUDIO ML+
Antiques dealer and passionate about French arts and heritage
Sacred Art, objects and decorations of religious life, devotional objects.
Objects from the 16th to the 18th century.
From time to time from Haute Epoque.
Asian art, porcelain, Okimono and Netsuke.
I don't close any doors, you can also find curiosities such as Napoleon III style decoration!
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Era
1400-1900
Over 200 years old
Yes
Country of Origin
France
Manufacturer/ Brand
Coffret de messager
Material
Iron, Leather, Wood
Condition
Fair condition - heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing
Height
10 cm
Width
13 cm
Depth
19 cm
Estimated period
16th century
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