17th Century Chip Carved Oak Chest

An English oak chest, mid-17th century, of boarded construction,…
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An English oak chest, mid-17th century, of boarded construction, the ends of the top, front, and back with chip carved decoration, 59 cm high, 112 cm wide, 38 cm deep. provenance: The Estate of the late Hylton Grimmer

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  • Oak - Native to Europe and England, oak has been used for joinery, furniture and building since the beginning of the medieval civilisation. It is a pale yellow in colour when freshly cut and darkens with age to a mid brown colour.

    Oak as a furniture timber was superceded by walnut in the 17th century, and in the 18th century by mahogany,

    Semi-fossilised bog oak is black in colour, and is found in peat bogs where the trees have fallen and been preserved from decay by the bog. It is used for jewellery and small carved trinkets.

    Pollard oak is taken from an oak that has been regularly pollarded, that is the upper branches have been removed at the top of the trunk, result that new branches would appear, and over time the top would become ball-like. . When harvested and sawn, the timber displays a continuous surface of knotty circles. The timber was scarce and expensive and was used in more expensive pieces of furniture in the Regency and Victorian periods.
  • Chip Carving - Chip carving, also known as spoon carving is a traditional woodworking technique that involves removing small, V-shaped chips of wood from a flat surface using a carving knife. The technique is often used to create intricate geometric patterns and designs on wooden objects such as bowls, spoons, and boxes.

    It is a form of relief carving, which means that the design is raised above the surface of the wood rather than being carved into it. It's a relatively simple technique that does not require a great deal of skill or experience, making it a popular choice for both beginners and experienced woodworkers.
  • Provenance - A term used to describe the provable history of an antique or work of art, and thus an additional aid to verifying its authenticity. Provenance can have an inflating effect on the price of an item, particularly if the provenance relates to the early settlement of Australia, a famous person, or royalty. Less significant are previous sales of the item through an auction house or dealer.

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