Continental, likely 18th century, with original case and likely later painted and gilt decoration. A Continental wooden wedding dowry chest or cassone, the exterior overall decorated with carved gilt and polychrome painted decoration, the hinged and molded lid with carved armorial decoration and gilt sunburst with central initials and deep green and crimson painted foliate motifs flanking a central carved rampant lion all linked by carved strapwork, hinged to chest case by handcrafted wrought iron hinges and nails, opening to oak chest interior with small joined wooden till for storage and lid support and hand wrought iron lock, the exterior of the case decorated with a carved and gilt frieze depicting a Romanesque interior comprising an arched colonnade, each arch surmounting a gilded figure in medieval garb: at left a bearded man holding a gilded book, at center a figure chiseling an image of the Madonna and Child, at right a figure hammering a Corinthian capital over a work table, each scene decorated with a varying patterned gilt and polychrome background and separated by a spiral turned column with Corinthian capitals, the friezes above the archway decorated with gilt carved paterae on a crimson ground, the chest sides decorated with central painted armorial teardrop shields framed by deep green and crimson painted foliate motifs within gilt strapwork, all resting on a gilded heavy base molding. Trunk approximate height 18", length 50", width 17.25".

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