(France XVI/ XVII) - Strongbox - of the Navy / Captain at painting - Wood, Iron

Magnificent historical piece of French origin, this safe perfectly illustrates the ingenuity of French artisans of the era, who knew how to blend solidity, security, and elegance in a maritime adventure and international trade context. Testifying to a construction that is particularly massive and dense. The body is made of thick oak with a beautiful antique patina. It is entirely clad with abundant forged iron bands riveted on all faces: vertical and horizontal bands, with riveted domed-head nails arranged both decoratively and structurally. Rare constructive feature: the back of the stiles as well as the bottom of the chest are lined with a second layer of wooden boards, fixed by forged nails of the period. The hinges are particularly remarkable: they are wide bands of forged iron, robust and highly worked. They feature elegant, curved volutes, typical of French blacksmith craftsmanship from the late Renaissance and Baroque period, which add a refined decorative touch while greatly reinforcing the overall solidity. These volutes, forged by hand with great skill, are highlighted by numerous forged rivets and contribute to the imposing and harmonious aesthetic of the chest. The chest is equipped with a wide double- mechanism lock in forged iron fixed by large round-headed screws, The first mechanism releases the moraillon located on the façade, while the second releases the interior of the lid. The original key, with beautiful patina, has a heart-shaped bow and a complex bitting carved into several notches. It operates the entire system and functions perfectly. It also features two lateral annular handles for transport. This chest was very probably made in the Brittany region or the French Grand West (Saint-Malo, Brest or Rochefort), major centers of shipbuilding and royal arsenals at the time. It comes from the great era of French maritime expansion in the 16th and 17th centuries, under the reigns of Henry IV, Louis XIII, and Louis XIV. At that time, France was developing a powerful royal and merchant navy, with ports like Brest, Rochefort, Saint-Malo, or La Rochelle becoming nerve centers. Captains, officers, naval treasurers, and merchant shipowners used this type of chests, often called “captain’s chests” or “strongboxes,” to protect their most precious belongings during long transatlantic voyages to the Antilles, Canada, or the Indian Ocean. The dense hybrid construction of wood and forged iron, with volute hinges, is typically French: it offers optimal resistance to the extreme sea conditions (humidity, salt, shocks, rolling) while remaining portable. These abundant ironworks were locally produced by locksmiths and blacksmiths of the royal arsenals. These chests were frequently bolted to the captain’s cabin floor through holes like those visible on this one, to prevent theft or unwanted movement in storms or during boarding. They contained official documents, navigational charts, gold, silver (notably crew payroll), secret correspondence, or valuable objects. Despite the passing centuries, it presents itself in remarkable condition: beautiful patina, solid construction, natural wear without major alteration, and the mechanism still operational. The chest still possesses its original prop/brace allowing it to be kept slightly open. Rare on the market The Chest will be shipped via FedEx. It is of course possible for the buyer to propose a more economical transport solution. Free pickup at my home is, of course, possible.

Estimate:$2,240.46

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