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Lot 480: A George II joined oak mule chest dated 1759
A mid-18th century English provincial joined oak mule chest, also referred to as a coffer or blanket chest. The carcass is constructed from solid oak with prominent medullary rays visible across the grain. The front is composed of four raised-and-fielded panels set within a mortise-and-tenon joined frame, supported by stile feet formed by the vertical corner posts. The lid consists of a single wide oak plank with cleated ends, attached by internal hinges. The upper front rail features a central brass escutcheon with a swing bail handle. To the left of this hardware, the characters EN are incised into the wood; to the right, the date 1759 is incised. The characters are executed in a serifed vernacular style. The interior is a large open compartment constructed of oak planks.
Condition report:
The chest exhibits age-related wear and character consistent with mid-18th century domestic use. The top plank shows a significant horizontal grain separation or shrinkage crack (photo 1). There is splintering, surface loss, and wear to the timber around the central lock area and along the top edge of the front rail (photo 3). The brass escutcheon and handle appear to be a later replacement for the original lock fitting, as evidenced by its central placement and the visible wear beneath it. The stile feet show scuffing, rounding, and minor losses to the edges from contact with floors (photo 1). The interior shows darkening and staining to the timber; modern protective bubble wrap and paper have been placed inside (photo 2). General surface scratches, indentations, and a darkened patina are present across all exterior surfaces.
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