A RARE AND FINE GERMAN IRON AND BRASS MOUNTED COFFRE FORT

A RARE AND FINE GERMAN IRON AND BRASS MOUNTED COFFRE FORT

PROBABLY DRESDEN, SAXONY, EARLY 18TH CENTURY

of serpentine form, with engraved brass mounts decorated with foliage, the front angles with a stylised caryatid surmounted by an eagle, flanking an elaborate Rococo cartouche escutcheon with a coronet above a scrolling foliate swivel lockplate, the hinged lid with a recumbent lion finial, revealing a brass letter cover to the underside of the lid decorated with a pastoral scene of a shepherd and shepherdess in a woodland landscape above a panel of strapwork centred with a chinoiserie bust, the top of the lock similarly engraved and with a rubbed inscription 'Dier....Fr.....hof...Di..dret', with cast side carrying handles and with flattened bun feet concealing screwable fixing supports for travelling, with two keys

28.1cm high, 37.5cm wide, 26.5cm deep