System marine chest, Nuremberg 17th century

Rare small wrought iron corsair chest, clad and riveted with all its original polychromy and gilding; it offers a very beautiful decoration of flowers on an ochre background.
Rectangular in shape with two large side carrying handles, it has a trompe l'oeil lock on the front and two movable plates with "hasp" type hinges allowing the addition of a large padlock; but the five-bolt closing system takes place on the back of the flap, under an openwork and engraved steel plate.
It has a complex mechanism of triggers and springs.
The lock entry is concealed by a spring lock guard which can be operated by a clever push button system present in a rivet on the flap.
The original key then allows a simple half turn to activate the mechanism and unlock all five bolts, which releases the flap.
The interior is lacquered red, it has kept its removable bar to keep the flap open.

Rare state of conservation.

Southern Germany, Nuremberg late 17th century.

Dimensions:

Width: 46.5 cm; Depth: 37 cm; Height: 34 cm

Provenance:

Important castle of the Gard.

Our opinion:

The city of Nuremberg in Germany, world capital of steelwork and locksmithing since the Middle Ages, specialized in this production of system chests that it exported all over the world.
These iron chests were originally produced for the merchant navy in order to store money and valuables during long crossings; but very quickly its use extended to farmers general, money changers, and to any person wishing to protect their goods in an inviolable safe.
The model that we present is particularly rare due to its small size and its state of preservation "fleur de coin", with all its polychromy, its original key, its lock cover, its support bar...
It was kept in the same family and in an important castle since the 18th century.