An Elizabeth I joined oak and marquetry inlaid coffer, circa 1600

An Elizabeth I joined oak and marquetry inlaid coffer, circa 1600
The hinged lid of three thick square-edged boards, the front with three panels, each Nonsuch-style inlaid with three fanciful towers, a pair of birds resting on two of the spires and enclosed within an arcade carved with seven five-petal flowerheads on stiff-leaf pillars, spaced by four male terms, each with a beard, two with a jewelled body, the other pair with stop-fluting, and all beneath a spray of fruit and floral-inlaid top rail, with cushion moulded scroll-carved base moulding, panelled sides, the extended stile supports with chequer line inlay, 151.5cm wide x 56.5cm deep x 74.5cm high, (59 1/2in wide x 22in deep x 29in high)