Footnotes

Provenance
Until now the offered lot formed part of a collection of furniture and works of art, ranging from the 15th century to the 18th century, which furnished an early 15th century Sussex manor house. This collection was amassed predominantly over the course of the last quarter of the previous century; it includes a number of rare and, in a few instances, very early pieces.

The present lot is a fine example of early furniture widely known as a 'hutch', a form which developed during the late medieval period in England. This generally seems to refer to a chest of rough construction or a more decorative container on legs which incorporates one or more front doors. The term appears recorded in 1448 as part of Alicia Langham of Snaylwell's will, wherein "1 spruce hutche" is noted among her various possessions.

The first major model of this type is the 'Sudbury's Hutch' which apparently dates to circa 1490. The opposing carved front panels of this historically very important piece depict a bust of the then reigning monarch, Henry VII, facing his wife, Elizabeth of York. Significantly, these wonderful portrait reliefs flank a central panel carved with the combined badges of Lancaster and York. This remarkable Royal 'hutch' is located in Louth church, in Lincolnshire, where it was donated by an individual called Sudbury who had served as vicar there between 1461 and 1504.

It both features, and is illustrated, in P. Macquoid, A History of English Furniture, "The Age of Oak", 1988, originally published 1904-1908, London, pl. I and p. 13, as well as in R. Edwards and P. Macquoid, The Dictionary of English Furniture, Vol. II, 2000, revised second edition 1954, New York, fig. 1 & pp.'s 262-263.

By way of comparison to the present lot, a 'hutch' of similar form, albeit one of slightly larger proportions and incorporating two lower frieze drawers unlike the current one which terminates on stiles or legs, also appears in P. Macquoid, A History of English Furniture, "The Age of Oak", fig. 38 & pp.'s 24-25. Interestingly, this is dated therein to circa 1525; the author placing it firmly within the Henry VIII period. The two opposing portrait reliefs carved on the two door panels of this comparable seem similar in type and execution to the central one on the offered example, whilst the rosette carved spandrels on these panels are closely comparable on both models.

A further precursor worthy of mention is an impressive early French coffer, dated circa 1520, which has related - albeit somewhat loosely associated - portrait relief carved panels to its front. This Renaissance period piece appears illustrated in J. Thirion, Le Mobilier du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance en France, 1998, Dijon, p. 78.