Welsh Borders Meal Chest 16th century
A 16th century boarded oak clamp-front meal chest or ark, Welsh Borders, circa 1550. Having a typical dome-lid constructed using three overlapping boards wedged and tenoned into the upright and extended shaped-ends, with historic iron pivotal side hinges, the side boards clamped and tenoned between broad stiles that all terminate with a characteristic concave-shaped internal edge, 146cm wide x 61cm deep x 84cm high, (57in wide x 24in deep x 33in high)
An ark was typically used for the storage of grain, such as meal, corn and flour. Traditionally it is thought the lid was not fixed in place and once removed the dished underside allowed use as a trough for kneading dough.
Sold for £6,875 at Bonhams
