Description
Plain and oblong in shape, this beautiful chest, thoroughly medieval in both construction and design, is crafted from chestnut wood. The boards are assembled with dovetail joints at the corners. The side panels feature wrought-iron handles. The lid, formed from a thick wooden plank, is attached by two strap hinges.
The decoration covers the entire front face of the chest. Carved in low-relief, it features large stylized flowers, layered and placed at the center and at the ends, giving the whole a ternary rhythm.
On either side of the lock, nestled beneath three nearly Romanesque semicircular arches, three figures are depicted frontally. Standing upright with slightly sloping shoulders, they are dressed in long tunics belted at the waist. With one hand they give a blessing, while in the other they hold a holy book. Their beards and large oval eyes display Hispanic features. They may represent apostles or saintly figures.
The drapery folds, as well as the overall chisel work, adopt a highly graphic style that places this chest in the early Gothic period.