Spanish, 17th century (base later). Spanish walnut, bone and iron mounted painted and parcel gilt decorated vargueno on chest, in two parts, both sections with red velvet backed iron fretwork mounts including the side carrying handles, the fall front with an ornate hasp and lock-plate and two bolts to each side sliding to release the hinged fall enclosing a fitted interior richly embellished with thirteen drawers and two cupboards (secret compartment lies behind the bottom middle drawer), all decorated with lozenge- shaped inlay, painted and gilded, and mounted with spiral fluted bone columns supporting architectural elements of broken pediments and arches. The small drawers have shell form metal pulls and the two cupboards with locking mechanisms. The lower chest having two deep long drawers. The whole outlined with applied gilt metal rosette shaped studs. Approximate height 54.12", width 42.8", depth 16.5". Provenance: Property from the Estate of Dr. Woody Cobbs & Mrs. Honor Cobbs, Atlanta, Georgia. Purchased from Louis Joseph Inc, Auctioneer, 840 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston 15, Massachusetts, Sale no 273, lot 370B on April 2, 1958.

Structurally sound. Red velvet under iron fretwork is faded, worn and with losses. There are two horizontal cracks across the fall front. The interior of fall front supported with new chains and mounts. A couple of the spiral bone columns have been glued and some are loose. Areas of old repair with some gilt refreshed. A few of the iron fretwork mounts has been re-attached and a few are attached but with breaks or losses. The applied rosette and star shaped studs mounted to the exterior have chips with losses and possibly not original to the piece. Base is later. Bottom drawers missing 2 pulls and one backplate. Bottom right side of base with wood loss. All over chips and nicks, scattered worming as would be expected with age and usage.