A press cupboard Charles II, third quarter 17th century

carved oak, in two parts, with foliate motifs and strapwork on a stipple ground, the projecting frieze with twin turned pendants, the recessed cupboard enclosed by a pair of panel doors, the base with a larger pair of doors enclosing a later shelf, together with two adapted braised iron Venetian keys, 16th century and later, restorations

Victor Chinnery, Oak Furniture, The British Tradition, Woodbridge, 1979, p. 486, illustrates two press cupboards with similar carving. Chinnery discusses the geographical origin of these two pieces. He writes of 'a distinctive flat and finely-curled style of carving' and attributes work of this type to North Lancashire and the Lancaster area. He goes on to write that these characteristic features were seen over a fifty year period, from the middle of the 17th century into the early 18th century.

For similar 16th century Venetian Keys, see Antique Arms, Armour and Militaria, Sotheby's Olympia, 29th June 2005, lot 64.