The architecturally structured chest features an antique arrangement of columns and intricate perspective intarsia. The year 1599, in the frieze in the central section, may be a reference to the date the guild was established. The chest came from a carpenters’ guild, as shown by the various tools depicted in intarsia on the lid. Such boxes were commonly used to store important official documents, certificates and guild emblems. When the masters met, the chest stood in the centre of the table, for negotiations could only be conducted when the lid was open. (Barbara Til)
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