Rare C15th missal box
A rare early missal box, originally used to house an illuminated missal, these little prayer books were incredibly expensive and the boxes made to house them reflect this. Made from wrought iron with faux hinges to the front of the box it originally had a hinged tongue that covered the key hole, this has been lost to time. The four loops on the sides were probably to tie it to a saddle for transportation. Later in its life the piece was used to collect money, possibly alms in a church, the narrow slot cut into the top suggests this was probably in the sixteenth or seventeenth century as it would only accommodate early hand struck coins. There is an early key with the box which does not fit the lock.
French. 1450 - 1500
Height 9cm ( 3 1/2”)
Width 11 cm ( 4 1/4”)
Depth 16 cm (6 1/2'’)
A rare early missal box, originally used to house an illuminated missal, these little prayer books were incredibly expensive and the boxes made to house them reflect this. Made from wrought iron with faux hinges to the front of the box it originally had a hinged tongue that covered the key hole, this has been lost to time. The four loops on the sides were probably to tie it to a saddle for transportation. Later in its life the piece was used to collect money, possibly alms in a church, the narrow slot cut into the top suggests this was probably in the sixteenth or seventeenth century as it would only accommodate early hand struck coins. There is an early key with the box which does not fit the lock.
French. 1450 - 1500
Height 9cm ( 3 1/2”)
Width 11 cm ( 4 1/4”)
Depth 16 cm (6 1/2'’)
A rare early missal box, originally used to house an illuminated missal, these little prayer books were incredibly expensive and the boxes made to house them reflect this. Made from wrought iron with faux hinges to the front of the box it originally had a hinged tongue that covered the key hole, this has been lost to time. The four loops on the sides were probably to tie it to a saddle for transportation. Later in its life the piece was used to collect money, possibly alms in a church, the narrow slot cut into the top suggests this was probably in the sixteenth or seventeenth century as it would only accommodate early hand struck coins. There is an early key with the box which does not fit the lock.
French. 1450 - 1500
Height 9cm ( 3 1/2”)
Width 11 cm ( 4 1/4”)
Depth 16 cm (6 1/2'’)