CHEST

Object/Artifact

-

Bermuda Historical Society Museum

Name/Title

CHEST

Description

Chest of Admiral Sir George Somers. Chest is Italian (probably Venetian) from the early 17th century. With stand. 34" x 15" x 18" high. Cypress wood of the chest is decorated with intaglio carving and punched ornament, supplemented by penwork. The scene inside the lid of Sir George Somers chest is taken from Greek mythology. It shows Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, surprised by Acteon, a hunter, while bathing with her friends. To punish him for the intrusion, she turns him into a stag, whereupon his own dogs attack and kill him, no longer recognizing him as their master. With an internal 'secret' compartment. Chests of this class were exported to locations all over Europe and are mentioned frequently in English inventories in the 16th and early 17th centuries. They are in various sizes and qualities. A similar chest can be seen in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London

Category

Furniture, Cabinetry and Display Cases

Material

Wood, Cypress

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Sir George SOMERS

General Notes

Note Type

1992 Inventory Notes

Note

Chest is Italian (probably Venetian) of early 17th century. With stand. 34" x 15" x 18" high. Cypress wood of chest is decorated with intaglio carving and punched ornament, supplemented by penwork. The scene inside the lid of Sir George Somers chest is taken from Greek mythology. It shows Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, surprised by Acteon, a hunter, while bathing with her friends. To punish him for the intrusion, she turns him into a stag, whereupon his own dogs attack and kill him, no longer recognizing him as their master. With an internal 'secret' compartment. Chests of this class were exported to locations all over Europe and are mentioned frequently in English inventories in the 16th and early 17th centuries. They are in various sizes and qualities. A similar chest can be seen in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. B.Hist.S.25. On display in Somers Room. This unique chest of the Father of Bermuda was added to the Bermuda Historical Society collection in 1937, as sold by the Bellamy of Plymouth (England), following their sale to the Society in 1932, of the portraits of Sir George and Lady Somers, and with their sale of the Lode Stone used by Sir George.