Early 18th century Welsh oak ‘Coffor-bach’ Sold

An early 18th century Welsh oak ‘Coffor-Bach’ (miniature coffer). Made from well figured oak which has a wonderful rich colour. Original escutcheon and the single drawer with pear-drop brass handles.

(Later hinges and moulding restored)

West Wales circa 1720

27¼” wide x 15¾” deep x 12½” high / 69.3cm wide x 40cm deep x 31.8cm high

£950 sold

The coffor bach seems to have been peculiar to Wales, they are miniature versions of full size Welsh chests. Often thought to have been given as a love token or wedding gift, the coffor bach was often a piece which had great sentiment having been handed down through families.

Below is from The Guide to the Collection of Welsh Bygones by Iorweth C. Peate, published by the  National Museum of Wales 1929.

The Bible-box sometimes called prenfol , prembol, or prennol – was a small edition of the coffer, and is reminiscent of the times when the quarto Bible was often the only book in the home. This type of box seems to have been made in Wales from the early 17th up to the beginning off the 19th century; examples resembling little chests with panels and sometimes drawers occur. The Bible-box would generally be placed in the siamber or bedroom,though it is a fairly general practice in Wales to keep the Bible itself in the kitchen or living-room where it used to be read generally at an assembly of the family and servants, each night and morning…