16th Century Ark

This is 16th Century flat pack furniture purely designed to store food securely and help make bread. Rare and definitly of Museum Quality - the V & A have a similar one dated at 1550. This one is 1548 because of the date being carved into it. The lid is hinged without hinges and flips over to be a kneading trough. Shakespeare had a smaller one, that is in Anne Hathaway's cottage and he almost served time for tax evasion for not paying the tax on the food he stockpiled and sold on at times of famine. BROWN FURNITURE DOESN’T BELONG IN A MODERN HOME A short sighted viewpoint; our response is always the same. Be careful, this beautiful period item may have more character than your 'modern home' can handle.... . Let me explain. The features within the modern home exist because of this 500 year old innovation; an Ark. It has outlasted 23 British Monarchs and 15 Empries. It is likely to outlast the lifespan of your 'modern home' too. It pioneered flat pack furniture 400 years before Ikea was started in a garden shed. It pioneered indoor food storage & indoor food preparation that led to your kitchen being indoors. It almost led to Shakespeare being jailed for stockpiling food in his own Ark to feed his, and his neighbours', families during time of famine. (search the BBC for the article) . It has more character, history and personality than a 'modern house' can hope to enjoy; and it does it in some style too. . Time you started looking at 'brown furniture' differently.