Rare 17th Century Oak North Country Box Settle

Magnificent 17th Century English oak box settle probably from Yorkshire or Lancashire of fabulous colour and patina having eight of the most wonderfully carved Dragons or Wyverns to the top rail. The whole piece made from extremely solid large sections of timber with really bold arms and back legs. The turned finials to the top are remarkably all original apart from the one on the far left. The whole piece has a wonderful burnished surface and the hinged seat is original. The hinges are old replacements, the only other repair apart from a few bottom boards is a small amount added to the feet to gain hight lost over the years. Interestingly the back boards and rails are dressed and highly decorated with scratch moulds and chamfers, it is possible that the piece was not intended originally to sit against a wall. We love to see carved wyverns on early Oak, they are a feature seen on some of the best Lancashire furniture from this period.