Sale 213 Lot 397

ANTIQUE CARVED WOODEN CYPRIOT COFFER (SINDUKI) A traditional Cypriot wooden coffer, or sinduki, serves as a vital artifact of the island's folk heritage, historically functioning as a bride’s dowry chest to store valuable linens, silks, and embroideries. These chests are typically crafted from durable local woods like pine or walnut and are characterized by elaborate high-relief carvings on their front panels. Common decorative motifs include stylized architectural elements, such as churches or temples, flanked by large radiating solar rosettes that symbolize eternity or divine protection. Ornate vertical bands of floral patterns and geometric borders further enhance the design, with the complexity of the craftsmanship often reflecting the social standing of the family. Resting on sturdy block feet to protect the contents from damp floors, these chests were produced in prominent woodworking centers like Lapithos and remain celebrated symbols of Cypriot domestic life and artisanal skill. Height: 18 inches (excluding feet); length: 43 inches
$500-700

PROVENANCE: Present lot was acquired by Bennett Schiff (1920-2014), a member of the U.S. Foreign Service who served as press attaché in Nicosia, Cyprus, and Tehran from 1962 until 1967.He moved to Washington, DC, in 1967 to work as a consultant to the Peace Corps, the Office of Economic Opportunity, the Ford Foundation, the Inter-American Foundation, and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.