I bought huge antique chest - think Vatican

[gtcollection]

Hi I recently bought this chest. It is carved oak, nice, but value i think it in coat of arms - look please can it be the  gift from pope to napoleon or from napoleon to pope pay attention on coat of arms any help is appreciated! i deal with coins but come across other antiques too [/img]

[KC]

Can you please post more pictures.

Of the entire piece...front, back, sides, insides, etc.

[Mat]

Hi, why do you think it has something to do with Napoleon? Is there a story behind the piece? Could you please post also a closeup picture of the coat of arms? Mat

[Mat]

Maybe the coat of arms is that of Pope Innocent XIII (1721 -24) ? Here is a coat of arms of him to compare: http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-carved-wood-armorial-cartouche-of-the-1479107-details.aspx?intObjectID=1479107 The style also does not fit in the Napoleonic period, I think...

[KC]

This could be a family crest!

Especially with the Keys in the grouping!
Keys means: Guardianship/Dominion/Ascendence
Spread Wing Eagle means: Protection
Cherubs mean: Honor, Glory, Dignity, Status/Position

[mart]

http://www.napoleon.org/en/essential_napoleon/symbols/

And this is Napoleons coat of arms,, first and second empire !!

[KC]

And it appears to have an orb at the top and not a crown.  It is another observation the the orb doesn't have a cross (known as a globus cruciger - meaning the power of a sovereign).  In most heraldry it has a cross or intricate engravings to depict meaning (whether it mean encompassing the whole world, whole religion, etc)  Does yours have small carvings on it that we cannot see in this picture?

"The COAT OF ARMS generally refers to the, cape, shield, crest and helmet, while the FAMILY CREST technically only refers to the small image that lies on the helm (top of the helmet). The family crest is a component of a coat of arms, which can be used as a simplified symbol when the full coat of arms is too detailed."

[mart]

I can`t see enough of the chest to tell much about it !!

[Mat]

KC, I do not think the object at the top is an orb, but rather a three-tiered papal tiara, also called Triregnum ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_tiara ). You can see the three crowns, one over the other, in the photo The cross on top  may have broken off. This in combination with the two keys makes me believe that it is indeed a papal coat of arms ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_coats_of_arms ), with the eagle being - as you said - a family coat of arms. If my guess in my earlier post is right - but without better photos it can only be a guess -, the eagle would be the coat of arms of the Conti di Segni, as Innocent XIII was a member of this family. I think it is him because of the style of the decoration, -the next pope wit an eagle would be Leo XII (1823-1829), but I doubt they would make  such a chest in that period. Earlier popes with an eagle are again members of the Conti di Segni, but in the Middle Ages. That would be far too early for the chest. Of course one has to check the technical details of the chest, if the way it is made supports an early 18th century dating. (I am no expert at all for this, but maybe others around here are more experienced with furniture) It always could be a later copy! Hovever, I think this is quite an interesting piece...
Mat