old hand painted chest

[KC]

I am curious about the wear of it as well.  The paint has cracked off but not very apparent wear patterns.

Also, the curious about the white flower.  It seems for every Christian symbolism (dogwood flower - cross, etc.) there is the dark side (serpent flower - white purity with a serpent hiding behind to pounce).

[Skinny]

:)Your box is likely to be at least a couple of Hundred years old. It's and Icon box. from the Byzantine period, theres alot of interest in a box like this.

I thought it had a Byzantine look to it as well. I know that the fall of Constantinople to the Turks was sometime in the mid fifteenth century. Could this thing be that old? Old enough to predate the fall of the Byzantine empire? I of course know very little of antiques of this kind, but I do know that there are several other Orthodox Church's that sprang from the Eastern Empire's Church (and outlasted it). Greek Orthodox, Russian, and many eastern European churches. I know there seems to be much similarity between the artwork and architecture of the Byzantine and some of the other Orthodox Churches.

It just seems to me that if this is actual Byzantine, it would have to be at least 550 years old, and I would imagine quite valuble. Am I way wrong on this?

[KC]

You would be right Skinny...if in fact it is from that time period!

I think now is the time that tara1245 gets a hands-on evaluation/appraisal from an expert.

Definitely has the look of Byzantine.  Has a lot of the symbolism of that era....including the fruit in the serving bowl.  (Different fruits mean different things). 

Just can't put my finger on this one....there's just something.....The look/wear and the story?!

Could you relate that is Judas laying down at the Garden Gate?  or who?

[tara1245]

Hmm, that is odd about the wormholes. My mom said that the large areas of cracked paint happened in the last couple of years, not sure how.  She keeps old papers, photos and letters in it and will take the trunk from room to room. Here are a few more photos.

I didn't know they had leper colonies on Hawaii.  I asked my mom about it and she said that her mother used to visit one with a church group.  She said that strangely enough grandma mentioned it was one of the most peaceful places she had ever been to.