A stunning 17th century large oak panel 

Central to this panel is an arcaded arch 'supported' by two four-step cornices atop incised columns. The ornamental use of arches was used particularly during the late 16th and 17th centuries

The middle of the arcaded panel is decorated with a typical 17th century lozenge framed by a concave border. As with the arcaded arches noted above,decorative lozenges are typical of the late 16th century and early 17th centuries

Above the arcaded arch is a nulled frieze. Nulled friezes were sometimes left to apprentices (or relatively unskilled journeymen) to produce as the repetitive nature of their production (and relatively simply form) was thought by some craftsmen to be below them. This is not the case here: the nulled frieze has been very competently produced with excellent symmetry and form.  

There are a few original nail heads in the panel

The reverse of the panel is interesting but rather confusing - when the 19th century stain was scraped away it revealed what appears to be a scumbled surface. Below the scumbled surface another layer (presumably the original oak layer) was found. Scumbling has been used by artists since the 16th century. In the 19th century it became very fashionable to scumble pine to make it appear to be oak (a much more expensive wood). With this panel we seem to have the reverse, the original oak surface being scumbled to make it look like pine, but then at a later date the scumbled surface was stained to restore the original oak colour. Having found all of this I decided the best course of action was not to remove the scumbled surface but to leave all three surfaces in existence so that the history of the piece was visible. I have numbered the three surfaces as follows:

3. Latest surface  - presumably 19th century in date

2. Scumbled surface

1. Original surface 

The fact that at one point in history a decision was made to scumble the oak suggests that this side of the panel was visible. Clearly, this means that this is not a panel that was attached to a wall. My best guess is that this part of an armoire (a large cupboard for the storage of weapons, clothes etc) 

The front of the panel has been painstakingly dry scraped and cleaned to remove the 19th century stain. This has been a labour of love and has taken many hours, but this panel deserved to be restored. I found it languishing in the back room of an antiques shop collecting dust - together with a narrower panel which I am listing separately. The original 17th century oak surface has been re-established with two coats of a very good quality wax applied to it and it really is a stunning piece of 17th century design and execution. 

Dimensions:

Height: 110.5cms

Width: 57.5cms

Depth: 30mm  

I am afraid that due to its size this is for collection only from Buntingford (East Herts SG9) but I am very happy to liaise with a courier of your choice if you are unable to collect this panel yourself