An Extremely Fine and Rare Pair of Tudor Oak Portrait Panels
Each panel carved with the profile head and shoulders of a nobleman, wearing elaborate headdresses and ruffed collars, within a pierced panel with rope twist edge.
Of particular interest is the headdress of the gentleman in the larger panel – here the back of the head is protected by a chain mail coif, whilst the front of the helmet takes the form of a stylised bird or fish. In this instance, I am pretty sure the creature is a fish – in fact, a pike, which was used in medieval heraldry as a symbol for a military family, indicating prowess and fortitude (early Christians also use the pike as an emblem of their faith).
As to the panels themselves, they would almost certainly have formed the pierced panels (pierced for ventilation) of the doors to an early 16th century Aumbrey, a piece of furniture found in more wealthy households, households which would almost certainly have links to the military.
English, circa 1480-1520.
The larger panel, 14 inches by 11 inches.
Ref 2907
