1660 Spanish Poplar Chest with Marquetry and Carvings

• Poplar Wood - Poplar wood is classified as a hardwood but it differs from many other hardwoods in its lighter weight and softer texture. The fine grain of poplar wood results in a smooth surface that takes paint and stain exceptionally well, allowing for versatile finishing options.
  
  Poplar is a popular choice for furniture frames, drawers, interior components, and upholstered furniture. Its light weight and smooth surface make it ideal for these applications. Additionally, poplar finds its way into various items like musical instruments, toys, chopsticks, and even cheese boxes due to its neutral taste and odor.
• Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
• Marquetry - In marquetry inlay, contrasting woods, and other materials such as ivory, shell and metal are inlaid either as panels or in a single continuous sheet over the surface of the piece. The design may be straightforward, such as a shell pattern or a basket of flowers, or it may be infinitely complex, with swirling tendrils of leaves, flowers and foliage, such as one finds, for example, in the "seaweed" patterns on longcase clocks of the William and Mary and Queen Anne periods.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• coffers - European 182
• trunks - various wooden 62