Antique shepherd’s chest, 1820s

Antique shepherd’s chest with geometric decoration from the carpathian highlands, ca. 1820. Also called sarcophagus chests or wallachian chests because of their association with the vlachs, the wandering pastoral tribes of the european highlands. The chest has an attractive raw natural finish that accentuates the ancient symbolic carved exterior. The chest is made of beech wood. The iron fittings are hand forged.