RARE ANTIQUE 16th Cty OAK & IRON CHURCH OFFERTORY TRUNK 82 lbs * 36" * RESTORED ORIGINAL * 30 PICS * BEST OFFER Start Price USD 12,000.00 Current Price USD 12,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, September 17, 2008 End Time Friday, October 17, 2008 Location Bonita Springs, Florida See more about 'RARE ANTIQUE 16th Cty OAK & IRON CHURCH OFFERTORY TRUNK' Description  VERY RARE ORIGINAL ANTIQUE 16th CENTURYCHURCH OFFERTORY TRUNK ("OPFERSTOCK") 82 lbs (37 kg) heavy and 36" (91 cm) tallMADE AROUND THE YEARS 1500 TO 1600 (approx. 400 to 500 years old).Late gothic period, rustic style. Practical design. Possibly of German origin.Beautiful appearance with authentic and consistent traces of use & exposure.In excellent restored condition. Very clean and stable. Ready for display and use.Construction and Features:All hand carved w/ primitive tools from a solid oak tree trunk. Armored all around w/ hand wrought iron bands and panels. Multiple, strong and entertaining locking features (opens in 5 steps with 3 keys). Inside compartment behind hinged wrought iron door.Round inside channel. Top armored w/ wrought iron panels and iron drop funnel.Includes 2 antique iron padlocks w/ screw keys and original cross bolt w/ (later) key.To see other examples (various periods & styles) please visit this website. (3 pages).A small collection of further interesting pictures I found on the web can be seen here. Provenance: In our private collection since 1989. Purchased from the estate of a Swiss Antiques Dealer, whoowned it for approx. 30 to 40 years (but always refused to sell it). I carefully cleaned, detailed &conserved it inside & out during the last months. Ready to be used and admired by a new owner.The piece has pleased and entertained us for the last 19 years, and beyond its collectible and decorative value, it also served us well as a stylish "piggy bank" for pocket change & gifts. The last 2 pictures below show a year 1671 Hungary-Austria 6 Kreuzer Silver Coin, which fell out from an inside crack when we turned the trunk upside down for cleaning. After taking  pictures of the coin near the crack, I accidentally droppedit back in. Now it seems to be stuck in the lower end of the trunk and is therefor included (as it was, maybe since 300 years).MEASUREMENTS: Overall 35-7/8" (91.1 cm) high on 11-1/2" by 8-5/8" (29.2 x 21.9 cm) wide base.Top is 10-1/8" by 8-5/8" (25.7 x 21.9 cm) wide. Funnel is 2-3/8" by 1-7/8" (6.0 x 4.7 cm) wide at top and slot below is 1-5/8" by 3/8" (4.1 x 0.95 cm) wide. Hinged door is 8-7/8" (22.5 cm) high and 6-1/4" (15.9 cm) wide. The inside compartment behind the hingeddoor is 6" (15.2 cm) high, 4-3/4" (12 cm) wide and 4-1/2" (11.4 cm) deep at the center.Drop channel is approx. 1-5/8" (4.1 cm) dia. at upper and  2" (5.4 cm) dia. at lower end.Large padlock: 7-1/2" (19 cm) long and 3-1/2" (8.9 cm) high. Weight: 1.4 lbs (0.56 kg).Small padlock: 3" (7.6 cm) long and 1-7/8" (4.7 cm) high. Weight: 4.2 ozs (0.12 kg).Cross bolt: 8-7/8" (22.5 cm) long and 5/8" (1.6 cm) thick. Weight: 10 ozs (0.3 kg).Total weight: 81.6 lbs (37 kg). Safely packed shipping weight: 100 lbs (45 kg)CONDITION DETAILS (please read carefully and check all pictures):  In excellent and widely original condition, consistent with age and purpose.Recently carefully cleaned, detailed & conserved. Ready for display & use.The door has traces of three different locks that were installed and removedover the last 4 centuries. There was no door lock installed when we purchasedthe trunk and regretfully we have not found a correct and matching lock yet.The small padlock that locks the upper horizontal brace is a fine 17th centuryexample. It has its original female screw type key and it is fully functional.The large padlock that locks the lower horizontal brace is approx. 150 to 200years old. The screw type key has been repaired and the lock works very well.The threaded bolt that goes into the side hole to lock the large vertical braceis original. The key that fits on the triangular bolt head might be a bit later.The threads of the bolt are worn as expected, but are still holding very well.The wrought iron bands and armor appear to be original all around. One of thevertical bands has lost a little piece at its upper end. The nails that hold the bands,armor pieces and hinges are widely original and the occasional replacements are correct in style and appearance. All nails are holding strong and have been refittedwhere necessary. The hinges are all strong and functional and have original bolts.The coin funnel has moderate play, but is securely held and cannot be removed.The skirts at the base are carved from aged oak, but were added later (possibly in the 19th Cty) and the rear end of the base was replaced likely at the same time.Reason for this might be that the trunk was once attached to a floor and that the base had to be modified and/or repaired after the trunk was removed. Still, the younger skirts matchvery nicely in color & style, and they are attached with antique and correctly shaped nails.Certainly once had a squarish box inside (likely metal) to collect the dropped coins, but itis long lost. So we used an antique copper pot instead (see 3rd and 4th picture of last row).Pot has some dents but it fits, works and sounds nicely; it will be included with the trunk.These and many other details are shown in 30+ large pictures, viewable by clicking onthe thumbnails below. If you need any additional details please do not hesitate to ask.TERMS OF SALE AND PAYMENT:Buy-it-Now price includes FEDEX EXPRESS to major destinations worldwide  (2-3 day Air within US / 3-8 day Air for International). International: please contact us to confirm availability before purchaseInstead of "Buy-it-Now" we invite you to submit your "Best Offer" for ourconsideration. We will either accept or decline your offer, or respond to you with a "Counteroffer". Insured Fedex Ground Shipping in the US will be free. Fedex Express Air (US or International) is not & cannot be included with"Best Offer", and cost will added to the agreed "Best Offer" price as ordered.To estimate these shipping costs please read "SHIPPING & HANDLING" below,or ask us for the exact costs to your destination before making your "Best Offer".Payment is expected within 5 days by PayPal or Check (cashiers or personal).All checks will be held until they have been fully cleared by your issuing bank.Credit Cards accepted through PayPal only. We do not accept 3rd-party escrow services.SHIPPING & HANDLING:Please note: we only use FEDEX Ground or Air Services (eBay calculator has UPS only).Will be safely padded and packed in sealed plywood crate w/ proper labeling (FREE).Packed shipping crate is approx. 42" wide, 15" high and 17" long. Weight: approx. 100 lbs.Fedex Ground within US is always free. Fedex Express Air for US or major** internationaldestinations is included only if you purchase w/ "Buy-it-Now" (**additional costs to remotelocations may apply). Service upgrades always available if you pay for the additional costs. We charge carrier's actual shipping and insurance costs only, no packing or handling fees.For shipping choices and estimates for US & Canada please use eBay's calculator below.Estimates for Fedex International are:  UK & Europe: $ 540, Japan: $ 580, Australia: $ 690.International duties, taxes and fees are buyer's responsibility (estimates available upon request).For precise shipping options and costs please contact us before making a purchase or offer.Ships upon payment clearance within two business days (necessary for crating and careful packing).Local pickup in Florida 34135 always welcome and free of charge (to be completed within 10 days). For more information about us and our offerings, and more detailed terms and policies, pleasevisit our eBay Page. We have been dealing in valuable Antiques & Estate items since 1978 andare a respected eBay seller since Jan. 99 with 100% positive feedback for over 3900 transactions.Please also visit  FLEAMASTERS for our No-Reserve eBay Auctions w/ Antiques & Collectibles.Thank you for your attention to our offerings. If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact us and we will respond promptly and conscientiously. TRIPLE CLOSE-UP VIEW (lower half w/ locking features):MORE DETAILED PICTURES (please click to enlarge in new window):                                                      Place a Bid!