French missal coffer (SOTLS : 1983.441)3D ModelNoAI
A French 16th century Missal Coffer. The strong box is effectively a mini safe which is made from iron which covers a wooden core. These strong boxes are believed to date from the middle of the fifteenth century.
Often referred to as messenger caskets, these boxes were securely constructed yet relatively light in weight to facilitate travel. They were used to safely hold and transport precious possessions, such as costly books or objects, and most importantly missals, either by directly attaching them from their iron rings to a saddle or by suspending them within a larger chest.
The missal coffer has been laser scanned as part of a collaborative project between Southampton Cultural Services and the Department of Archaeology at the University of Southampton.
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