Beautiful patina on the wood, nicely worn with original hinges which need some attention.
'Tulip mania' is often used to describe the increasing value of bulb imports during the mid 17th C. It only lasted 3 years or so from 1634 - 1637, and was the first speculative financial bubble in recorded history.
Highly sought after for their value and vibrancy, tulips were unlike any flowers seen before in Europe and quickly became a luxury item for royalty, aristocracy and wealthy merchants.
The symbolism of tulips represents prosperity and rarity.
It is likely that this example was originally from a very wealthy household in the 1630s.
