The panel deeply carved with stylised lotus flower-type motifs to top and bottom and a central roundel featuring the face of a lady in profile to left. The lady wears a flower in her hair, much of the rest of her flowing locks covered in a coif or headscarf. The drapery of the lady's dress is indicated by the linen fold carving and her facial features are elegantly carved, her wide eyes being particularly charming and alluring.



This panel is in the Romayne fashion, a style of artistic expression that was popular throughout western Europe in the 16th century. The defining features of the style are the use of naturalistic motifs in combination with human or grotesque faces and the finest examples of the style were produced in England, France and Holland.



The panel has a fine colour and patination, making it all the more desirable, and the deep carving is very fine. What makes the piece particularly interesting is the presence of the stamped initials IC or TC on the neck of the lady. This may refer either to the identity of the figure, the identity of the carver or, perhaps more likely, that of the original owner. Very few panels of this kind are stamped or signed in any way and so this makes the piece of academic as well as aesthetic interest. The piece was previously sold by Jonathan Horne, one of the leading dealers in London in oak furniture and pottery of the same period and is a further sign of its intrinsic interest and quality.