Posted 8 years ago
BHock45
(807 items)
I found this piece in the basement of an old house up in Bergen County, NJ. The piece is beautifully painted with unicorns and tulips. It is a deep orange in color. The chest is made from six wide pieces of hard pine. The nails are hand wrought L-shape nails, typically found on old chests. The hinges holding the lid on are original snipe or butterfly hinges. It appears there were once feet on the chest that have been removed.
The question: Is the paint original from the early 1800's or was it painted much later?
To me, the chest is a little earlier than the paint itself, but I know this was often the case because artists would travel door to door and offer to decorate people's furniture.
I have this feeling that the chest is of New England origin, but the painting is most likely PA Bucks or Lancaster county. Would appreciate any insight. Thanks!
Always loved these brightly painted chest ! Many very early chest (pre 1800's) were painted like this. And even from Kentucky rifle area. Guessing, early German/Dutch.
Hey blunder, yeah most likely early PA Dutch. Hoping the painting is nearly as old as the chest. What a steal I got on this piece if it is real. I drove up north jersey about two hours to pick up a candle stand and the guy pulls out this piece. It was meant to be.
Your chest appears like it was painted using the "early milk" that was common to that time frame. I believe the decorations (motif) was painted at a later date. Ironically, My daughter-in-law Leigh, was given a PA dowery chest by her grandmother, who as an avid period furniture collector and it has surprisingly similar decorations as yours. As you pointed out it was a common practice of transiants to perform odd jobs or carvings to pay for a nights lodging.
It looks like it does not have dovetailed joints. This would be something that was often used, but not exclusively in PA dowery chests.
The lack of feet indicate that it did not have bracket feet, but possibly ball or turnip feet. This type of feet would leave a tapered hole in each corner, where the dowel of the foot goes into the floor. An indication of that would date the chest even earlier. Wide plank Pine was commonly used both by PA and New England craftsmen.
I love it. It is an example of early American folk art, something that is close to my heart, and as I see by your postings, close to your heart also.
My guess, and that is all that it is, is that your beautiful dowery chest dates from the late 1700's to the early 1800's. Great, great posting.
hotairfan, Yes, i agree with everything you say, and I am thankful that you took the time to look it over. As you mentioned, there are small holes in each of the four corners bored into the bottom board.
There was a painter of the time nicknamed the "black unicorn artist" or "black unicorn painter"; he painted chests similar to this one. I looked hard for a signature, but none found on this piece. Thank you again for taking the time! I have another exciting posting coming.....I am a little hesitant, but I am getting closer to being ready . Talk to you later! -Brett
thanks for the loves valentino, alien, vintage, bobby, violet, hotair, vetraio, aura, sean, jscott, mike, blunder, melanie
thanks fatboy64 for the love