Beautiful
Paint Decorated
Blanket Chest
Northeast, ca. 1830.   

Original bold paint decoration on white pine. Red ground, the front, sides, and top centered by mustard roundels, most enclosing green pinwheels, the boards edged by stylized mustard hearts and green leaves.

Note the Mason’s symbol just below the key hole!

The case is expertly dovetailed by a skilled cabinet-maker. Extensively glue-blocked underneath. Surfaces show substantial hand-planing tool marks. The interior has a locking till, cleverly fitted with internal holes to hold pins matching those within a sliding drawer underneath, such the contents of the drawer may not be accessed if the till is locked.

Structural condition is superb. The stout pine boards remain square and straight. Original iron hinges; lock is gone. Chains added to the interior to prevent the lid from falling over backwards. Expert restoration of the under-the-lid molding strips on the front and one side, so well done that one struggles to find them. Paint wear, especially to the top and creases to the wood; minor paint touch-up on one foot.

Smaller size at just 39 ¼ inches at the widest-which is the overhanging lid. Case width 37 ½ inches wide x 20 deep.