18th Century Painted Chest

[bigwull]

could also be a Blanket Kist...Box to everyone else!

[mart]

kind of fun to speculate on something of this age !

[bigwull]

I think its fantastic that it got here...it would probably make our toes curl if we ever found out how many wooden antiquities ended up as fuel for the fire

[Rauville]

I've handled a number of Scandinavian chests and trunks over the years, and I don't recall having one with the overlay paneled front that this one has. I would guess that it was probably remodeled in the distant past to be presented as possibly a wedding gift. It was common to reuse a family piece by repainting and adding additional decoration.

[jacon4]

It's a late 18th century early 19th blanket chest of european origin. The panels, are the mouldings carved or mitered at the corners individual strips of wood ? If the panels are carved and not applied, that suggests germanic construction in the 18th century.

A quick google brought up this Swedish chest
 
  http://www.antiqueandartexchange.com/catalog/case-pieces/blanket-chests/swedish-painted-dowry-chest

[jacon4]

If i were you, I would email the owner of this shop, she specializes in these types of chests/cupboards. She helped me awhile back with a paint decorated blanket chest i bought from upper NY state that turned out to be european origin. Very knowledgeable dealer who handles similar objects

http://www.cupboardsandroses.com/

[jacon4]

"kist" means chest in German, indeed, some early paint decorated Pennsylvania German blanket chests have the words  "Mien Kist"  which means "my chest" painted on them as well as the young ladies name. It was very common in 18th century PA. for the father of the house to commission a paint decorated blanket/dower chest on the birth of a daughter to his household.

[mart]

thanks for the link jacon4,, i would love to know more about this and chest and others although i doubt i would ever find one in a yard sale or craigslist here in Texas !

[jacon4]

Mart, lol, probably not in a yard sale, noooooooooo. Some of these 18th century paint decorated blanket/dower chests from PA are really quite spectacular. In Oct 2008, after the economic crash and art and antiques prices went with them, this chest sold at Pook & Pook for $120,000. at the Machmer sale. I have seen really fine examples sell for over $500,000. in the past. It's ALL ABOUT THE PAINT kids, i know,i know, i repeat myself but, its all true!

 http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/5756368

[mart]

thats a nice one !!  love the paintwork !!  wonder how many chests like these have wound up coated with latex ?

[jacon4]

A bunch, but thats the good news because later paint can be removed without damage to the original paint. The bad news? some were stripped with a belt sander during a decorating fad in the 1970s, the chest is still 18th century but we will never see the original paint decoration, kinda sad actually.

[mart]

very sad !!  these are lovely !!

[jacon4]

OK, back to the chest and later pics, it appears that the front board of chest is almost twice as thick as the sides of case are which suggests the panels are carved and not applied. If that is correct, i am going to guess last quarter 18th century, somewhere in Germany or Austria.

[bigwull]

A bunch, but thats the good news because later paint can be removed without damage to the original paint. The bad news? some were stripped with a belt sander during a decorating fad in the 1970s, the chest is still 18th century but we will never see the original paint decoration, kinda sad actually.

It still goes on over here,in UK,..think big tank of caustic solution,..in goes kist out comes a box that is a shadow of its former self.....

[fancypants]

Very nice & dandy scandahoovian-esque find , hosman321 !