Chest - Chest

Painted chest or blanket chest with storage area over two side-by-side drawers. Two board top with tongue and groove construction and molding around front three edges applied with nails. Back edge has scratch molding detail continuing the pattern of the other edges. Case is assembled with square dovetails. Remnants of leather hinge fitting is still present at rear proper right. Later hinges added, numerous nail holes present. Molding nailed to top and sides of front with central strip creating two panels. An iron hook remains on the top of the center strip, which appears to have been a fastener with the connecting latch still remaining, but unattached, inside the case. Evidence of other hardware. Base of piece includes two drawers with turned knobs and is divided from the upper case by a strip of central ogee molding around the three outer sides. Drawers have scratch molding around all four sides. Proper left drawer retains iron lock, proper right now lacks this. Drawers are of nailed construction. The drawers are held within a shaped apron with three curved feet. Spurs extend towards the interior of the case away from the outer feet. The interior proper right of case has a narrow till with sliding side set with small knob which can be raised to reveal a lower compartment. The interior is otherwise open. Outer three sides and top are painted with a dark blueish green color. Design in yellow, red, in white depicts wandering vines with flowers and leaves divided by small, fern like trees. Some of the design may have been stamped onto the blue background. The molding below the top and between upper and lower portions is a yellow color. On each foot is a large yellow heart surrounded by red dots. Drawers carry through the wandering vine design with tree forms at each edge and dots around the escutcheons. Sides continue the design but lack the hearts along the skirt. The back retains a red wash.