{"product_id":"blanket-chest-southeastern-pennsylvania-1770-1795","title":"Blanket Chest, Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1770-1795","description":"\u003cp\u003eBlanket chest.\u003cbr\u003eSoutheastern Pennsylvania, 1770-1795.\u003cbr\u003eWalnut; tulip poplar.\u003cbr\u003e29 3\/4\" x 49\" x 23\".\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDescriptions by the Leading Expert of American Furniture, Dr. Philip Zimmerman, former Senior Curator and Head of the Museum at the Winterthur.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe blanket chest is a classic example of a popular storage form among Pennsylvania Germans and other inhabitants of the eastern half of the state. It has an applied molding around the front and sides that separates a range of three side-by-side drawers from the chest cavity accessed by a hinged lid. The center drawer is narrower than the outer ones. The lid, attached by Germanic-style iron strap hinges, is made of three boards with an applied molded edge around the front and sides. It locks with a Germanic spring lock (now replaced by a modern replica), in contrast to an English box ubiquitous in early American furniture. The chest stands on straight bracket feet and has a central drop.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe chest is made in characteristic fashion. The corners of the case are joined by finely made dovetails that have wedges driven into each dovetail pin to spread it firmly against the (dove) tails of the joint. The front corners of the bracket feet are also joined in this manner. The rear corners are held together with wood pegs. Pegs also attach the molding around the chest lid and secure internal boards (above and between the drawers) to the chest back board. There are very few nails used in this chest, except for a few added later for reinforcement.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInside, the chest has a till built into the top left side. The long side board of the till can be slid deeper into the groove cut into the backboard, freeing it from the opposite groove and allowing it to be removed. Removal exposes three secret drawers in a range below the bottom of the till cavity. Such “secret” drawers are relatively common in these chests, but not so much in chests of Anglican origins. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  The brasses on this chest are replacements. A slight separation between the two boards used to create the chest front (a normal construction) has been stabilized inside the chest with an inlaid dovetail or “dutchman.” The inside of the lid has been finished in a clear coating, which is not a usual practice. The finish on the outside is an aged refinish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"aradernyc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46332242264108,"sku":null,"price":18000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1156\/7956\/files\/a_dfd20926-8942-4cbc-8558-c9f31e8d4278.jpg?v=1791151578","url":"https:\/\/aradernyc.com\/products\/blanket-chest-southeastern-pennsylvania-1770-1795","provider":"Arader Galleries","version":"1.0","type":"link"}