Images(10)

Chest

Dateca. 1835

Possibly by John Stirewalt

Possibly by Jacob Stirewalt

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Shenandoah County, New Market (possibly)

MediumYellow pine, maple (probably), paint, iron

DimensionsOverall: 17 3/4 × 27 1/2 × 15 1/2in. (45.1 × 69.9 × 39.4cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase, The Friends of Colonial Williamsburg Collections Fund

Object number2021.2000.1

DescriptionSmall rectangular blanket chest on short turned legs blocked at top with bulbous ring turnings and tapered feet (different turnings on front and rear feet); top with reeded edge on front and sides, hinged at rear with iron butt hinges (possibly original); till with hinged lid across interior on proper right end; bottom board extends past sides with angled edge creating base molding; painted on front, sides, top and feet; red sponged decorated ground on top, front and sides with black details at corners, edges of top, bottom, and feet; stenciled motifs on top of yellow 8-pointed star with four green and yellow birds in center with one yellow and one green stem and five leaf motif on each side; sponge decoration on top in pattern with corner fans and radiating arcs of fans; front painted with two birds (parrots) with dark heads and yellow bodies with dark speckles and yellow beaks and eyes facing each other in center with one green and one yellow stem and five leaf motif stenciled elements at each sides; sides painted with dark bodies bird with yellow spread wings and beak; feet have 8-pointed stars painted on front and side facades; Construction: wedged dovetailed case with bottom board nailed to underside; feet round tenoned through bottom board and wedged.
Label TextThis small chest is part of a larger group of boxes and small chests with turned feet, many of which descended in Germanic families in Shenandoah County, Virginia. The chests and boxes have related iconography of birds, stars, feathers and eagles, probably made with stencils as well as freehand work. Some of these designs appear to have derived from other decorative arts like pieced quilts and Germanic Fraktur (illustrated manuscripts). One chest in the group is inscribed “Maid by Mr. Stiawalt in Shennadoh Co 1835 bought by Isaac Bull.” The inscribed box has the same dark bodied bird with spread yellow wings found on the ends of this small chest. It is thought that the Mr. Stirewalt mentioned is John N. Stirewalt (1802-1836) or his brother Jacob (1805-1869). While both married in New Market, Virginia, John returned to Rowan Co, North Carolina in 1832 as a Lutheran pastor. Whether the Mr. Stirewalt mentioned was the carpenter or painter of the chests is unknown.
ProvenancePrivate Texas collector; Jeffery S. Evans Auction