Painted Trunk

Date1875-1882; ca. 1926

Artist/Maker Max Reyer (1862-1945?)

OriginAmerica, New Jersey, Belmar and Europe, Germany

MediumWood, iron, paint and ink

DimensionsOH: 21 1/8"; OW: 39 1/8"; OD: 19 1/2"

Credit LineGift of Faith Reyher Jackson

Object number1987.2000.1

DescriptionDome-lid trunk with hinged lid; iron C shaped handles with diamond shaped backplates at each end; four iron bands, two around ends of trunk and two about six inches in from ends; applied large rectangular panel on front of trunk and lid around lock with chamfered bottom corners, and two applied smaller rectangular panels on front of lid at ends. Trunk painted with flowers, vines, butterflies, birds, oak leaves and acorns, wheat, trees, buildings, fountains, trellis, and scenes with animals dressed as people.
Label TextMax Reyher was born in Berlin, where he was trained as a maker of optical scientific instruments. In 1882 he immigrated to America, settling in Philadelphia, and worked as an optician until he retired and moved to Belmar, New Jersey in 1919. There he raised butterflies and began painting.

This trunk is believed to be Reyher's first artwork. Reminiscent of German and Scandinavian painted chests, it is covered with animals and a bewildering array of natural forms. These images reflect Reyher's belief that "the greatest artist in the world is Nature."
InscribedPainted on the lid of the trunk is "Büdingen. O.H."; painted on the left and right front edges of the lid are "1882" and "1921", respectively. On the proper left side are fragmentary inked inscriptions reading "Plato"/"Nirwana"/"Metaphysik"/ and "ignorance" on pieces of paper held by a bird; a piece of sheet music held by a singing bird is titled "[Je]nnie Lind". On the proper right side is a painted arched door with the word "Finis" inscribed at the top.
ProvenanceDescended in the family from Max Reyher to his granddaughter (the donor).