Blanket chest

Date1690-1710

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts, Southeastern (probably)

MediumOak, white cedar and white pine

DimensionsOH: 37 3/4"; OW: 54 5/8"; OD: 21 3/4"

Credit LineGift of Mr. & Mrs. Miodrag R. Blagojevich.

Object number1976-438

DescriptionRectangular hinged chest with two drawers; top (replaced) has rounded edges along front and sides with front to back battens attached to underside at ends; chest has paneled front, sides and back; corner stiles with central molded channel extend past bottom to form feet; top rails on front and sides and base rails on sides have same molded channel; sides are divided unequally by a horizontal rail with molded channel and the top section is further divided into two equal sections by a molded vertical stile; front of chest is divided unequally by a horizontal molded rail with a saw tooth molding along the bottom edge that is echoed in an applied molding at the base of the top rail and the top of the bottom rail on the front of the chest; the upper section of the chest facade is divided into three arched-top panels each with two pyrimidical bosses at ends of arches and a central turned split baluster descending from center of arch; arches have a serrated or saw tooth pattern cut into the underside and evidence remains of a scalloped border around the arch; the three panels are separated by two molded and channeled vertical stiles; vertical stiles and corner stiles of chest have two double height turned split balusters flanking the channel; the bottom section of the facade is divided into two side hung drawers each with one round wooden drawer pull (replaced); drawers are flanked and separated by the molded and channeled vertical stiles with two applied turned split balusters on each divider; interior of chest has a till along the proper right end with an inscribed surface molding; back of the chest is composed of five vertical floating panels between vertical stiles.

Woods: The chest is framed and paneled in white oak with white pine panels in the back, drawer sides are oak, drawer bottoms are white cedar.