Blanket chest

Date1829

OriginAmerica, Tennessee, Greene County (possibly)

MediumTulip poplar; yellow pine, tinplate, iron, and paint

DimensionsOH: 27 11/16": OW: 48 3/4": OD: 22 1/4" OH: 70.3 cm; OW: 123.8 cm; OD: 56.5cm

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1985.2000.1

DescriptionTop of chest is a 1" thick plank with applied molding on front and sides which fits over sides of chest when closed. Plank sides of chest dovetailed at corners, those of left side larger and not as neatly done as those on right. Heavy molding applied around front and sides at base of chest. Bracket feet dovetailed at front corners and nailed to the underside of the base molding on front and sides. Vertical block nailed to bracket feet tapers at top where it passes through bottom of chest into the interior and is nailed in the corners. Front, sides and top painted in what appears to be black paint.

Top is decorated with a circular floral design placed slightly off center. Leaves and flowers painted in greens and white (yellow?) and surrounded by series of dots describing a circle. Smaller dotted circle in center surrounds a solid "bull's-eye." Several leaves and flowers in central design are highlighted by dots. Below and to each side of central motif are two (cat?) fish with white heads, bellies serrated dorsal fins and tails. Above central motif is a wavy line tapered to a point at both ends. Circle-enclosed four-petal flowers painted in each corner are attached by a curving stem to a central "trunk" midway between the sides and the central circle. From the middle of this "trunk" is a straight stem with a four-petal flower located between the tow circles. Traces of white and green paint and a polka dot motif on molding.

Heart-shaped escutcheon is nailed to front of chest. Thin white rectangle intertwined with leafed vine with berries or dots surrounds the initials D, A. T and the date 1829. Part of vine and rectangle cross tip of escutcheon. Below initials is an eagle with wings and legs outstretched and facing to his right. Only his legs and right wing appear to have been painted in, the rest of the eagle is in outline. Small thistle-like plants with roots flank central rectangle. Large tulips flank central designs. Tulips also have roots; multiple leaves are outlined with dots as is stylized flower; painted in green, brown, and white. At each corner, along dovetails, are green twisting vines outlined with white dots.

Right side is decorated with a double figure eight design above which is multi-leafed, rooted tulip with thistle-like extensions on outside petals and on the dotted stamen or central petal. Design is off-center.

Left side paint has blistered but can still see faint outline of horse facing toward rear of chest. Remnants of white or yellow stripe down the front edge along the dovetail.

Back is unpainted and has no moldings or bracket feet. Top overhangs at back about 1/4". Iron hinges attached inside with pintle outside chest. A boxed shelf is on the right side of the chest, about 1/4 of depth of chest. The fragment of the lid swings up by virtue of two extensions on sides which fit into holes in front and back of chest. Iron lock box set into front.

Interior has fragments of Knoxville Centinal newspaper of 1913 glued to sides and bottom.
Label TextThe chest's ornamentation is noteworthy because the decorator combined traditional motifs such as tulips with fishes and snakes -- images rarely found on extant Germanic chests. A calligraphic flourish and an amusing eagle which presumably was derived from the Great Seal of the United States complete the novel decorative scheme.
Inscribed"D,A,T/1829" is painted on the front of the chest.
ProvenanceFound in the Lost Mountain area of Bay's Mountain in Greene County, Tenn.; Mr. and Mrs. Davis, Jonesborough(?), Tenn.; J. Roderick Moore, Ferrum, Va.

Exhibition(s)