Lot Essay
In contrast to the majority of furniture produced in eighteenth century Pennsylvania, the primary wood of the blanket chest illustrated here is sycamore rather than walnut. This blanket chest is also unusual in its use of several different material inlays, including both sulfur for the name and date, and a lighter wood for the stringing and central compass.
While the motifs of this blanket chest are inlaid, their arrangement is related to comparable painted forms. Laid out as a triptych, each nominal inlaid panel is punctuated by a negative-astragal. Likewise, the center compass star relates to both variegated painted star and rosette motifs on other surface-decorated blanket chests, as well as to comparable floral forms on fraktur. A related later sulfur-inlaid walnut blanket chest is illustrated Garvan, p. 20, fig. 6. This chest is dated 12 January 1782 and employs a simpler format for its decorative scheme.
For further information, see Fabian, p. 50.
While the motifs of this blanket chest are inlaid, their arrangement is related to comparable painted forms. Laid out as a triptych, each nominal inlaid panel is punctuated by a negative-astragal. Likewise, the center compass star relates to both variegated painted star and rosette motifs on other surface-decorated blanket chests, as well as to comparable floral forms on fraktur. A related later sulfur-inlaid walnut blanket chest is illustrated Garvan, p. 20, fig. 6. This chest is dated 12 January 1782 and employs a simpler format for its decorative scheme.
For further information, see Fabian, p. 50.