From collection Furniture
Blanket chest
The double-paneled chest with one or two drawers at the base is a furniture form unique to Long Island. Of the approximately thirty-five chests of this type known, those with family histories came from Oyster Bay, the Westbury-Jericho area, Glen Cove, and Hempstead. It is likely craftspeople in eastern Queens County (today Nassau County) exclusively created them. Often constructed of softwood pine, the chests were typically painted, like this example, which retains its original blue-green pigment.
Details
Blanket chest
1750 - 1770
20 x 42.75 x 40 in.
Pine blanket chest with lift top and recessed double panels floating in mortise and tenon frames bordered with applied molding, additional vertical molding applied along the right and left sides; horizontal molding nailed in place at transition between upper and lower sections; lower section holds two drawers of dovetail and butt joint construction divided by a dado jointed drawer blade with horizontal molding; applied horizontal molding around perimeter of the base; supported by two brackets with boot jack feet in rear and turned bun feet in front; backing comprised of three tongue-in-groove panels nailed to sides; Chippendale-style brasses not original; blue/green painted surface is old, possibly not original.
From the estate of Bertha Benkard Rose (1906–1982).
1985.79
Gift of George H. Rose
