Posted 10 years ago
rmon128
(3 items)
I'm reposting this with better pictures. Unfortunately, I didn't see a way to add pictures to my old post; maybe I'm just completely computer illiterate. I purchased this small chest yesterday at a thrift store. Its dimensions are 27x14.5x16. The top, front and sides all have a design made into the wood, possibly with pyrography? Just a guess. I can't find any markings on the chest except for the patterns on the top, sides and front of the chest. There are interlocking slats making up the bottom of the chest. There are pegs in all the holes except for the screws in the hinges. The handles are missing, but my guess is that they were rope, as there is a decorative eye bolt screw on each end of the box and a place where the second eye bolt screw would've gone. I would welcome any feedback or ideas on the origins of the chest, the design, whether or not it is handmade, and the age. Thanks in advance.
Picture 1: the front of the chest
Picture 2: the top
Picture 3: the slats on the bottom
Picture 4: the interior of the chest; was having a little issue with getting a good picture
This is just an opinion but it looks to be home made. The etching on the front could have been made by a very skilled person using a wood burning kit but, more than likely, it was carefully etched with a knife by tracing the design on it then carving it or free hand drawing it then etching it by hand. The different colorations could have been achieved by staining certain areas of the design with dark stain and leaving the rest of the areas unstained. The front piece looks like plywood but I'm certainly no expert when it comes to identifying the various species of woods used in making things like this. My guess as to age would be early 1900s, although it could have been made in the late 1800s.