I don’t own this but I’m curious about it. Wondering how old and where from? Looks like some legitimate age. The hardware particularly looks old. European?
I only lightened it to see if it would help to see what we were looking at.....part of me was thinking a huge farm feed bin, but then the decoration doesn't make sense to me for that.....WOW is it beat up!!! But then I suppose I would be too if I were truly that old.......what kind of lock is that that's showing in the third from last image???
I was wondering why the small compartments too. Also curious about the lock as you are. Great minds...
In America referred to as a crab or grab lock, no clue what they are called in Europe. Value here would be very low, condition is poor, it's size and the paint decoration is not exactly exciting from what I can see. It's called an "architectural" chest because it has a board across the front with cutouts to form the panels. In view of that plus the paint, very doubtful it was used originally for livestock, grain storage, etc.
I'm JUST today re-reading my yesterday's comment.....you mean I commented and DIDN'T POST my lightened image????? YIKES.....I must've been tired!!!! Sorry 'bout that........... @J Dagger, is it up for auction?? Maybe it's a 'real sleeper'!!!!
LOL, guessing more like old age! It's old but that doesn't mean valuable as some might think. I would guess $50-100 bucks or so at auction in the USA.
No, probably not, mostly because of those architectural panels, particularly these panels. There are 2 ways to achieve that "look", 1. carved from a solid wood front or 2. Like yours, applied boards attached to front. That is clearly a second half 18th decoration in USA, not positive about europe but guessing similar. Plus hardware on your chest is in line with that period of time. Don't make the mistake many do of falling in love because of age, just because it's old doesn't translate into valuable.
I have a MISTAKE! from 20-25 years ago or so out in the barn, I was hoping it was Pennsylvania because it had a tulip painted on the front, WRONG! It is a European architectural chest but mine the panels are carved from a solid wood front and dated 1769. Let me try & find the pics.
Haha. I didn’t want to say anything. Don’t be sorry, thanks for the image. Better late than never! Not auction just bring offered for sale. It would make good storage but I can’t even get it home without a rental it’s so long. Not worth it for this one I guess.
Thanks for sharing all the knowledge. The ways of achieving and differentiating the architectural front particularly. It’s being offered at 150 obo. If I could get it home I was going to offer $50. Only because it would make good/cool storage in the basement. Even if it’s not valuable still super functional. Your mistake has a great look still. It can’t be flipped?
Tulips are/were a BIG DEAL to German speakers and appears ingrained in their culture, particularly Dutch people. And since German speakers immigration to Pennsylvania in the 18th-19th centuries was the dominant ethnic group during that time, you see a lot of tulip images in their art.
Ah yeh. That somehow has something to do with the flower show being in Phila I suppose? Good to know!!!