Featured Antique Painted Chest Help Please

I purchased this chest and I know nothing about it. It was purchased in Illinois.
The chest measures 27.5" wide x 16" deep. It is 18.5" high.
When I wiped it down I was getting some red paint on my towel so I stopped doing that.
The top has a lot of wear but the sides look pretty good.
Any information you can give me would be most appreciated.

 

Here is 1 more picture I forgot to post

 

Not my area at all, but this does look rather special to me ....lovely thing!

 

Im guessing here , but it looks like newish India . When I say newish it could be 40-50 years . Its very pretty .

 

Did you have anything on the towel you were using to wipe the chest down with or was it a dry towel??

 

It was damp

 

Following up on @johnnycb09's suggestion:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b0/19/06/b01906eaaf670eb1bc0e911c4a574f53.jpg

"Small wooden chest from Kashmir painted in traditional style. Black panels with tiny white flowers framed by vivid red floral borders. The chest stands on shallow feet and has iron handles and hasp. Made in India: 20th C. 23" x 13.5" x 14.2" tall."

 

and that's why the red....bled..

 

Yeah, it might be worth considering a clear coat like laquer if you plan on keeping it.
I don't think old because of the multi board top & bottom.

 

A lovely Kashmiri chest, I agree with Johnny, second half of the 20th century.

It is Kashmiri lacquer, not paint. Lacquer is natural resin based, and it doesn't like damp towels. Fortunately the damp didn't do any real damage, but I have seen lacquer turn almost grey after a wipe with a damp cloth. (Needless to say that cleaner was banned from the house, I had already told her twice not to do that.)
If you ever feel there is more dirt than just plain old dust, you can use a mild oil to clean off the dirt, if necessary wipe it dry with a very soft cloth.

 

Thank you all so much!