Featured Real 1779 Wedding Chest?

Quite a few antique chests, wardrobes, etc were enhanced overhere as well, I even used to know a dealer who did it, and how. But this one looks original to me too.

 

It looks good to me.

 

imo............ which is not expert , only line of sight...

I find the metal bands are too close to the painting.....or ...the painting is too close to the metal bands.....and wonder if the metal bands were added at a later date to shore up a disintegrating chest....../?????

 

That’s what I was wondering when I saw most of the chests with a similar lid style are Norwegian or Swedish. Maybe the metal bands were added later to make it sturdier for ocean travel. Although not too long after it was made since as far as I can tell, other than a few obviously recent repairs, all of the nails that I can see the post on are square.

 

Not really sure what issues are being seen on this piece. The hand-wrought bands and hinges are absolutely right and likely original to the chest (similar can be found on centuries-old Norwegian chests, as well as some from other countries), though the straps on some were later additions, and it might have been repainted, but from what I can see, the blue base-coat looks to extend under the edges of the strapping. The painted motifs (most likely Norwegian rosemaling), fit well between the straps, even following the shape of the fancy edges - expecting 'perfect' technique and scale in antique, naive decoration seems an odd notion to me. The interior appears to have appropriate age, it would have been closed and filled with belongings for most of its life, so extreme oxidation and discoloration wouldn't be expected. The construction is what I'd expect, same with the lock and key, even the plain back isn't unexpected since it would have been positioned against a wall. Might mention that while it may have journeyed here with some immigrant's possessions, it could easily also have been imported more recently in a shipping crate full of antiques for resale - regardless, it's quite nice, and I'm just a bit envious because this Floridian has been keeping an eye out for one similar for a lot of years...

This Norwegian piece was originally built in 1697, the date present on the lock, the decorative painting done in 1815:
https://digitaltmuseum.no/011023144029/kiste




This one, originally presented in 1787, likely as a confirmation gift, was repainted in 1879 and given to the original recipient's great-grandson:
https://digitaltmuseum.no/0210211418353/kiste/media?slide=0




This one from 1771, shows the two center motifs similarly close to the bands, the designs fitting well into the decorative edges of the straps, as on your piece:
https://digitaltmuseum.no/011023163617/kiste





Regarding image-posting, there's no real reason to use the gallery - when you ae ready to post your image, just click 'Upload a File', next to 'Post Reply':



Click on 'Choose File' from the pop-up and upload from there:




Then go to the bottom and click on 'Full Image', it will go right into the post, wherever your curser is sitting:




~Cheryl

 

Nice examples that are truly good comparisons. I can't say we see old banded examples like that here much in the States. Of course I don't live anywhere near old Scandinavian populations either.