Late 18th Century Queen Anne Walnut Pennsylvania Blanket Chest With Two Drawers
LATE 18TH CENTURY ANTIQUE QUEEN ANNE PERIOD PENNSYLVANIA WALNUT BLANKET CHEST WITH TWO DRAWERS & ORIGINAL BRASS HARDWARE. With our absolute highest compliments Bay Colony Antiques takes the utmost pleasure in offering perhaps one of the finest Queen Anne blanket chests that we have ever had the privilege of owning. Our passion for important Queen Anne period furniture from Pennsylvania and the mid-atlantic states comes from decades of wonderful experiences dealing with passionate collectors of the most significant regional antiques associated with their respective communities.
We routinely furnish homes throughout Pennsylvania and the neighboring states and always try to maintain a collection of appropriate 18th century household furniture and antique objects so that even the most discerning of collectors may look through our catalogue and enjoy what they see. In our studies of the market and localized histories of Pennsylvania we have come to love anything associated with the area and we see ourselves as equal parts dealers and collectors of this treasured history.
This Pennsylvania walnut Queen Anne blanket chest is perhaps one of the finest that we have ever owned. In the past we have owned significant chests associated with Adams County, Berks County, Chester County, York County just to name several historical counties of Pennsylvania and we fondly look at this blanket chest as one of the finest to ever come into our possession. The entire piece is constructed from a premium grade of walnut which is very indicative of case furniture built in the eastern Pennsylvania region with characteristics of grain quality and a warmth brought on from a rich patina that other regional chests simply do not possess. One of the strongest attributes of case furniture manufactured in this region of Pennsylvania is what we refer to as "over engineered" case construction which means that not only did the cabinet maker use masterful hand cut joinery techniques to construct the cabinet but the individual went to the extreme of intricately dovetailing the entire case with large pronounced and exuberant dovetails while also employing brilliant mortise and tenon joints to the molded edges of the walnut top which have kept this chest straight and true throughout the centuries. Proudly formed pegs can be found all around the perimeter of the top which add rich character to this masterfully joined chest. The top is fastened by two exceptional iron strap hinges which when shaped in this fashion are referred to as "rat-tail" style based on the shape and design pattern. The interior reveals a generous storage cavity and an additional candle till which has a hinged top that allows the owner to prop open the top of the entire chest by allowing the walnut top to lean onto the candle till top for support. We note a few professional "butterfly keys" or "dutchmen" as they were once referred to were installed underneath the top which counteracts the seasonal changes in humidity which can cause an antique to warp or develop age related splits. This is what we consider maintenance and it is far more beneficial for the prolonged life of this chest to have them there as they will prevent any chance of humidity related changes from occurring for the indefinite future.Below the storage cavity are two well functioning dovetailed drawers that are each fitted with original hand cut stylized Chippendale bat-wing patterned brasses which hardly ever survive. The chest is supported on four finely scrolled bracket feet and the underside and back of the blanket chest demonstrate considerable age with the secondary wood developing beautiful oxidation and character throughout this chests considerable lifespan. We have no doubt that this exceptional antique will one day be cherished in a deserving home and until then it will remain our privilege to own and enjoy this masterpiece of early American history. The chest measures 49 1/4" wide x 23 1/4" deep x 26 1/4 tall.
The inner cavity measures 45 1/2" wide x 20" deep x 12 1/2" tall, and when the lid is fully open the height is 48" tall. We are a wholly owned family business in our third decade of continuous operation. We have a large inventory of fine antiques ranging from Early American, Federal, Chippendale, Empire, Centennial, Victorian, 20th Century custom mahogany, Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern antique furniture along with decorative arts from across the globe. All the items we offer to the general public are high quality estate pieces. We do not offer goods with significant flaws or defects. We completely avoid items with issues. You can expect the items we sell to have reasonable wear and tear. Due to the large volume of goods we deal in we cannot describe items in minutia.We do our best to give you an accurate condition report in our description of the items. We have expert woodworkers and re-finishers on staff to service any piece of furniture we offer. We represent all merchandise in absolute good faith and to the very best of our ability.
If you would like to find out about any number of our services, including appraisals and restoration, please ask us about our website for more information. We deliver within a 250 mile range of zip code 01105 for a low cost flat rate. We specialize in New York City and Boston deliveries at extremely reasonable rates. We perform this service without the cost of labor as an appreciation for your patronage. This and our "volume shippers" discount creates a substantial lower cost for you.They are not furniture movers who bring the items into your home. We can get you special services in certain cases, but you are responsible for telling us you require them and for the extra cost of these services, if you instruct our shippers to provide services beyond curbside deliveries. We are responsible for any additional services and charged for these services. We don't like to send nice people off with things tied to roof racks. We are not a storage facility.
We are happy to hold your items for a reasonable pre-agreed upon period. We have a zero tolerance policy for non-paying buyers. Any offer we accept is a binding sale and subject to the conditions herein. Massachusetts General Law applies to all sales. We accept all major credit cards and are delighted to answer any questions that you may have or provide services you may need.