- 671
Red and white paint decorated dome-top pine storage box, Compass Artist, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, circa 1820
Description
- RED DOME-TOP STORAGE BOX
- Paint on pine, with sheet-tin hasp and hardware
- 8 3/4 by 12 3/8 by 8 3/4 in.
- C. 1800-1840
Provenance
Exhibited
"Folk Art Revealed," New York, American Folk Art Museum, November 16, 2004-August 23, 2009
Literature
Condition
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
The decoration of these boxes is based upon closely related techniques and motifs, suggesting a common maker or group of related makers. The ground colors on known examples are applied directly to the bare wood surface rather than over a priming ground of paint or gesso, as is often found on Continental examples. These red, blue, or blue-green ground colors are then overlaid with patterns of stylized flowers, vines, and pinwheels, laid out with a compass and painted freehand. Several examples reveal stick combing in their patterns, a technique in which a dry point is rubbed through the wet overlaid paint line to expose the surface of a dry undercoat of contrasting paint color. Once complete, the painted decorated surface received a protective layer of overvarnish, which on many examples has darkened over time, muting the original vibrancy of the colors. The dotted motifs found on many of these boxes suggest a relationship to the patterns of wax resist, indigo-dyed textiles produced within the Pennsylvania German community during this period. In addition, the punch-decorated, sheet-tin hardware utilized on many surviving examples is similar to patterned punchwork employed by numerous traditional tinsmiths working contemporarily within the local community. -J.L.L.