VERY FINE AND RARE PILGRIM CENTURY CARVED AND PAINT-DECORATED WHITE PINE SIX-BOARD CHEST WITH DRAWER, CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY, CIRCA 1700 |

Christie's, New York, Fine American Furniture, Silver and Decorative Arts, January 23, 1982, sale 5114, lot 318A.

Judith and Martin Miller, The Antiques Directory: Furniture, (New York: Portland house, 1985), p. 80, no. 6.

Surface abrasions commensurate with age and use. Lid split with later rustic repair. A 2 1/2 in. plank running the length of the top is nailed to the underside, this appears to be a 19th century repair. Incised date of 1703 on lid at center front. Locks lacking. Purchasers may pay for and pick up their purchases from any of our Americana Week sales taking place from January 17-20, 2019, at our York Avenue headquarters until the close of business on Sunday, January 20, 2019. After this time, all property (sold and unsold) will be transferred to our offsite facility, Crozier Fine Art, One Star Ledger Plaza, 69 Court Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102. Once property has been transferred from our York Avenue location, it will not be available for collection at Crozier Fine Arts until Friday, January 25, 2019. Crozier's hours of operation for collection are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday. Please note, certain items of property, including but not limited to jewelry, watches, silver and works on panel will remain at 1334 York Avenue. Invoices and statements will indicate your property's location. For more information regarding collection from our offsite facility, please visit sothebys.com/pickup.
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.

This chest is in remarkable untouched condition and retains a majority of its original paint decoration.  Only one other six-board American chest in the collection of Winterthur Museum (acc. no. 2014.0007) is known with such an elaborately carved front. Typically six-board chest from the Connecticut River Valley have crease molded fronts or are sometimes carved with the initials of the original owner.  For an in-depth review of the form see William N. Hosley, Jr. and Philip Zea, “Decorated Board chests of the Connecticut River Valley,” Magazine Antiques, May 1981, pp. 1146-51 and Robert Trent, American Furniture with Related Decorative Arts, 1660-1830 / The Milwaukee Art Museum and The Layton Art Collection, ed. Gerald W.R. Ward, (New York: Hudson Hills Press,1991), p. 39-40, entry for no. 6.