Featured Supposed John Alden blanket chest - ? - age ?

Just for laughs, my mother-in-law did visit the house when she lived on Cape Cod, and mentioned she had the blanket chest. They asked her to give it back, but she said no, it's up to my kids to do with it what they want. So, that being a story, gives just a little bit more anecdotal, which is no more evidence than before... lol

 

Yes to all above, your blanket chest was built 60-70 years after Aldens death. The good news though is that it is a period chest!

Actually, what you are calling "cotter pins" are really "iron wire". It is original to your chest (a plus), the iron wire passes through a hole on drawer front, is bent on back of drawer and then hammered into the wood. It's like a fingerprint, as once wire is imbedded into wood on back of drawer, it can never be "undone" with "new" wire, if this makes any sense!
You can unbend existing wire though to install replacement "bails" on QA brass faceplates. Optimum brass in the UK is where you want to get your new bails.
https://optimumbrasses.co.uk/
Hopefully, it's a stock size but if not they do custom work.

Well, as far as Keno brothers go, it's been a very rough couple years for them but, before they had their present issues and were still riding high, no, they would probably not be very excited about your chest. It's just not that rare or an outstanding example.
Don't get me wrong, it's a very nice example of a period Queen Anne 1750- 1760 american blanket chest with original snipe hinges & most likely original brass batwing faceplates, the thumb molded lid is original, ditto the feet. Overall, the condition is good but there are issues.
Issues on the down side, the bails are missing from pulls, the red wash is not original to the chest and the lock has been replaced as well.
At auction guesses 2k-3k, maybe a bit more if bails were restored.

 

Thanks very much for your insights and knowledge. We're very glad to know that it isn't something we need to insure or sell because it is too valuable. Mother-in-law loved this piece and we're happy to keep it around and pass it on. James, let me know if there's a charity you work with, and I'll send them something this holiday season.

 

No problem, happy to help if i can, sorry it wasn't what wife wanted but still, a very nice early QA blanket chest.

 

I am guessing you are located in Mass., if you had a chest built by say Thomas Dennis, William Serle or Robert Crosman, the nation would be beating a path to your door, trust me!
Crosman worked in Taunton Mass in 1st half 18th century & has a box coming up for sale soon, below is a thread that talks about him & some of his chests.
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/robert-crosman-pine-box.42856/#post-1071411

 

No we are in Oregon. For a while my mother-in-law lived on Cape Cod. Mostly we're from western NY state ...

 

Wow I looked at the Crosman pieces - I have a neighbor-woodowrker who is very artistic. Maybe we can make some fakes! Lol

 

Yeah, i hear you but, it's not making the chest that makes it an outstanding example, it's the paint decoration that does that.
Paint was a big deal back in the day, a separate trade then, when painters mixed their own, unlike today where everybody is a painter, pop open a can and BAM! you're a painter!