Featured 2 Blanket Chests

Im going to post them both in the same thread but on two different posts so the pictures dont get confused.



The first one is going to be the green one, which is out of the same house as the step back cupboard and the tables..

Its lined with a newspaper that seems to be maybe from Canada, 1896.
How can I safely remove that?

What kind of date would yall say?

 

Looks like a 2 board top on the first one so not as old as the second. Maybe circa 1880. Hinges have obviously been replaced. I might be inclined to leave the paper as part of the history of the piece. If you really want it gone, you should be able to soak it off with water. Glue may remain depending on what was used. Would think second one is circa 1850, though could even be a couple decades earlier.

 

Interesting.

I had someone else look at the 2.
They think the first one was late 1700's to about 1800 and the 2nd about 1840.

Thats about what I thought with the second one, but the first one I was unsure of because of the nails (yes, nails can be held on to and used later, I know )

 

Well, the green one at top looks blue over here! It has chippendale bracket feet but that does not always mean period chippendale (1760-1800), particularly in rural areas. It often took decades out in the country for newer styles to emerge. It's missing it's ditty/glove box? in pic of newer hinge. Appears to be white pine.
Hard to date blanket chests from pics alone or any old furniture really but i'd guess first half 19th century on blue/green one & second half 19th century on red one, because of the feet & hinges.

 

Am I not seeing a 2 board top on the first? Also the back is tacked on, whereas the red one is dovetailed all the way around. These two features make me think later on the first.

 

Yeah i see the split but can't tell if it's just split or 2 boards. Reason i think first one is earlier is, nails & feet, i'd say both chests are 19th century. Those nails that attach back are hand wrought iron, ditto on trim moulding that wraps lid. Course, old nails are not definitive, the hinges are replaced, paint is probably not original, ditty box is missing.
The red or bottom chest lid is 2 boards it appears to me in looking at last pic.

 

Bottom line is, with these pics & this form, impossible to get very close on a date. 6 board chests like this have been built for centuries so would really need to look in person to get any closer on a date than 50-75 years or so.

 

And value wise, doubt it matters much either. You would do well to get $200-300 for either of these chests at an east coast auction house.

 

You are right. Since so definitive, thought the thin piece was attached and the hinge was between the two boards. In looking at the open pic, I see this is not the case. It also looks like the front is two boards as well. I need to try and look a bit closer at things before spouting off..... There might not be all that much difference in age between these. Agree that it doesn't matter much value-wise anyway.

 

The red one is 2 board, the green one os single, just cracked from a screw in the hinge.

They are both dovetailed on all 4 corners

Value isn't a huge issue, I got a pretty alright deal on both..
Im just trying to get better at dating country pieces (ones that aren't mass produced..)

 

Yeah, well, that is gonna take some time and also require a lot of in person contact with the furniture. You really can't authenticate old furniture with pic's alone, i do not know why, it's just one of those things. And when it comes to dating, it's really all about construction details and photo's alone miss those A LOT! Those details are important though, what kind of tools were used? what saws? was it planed by hand or machine? bla bla bla.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

 

Yeah, this is why i use words like..... appears, looks like, may have, i'll guess, etc. Photo's alone will fool EVERYONE sooner or later when it comes to old furniture, it's just the way it is. The camera often tells lies about old furniture, it's weird in a way.

 

Interesting! I havent noticed in the red chest 2 boards on the front.
I'll have to look closer tomorrow when its light outside.
Its been so cloudy lately.. my house is already covered by old oak trees, I have to wait for the *perfect* day and time for pictures

 

LOL, Yeah! This is what i am talkin bout! Still, the more light the better even though there is no substitute for an in person examination which is the only way to be sure.