Featured Blanket Chest Questions

Hi All,

I just purchased a blanket chest (?) at an auction I’m curious about. It was described as a late 19th/early 20th century Hope chest (at Hindman in Chicago), but it’s in excellent condition and only has a couple places with split/cracked wood. It also has a scent of varnish or stain. I’ve looked at tons of chests online and could not find one with similar straight legs, no keyhole, and hardware on the outside. Most of the label on the bottom is missing. I’m curious if anyone can tell what type of wood it is, too. It’s definitely heavier than pine trunks I have of a similar size. Thank you for any ideas! !

 

Stolen, I love the interior of that chest!

Can you make out anything on that label (besides the word FURNITURE) - or read what's stamped in the area I've circled below?

 

The piece of label before “furniture” is completely torn off. My photos aren’t the best quality, but yes - the stamp says “Inspected S Passed Okay”. Sorry - should have included it even though it didn’t come out in photos!

 

Well, shoot - that doesn't help much, does it?

 

Nope - not for me!

 

Am thinking this is from sometime the second half of the 20th century. Could see it being from the 50s when there was a mini revival of the arts and crafts movement or from the later revival period from the 80s-90s. Leaning more to the 50s time period based on the label. The wood looks like maple but could be some other light hardwood.

 

it's a lovely chest !

 

I think more likely as Brad suggests, 2nd half 20th century, stained maple. The multi board construction & hammered copper exterior hinges with an interior glove box kinda ID it as a blanket chest from the recent past.

 

Nice chest, stolen.

Antique blanket chests overhere (Netherlands) have that box too, it was meant to store candles.

 

Yes, these small boxes within the larger box are more correctly named/called a "till" in the 17th century but, today are called "glove boxes" which is not correct at all.
Still, if you start using correct terms like till, riven, etc, the average person gets lost in a hurry, LINENFOLD!

 

I always get lost in my linenfolds.

 

This all makes total sense. Thank you all so much! I knew from looking at the one photo online that it wasn't that old, but it was funny to me to think that a prominent auction house would list is as being from the late 19th century! I guess not that funny - the other item I won was completely misrepresented also (painted lines, not inlay!), but for $10 was exactly what I was looking for. This was my first time ever being successful at an auction and now I know why - haha! I do really like this chest though, since I can store a bunch of junk in it and it looks nice!

 

Exactly! Yes, even though your chest is not antique, blanket chests make for great storage and can be placed almost anywhere in the house except bath/kitchen so very handy to have around.