Name/Title
Blanket ChestEntry/Object ID
1988.6.1Description
Grain painted, three-drawer blanket chest. Appears to have five drawers, the top two are false and disguise a lift-top chest. Appears to be of mostly pine with joined construction. Drawer rails are nailed, but may have been added later. The chest shows evidence of bracket feet, now missing. The drawer fronts and sides are grain-painted to look like book-matched veneer. The remaining surfaces, save the back, are sponge painted in the same brown and yellow coloration. The drawers all show evidence of two-pin pulls, later replaced with the wooden knobs. Under the lid, there are small areas of surface that have plain red paint. The holes for the original pulls have been filled and the grain painting applied over. It's probable that the piece was originally plain red and later modified with the wooden pulls and elaborate grain painting.Context
According to family history, this chest was brought to Calais, Vermont, by Abijah Wheelock in 1789. One of the earliest European families to settle in this area, objects associated with the Wheelocks held a certain colonial allure. It's evident that this chest went through a fair amount of modification. It was probably painted plain red, sported bracket feet, and simple brass pulls. At some time the feet were removed or broke off. The spectacular grain painting was added at a later date, perhaps as early as the 1820s. Vermont had a great tradition of grain painting - transforming plain furniture forms of soft woods into something akin to high style mahogany, curly maple, or figured fruit wood examples from prosperous cities.Acquisition
Accession
1988.6Source or Donor
Jackman, RobertAcquisition Method
GiftCredit Line
Anderson, Betty JackmanMade/Created
Date made
1760 - 1780Place
State/Province
MassachusettsCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Chest, BlanketNomenclature Primary Object Term
ChestNomenclature Sub-Class
Storage & Display FurnitureNomenclature Class
FurnitureNomenclature Category
Category 02: FurnishingsDimensions
Dimension Description
Overall dimensionHeight
39-5/8 inWidth
36-1/8 inDepth
18-1/8 inRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Wheelock, AbijahRelated Places
Place
Town
CalaisCounty
Washington CountyState/Province
VermontCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North America