EARLY 19TH CENTURY NEW HAMPSHIRE HEPPLEWHITE FAUX MAHOGANY & ROSEWOOD GRAIN PAINTED With our highest compliments Bay Colony Antiques takes the utmost pleasure in offering this exceptional and rare early American blanket chest. We can say with all confidence that this specimen is one of the absolute finest examples of its kind as we have been passionate dealers and collectors of premium grade grain painted American furniture for nearly half a century. It has been our privilege to routinely offer antique furniture with both sophisticated and simplistic painted surfaces to our clients and we fondly reflect on decades worth of memorable experiences dealing with many lovely individuals who share our passion and enthusiasm for this field of collecting. In particular we love how these antique chests embody the union of two time honored artistic pursuits which are the remarkable execution of a faux grain painted wood finish and the craftsmanship of the blanket chest itself by a master furniture maker. As with many other skills associated with the early American period the art of replicating exotic species of wood with a paint medium has nearly been lost to time as few if any artists and furniture restorers provide the service and finer traditional furniture made today is seldom if ever grain painted. This antique blanket chest is a product of the early 19th century and was likely made in New Hampshire perhaps somewhere near the Connecticut River Valley. The form of the chest is closely associated with American Hepplewhite furniture as defined by the scrolled bootjack ends which flow into the shaped French feet. The feet are not flared outward like a traditional French foot would be however they are profiled about the ends and formed as closely as one may expect on a primitive antique chest from this period. The case is comprised of old growth native pine and joined with rabbet edged half overlap joints and original iron rosehead nails into the backboards. The interior features an original steel lock and primitive barrel hinges each of which are all hardware consistent with antique furniture of the 19th century. There is very little natural oxidation on the interior of the blanket chest as the lid is generally left closed however the back and underside bare signs of considerable age including the oxidized wood surface various hand tool marks such as the scribe line left from a marking gauge which acts as a centerline for the centuries old rosehead nails. Either side of the chest is decorated with a faux mahogany book-matched grain painted surface and even features faux wood knots to fully simulate the true effect of a natural wooden board. We note a small white paint transfer mark which can be lightly scratched off if so desired. The primary frontward face of the blanket chest has exceptional faux mahogany grain painting with the border painted to emulate a faux rosewood grain surface. The painted design of the mahogany and rosewood is partitioned by a light gold octagonal element with curved corners which is a design element brought to England and America from Scotland by artisans meant to signify the four changing seasons. A field of brown paint is also employed to make the faux mahogany and rosewood finishes appear more vibrant. The bottom of each leg bares some discoloration and darker oxidation likely from the scrubbing of floorboards in a home where disease was often combatted by meticulous disinfection of all wooden surfaces. We point this feature out as a further indication of age and to help inform collectors of any expertise level on the subtle differences between a true antique painted surface and a paint from the 20th century. The chest measures 50” wide x 20” deep x 31” tall. WELCOME We are a wholly owned family business in our third decade of continuous operation. We have a large inventory of fine antiques ranging from Early American, Federal, Chippendale, Empire, Centennial, Victorian, 20th Century custom mahogany, Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern antique furniture along with decorative arts from across the globe. All the items we offer to the general public are high quality estate pieces. We do not offer goods with significant flaws or defects. We completely avoid items with issues. You can expect the items we sell to have reasonable wear and tear. Due to the large volume of goods we deal in we cannot describe items in minutia. We do our best to give you an accurate condition report in our description of the items. We have expert woodworkers and re-finishers on staff to service any piece of furniture we offer. We represent all merchandise in absolute good faith and to the very best of our ability. Please ask all questions, including, but not limited to, shipping costs prior to purchase. All items are sold as is and from their location. If you would like to find out about any number of our services, including appraisals and restoration, please ask us about our website for more information. SHIPPING & DELIVERIES We deliver within a 250 mile range of zip code 01105 for a low cost flat rate. We specialize in New York City and Boston deliveries at extremely reasonable rates. For items requiring shipping beyond our delivery zone, we offer freight or “Ground Services” shipping, depending on the size of the items. We ship anywhere within the Continental United States. Items will require packaging and palletizing for freight shipments. The buyer is responsible for the cost of materials only for this service. We perform this service without the cost of labor as an appreciation for your patronage. Freight class shipping is the fastest and most cost effective method of shipping large items. We can reach anywhere in America with a large shipment within 7-10 business days. We buy materials in bulk to save you excessive costs. The materials required for proper crating of items for their safe transit is so specialized we may need up to 7-10 business days to make sure we get absolutely what is required & do the best job possible. We go the extra mile by designing premium customized furniture crates for the ultimate protection of your purchase. We ship from our facility with a loading dock on a major trucking artery. This and our “volume shippers” discount creates a substantial lower cost for you. The least expensive method of shipping is business to business with loading docks. Next is a business without a dock and the last option is shipping to a resident. We are sending your shipments with freight carriers. They are not furniture movers who bring the items into your home. You are provided with curbside delivery of your shipments. We can get you special services in certain cases, but you are responsible for telling us you require them and for the extra cost of these services, if you instruct our shippers to provide services beyond curbside deliveries. We are responsible for any additional services and charged for these services. We absolutely maintain our right to collect the costs of these charges for services we did not authorize or were prepaid for. MERCHANDISE PICK UP AND STORAGE All our customers are welcome to come to our facility to pick up their purchases free of charge. You can expect friendly help in loading your purchase in your vehicle. We ask that you come ready to transport your purchase by having ample pads or blankets to protect your item in transit. We don’t like to send nice people off with things tied to roof racks. We also do not desire to charge storage fees, but we are holding some purchases for over three years now and are under no contract to. We are not a storage facility. We are happy to hold your items for a reasonable pre-agreed upon period. Beyond or absent any specified contract a $50.00 dollar per week storage fee will apply. ON-LINE SALES/TERMS OF USE All Massachusetts residents are subject to the 6.25% sales tax unless you possess a valid resale number from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We do not accept returns so please, ask all questions prior to submitting an offer or purchasing. We have a zero tolerance policy for non-paying buyers. Any offer we accept is a binding sale and subject to the conditions herein. Massachusetts General Law applies to all sales. Bidding on and purchasing any item is under the acknowledgment of the buyer and is consent to the contractual agreement set forth herein. This agreement is in full force and effect on any item purchased through our Ebay store and on items purchased through us and our gallery. We strive to make your on-line buying experience as easy and pleasant as possible. We accept all major credit cards and are delighted to answer any questions that you may have or provide services you may need. |