200+/- year old white pine, hand dovetailed case and bracket base. The strap hinges are iron and handmade, as were the originals. The till lid is nicely molded and is attached to the till in the old manner. Each drawer is hand dovetailed and the drawer bottoms are properly chamfered and of good color. I hand painted each panel after first sketching the proper placement of each object in each panel. My chest was featured in Early American Life in the Craftsman's 1998 issue. Dower Chests are becoming more rare as are most true antiques. With rarity comes higher and higher prices. To my knowledge, the highest price paid, to date, for an authentic Dower Chest is $564,000 at an auction in southeastern Pennsylvania.

        The accompanying two smaller images show a close-up of the center panel. The key hole escutcheon is handmade of iron and is a copy of an 18th Century design. The close-up shows the detail of the painted decoration as well as the character of the wear.

        This image shows the side of one of the three drawers and the hand dovetailing. Also shown is the great patina of the old wood that makes up the drawer sides and back.

* I also have one Original Dower Chest in the rough; needs a top, bracket base and two

* drawers. I believe it's from York Co., PA. It can be restored and painted with your choice

* of paint, i.e. just paint or paint decorated. Please call for details and more information.
* Pictures available upon request. 28 1/2" H x 50" L x 23" D - wedged dovetails along with

* original rose head nails. First come first served with regard to these two chests.

 

* In addition to the Dower Chest, I also have an early original Blanket Chest, C. 1690 +/-,

* with what appear to be the original bun feet. Needs a top, till and to be finished in paint.

* This early chest has its original fancy hand-wrought hinges. Please call for more details and

* information. Pictures available upon request. 21 3/4"H x 52 3/4" L x 22 1/2" D. Also
* wedged dovetails. The wood is poplar.