Dower Chests
Red Painted Dower Chest, circa 1800
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Nice painted pine OG bracket foot dower chest or blanket chest with original red paint. Two nice
Category
Antique Early 1800s American Blanket Chests
Materials
Pine
Delaware Valley Black Walnut Dower Chest, 1830
Located in Kenilworth, IL
American black walnut dower chest over three divided drawers. The chest features post and panel
Category
Antique 1830s American Trunks and Luggage
Materials
Iron
Dauphin County Pennsylvania Paint Decorated Dower Chest Made for Madlen Nafzer
Located in York County, PA
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Paint-Decorated Dower Chest, Made for Madlen Nafzer in 1808
This
Category
Antique Early 19th Century American Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
H 23 in W 52.5 in D 22.5 in
Early 18th Century Antique Carved Oak Marriage or Dowry Chest, Dated 1735
Located in Miami, FL
A period 18th century flat top Danish Baroque dower chest or trunk in carved oak decorated with
Category
Antique 1730s Danish Baroque Blanket Chests
Materials
Oak
Pennsylvania Walnut Country Blanket Chest with 3 Drawers
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of a country walnut country blanket or dower chest with three fitted drawers, an
Category
Antique Early 19th Century American Blanket Chests
Materials
Wrought Iron
People Also Browsed
Antique Georgian Period Dovetailed Oak Mule Chest
Located in Forney, TX
A Georgian era (1714-1837) English oak mule chest.
Born in the late 18th / early 19th century, during the reign of King George III (1760-1820), fine quality craftsmanship and constr...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century George III Blanket Chests
Materials
Brass, Iron
1642 Dated Charles I / Jacobean Hand Carved English Oak Coffer Linen Chest Trunk
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this sympathetically restored, 1642 Charles I / Jacobean, hand carved English oak coffer, trunk or chest
This piece is stunning, its hand carved t...
Category
Antique 1640s British Jacobean Blanket Chests
Materials
Oak
H 25.4 in W 49.81 in D 23.04 in
Mid-18th Century George III Mahogany Mule Chest or Blanket Chest
Located in London, GB
Mid-18th century mahogany mule chest in the manner of Wright & Elwick, the coffer with hinged lid standing on a separate base with two drawers over bracket feet, the front and sides ...
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English Rococo Blanket Chests
Materials
Mahogany
Extremely Rare Weftwork Bedspread, Mid-19th Century
Located in York County, PA
This highly unusual textile is executed in a style called weftwork. Made of cotton and wool, it dates to the mid-19th century. While there is at least one known maker of weftwork bed...
Category
Antique 19th Century Quilts
Materials
Wool
Tennessee Walnut Blanket Chest
Located in Bradenton, FL
A nice late 19th century southern lift top Chest probably Tennessee or Virginia constructed of Walnut with pine and Poplar as a secondary case wood. The person I purchased it from wa...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American American Classical Cupboards
Materials
Walnut
Antique English 17th Century King Charles II Carved Oak Coffer Mule Chest 1680
Located in Portland, OR
A wonderful Charles II carved oak coffer /mule chest, circa 1680.
The chest of fabulous colour & good original condition, the chest having a hinged lid with the original iron 'snipe'...
Category
Antique 1680s English Charles II Blanket Chests
Materials
Oak
H 27 in W 46.5 in D 19.78 in
Green Painted Pennsylvania Hanging Pie Safe, ca 1850-1880
Located in York County, PA
Pennsylvania hanging pie safe, in first surface green paint, with circular medallion and opposing fan decoration, circa 1850-1880
Pennsylvania hanging pie safe, made circa 1850-18...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century American Pine Blanket Chest
Located in Doylestown, PA
Antique American solid pine blanket chest, c. mid 19th century.
The chest features two faux drawers and a flat, hinged lift top with a large interior cabin. The pine has great patin...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century North American American Colonial Blanket Chests
Materials
Metal
18th Century Blanket Box or Wedding Dowry Chest
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Believed to have originated from Southern Italy.
Free shipping within the United States and Canada.
Category
Antique 1760s European Rococo Blanket Chests
Materials
Wood
Antique Scandinavian Pine Baroque Folk Art Carved Dowry Chest Trunk Coffer 1780
Located in Portland, OR
A very good antique Scandinavian carved Baroque Folk Art dowry chest, Circa 1780.
The chest having a gently domed top with a hinged lid having the original 'snipe' hinges, the edge ...
Category
Antique 1780s Scandinavian Baroque Blanket Chests
Materials
Pine
H 27.25 in W 38.25 in D 25.25 in
19th Century Decorated Stoneware Blue Decorated Crock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine double handled blue decorated stone ware crock is in good condition with minor chip on interior. There is an embossed three above the hand painted and decorated flowers on ...
Category
Antique 1850s American Folk Art Ceramics
Materials
Pottery
18th Century Spanish Large Carved Wood Coffer Trunk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Spanish 18th century large size carved-wood coffer. This Spanish trunk from the 18th century features a long rectangular-shaped top which rests above a beautifully carved case ador...
Category
Antique 18th Century Spanish Blanket Chests
Materials
Wood
Monumental Antique Georgian Joined Oak Mule Dowry Chest Coffer Yorkshire 1720
Located in Portland, OR
A very good, monumental antique oak mule chest, dowry coffer, Yorkshire, England circa 1720.
This chest is of very unusual large size, the lift up lid enclosing a substantial storage...
Category
Antique 1720s English George I Blanket Chests
Materials
Oak
H 40.25 in W 68 in D 24.5 in
Majestic 17th Century Italian Solid Walnut Antique Blanket Chest
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Beautiful antique blanket chest in solid walnut wood, 1650s. The antique blanket chest also completely original and has great charm. Internally equipped with a small drawer whose doo...
Category
Antique 1650s Italian Baroque Blanket Chests
Materials
Walnut
Antique Folk Art Grain Painted Blanket Chest with Strap Hinges, Dated 1846
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Folk Art blanket chest or trunk offers grain painted wood construction with central date of 1846, strap hinges and interior patch box and drawers as
photographed.
Meas...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American Folk Art Blanket Chests
Materials
Paint, Wood
H 20 in W 44.75 in D 23.25 in
Antique Walnut Colonial Style Blanket Chest
Located in Charlotte, NC
A large antique American Colonial style blanket chest, unbranded. Solid walnut with brass hardware, bevel edge to the lid top, hinge hardware holding the lid, decoratively exposed do...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century American American Colonial Blanket Chests
Materials
Brass
Recent Sales
Pennsylvania Polychrome-Painted Poplar Dower Chest
Located in New Hope, PA
An exceptional Pennsylvania polychrome-painted dower, or blanket, chest inscribed in German and
Category
Antique 1780s American Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Iron
Centre County Pennsylvania Painted Poplar Dower Chest
Located in New Hope, PA
This dower chest is one of a small group of painted poplar chests by an unknown artist working in
Category
Antique 1820s American Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Poplar
Paint Decorated Dower Chest Dauphin County Pennsylvania
Located in Allentown, PA
illustrated in M. Fabian's book, The Pennsylvania German Dower Chest.
Category
Antique Early 1800s American American Colonial Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
Antique Handsome Oak Dower Chest or Coffer, circa 1900
Located in Glencarse, GB
A handsome oak dower chest. Beautifully carved with poly-chrome decoration and brass studs. The
Category
Antique 19th Century European Arts and Crafts Dressers
Miniature Smoke-Decorated Blanket/Dower Chest
Located in Columbus, OH
A Miniature Smoke-Decorated Blanket/Dower Chest
Pennsylvania, 19th Century
8
Category
Antique 19th Century American Models and Miniatures
Materials
Brass
19th Century Oak Dower Chest
Located in Glencarse, Perthshire
with superbly carved frontage depicting a knight on the left capital and a finely carved lady on the opposite side. The central cupboard door depicting Christ as a child held in the ...
Category
Antique Early 1900s European Cabinets
Materials
Oak
Painted and Stencil Decorated Blanket Chest
Located in Columbus, OH
blanket and dower chests made throughout the state. The warm yellow ground and bold red-stencil decoration
Category
Antique 19th Century Blanket Chests
Materials
Pine
Paint Decorated “Unicorn” Blanket Chest
Located in Columbus, OH
discussion on the decoration and iconography of Pennsylvania-German blanket and dower chests, see Scott T
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Blanket Chests
Materials
Pine, Poplar, Paint
18th Century Oak Mule Chest
Located in Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB
An 18th century George II oak mule or dower chest.
The chest has a hinged lid, three recessed
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Red-Painted and Polychrome-Decorated Panelled Blanket Chest
Located in New Hope, PA
), p. 97; McGee, “Dower Chests,” The Magazine Antiques (June 1985), pp. 50, 99; America Hurrah and
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Maple, Poplar, Paint
Spectacular Maryland Desk and Bookcase
Located in New York, NY
less contemporaneous in date with the Beachtel family dower chests, and has a history in Libertytown
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Bookcases
Materials
Cherry, Poplar
Dower Chest
Located in Baltimore, MD
A strikingly beautiful dower chest in original paint with three faux panels to the front, the
Category
Antique 19th Century Hungarian Blanket Chests
19THC EARLY ORIGINAL PAINTED DOWER CHEST
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19THC ORIGINAL PAINTED DOWER CHEST WITH OGEE FEET-GREAT ORIGINAL PAINT DECORATION /WEAR TO THE
Category
Antique 19th Century European Trunks and Luggage
Materials
Wood
18th century hand carved dower chest
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful hand carved dower chest in Moravian style. All original hardware, "hand forged handles
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Unknown Ottomans and Poufs
Materials
Poplar
Early 19th Century Berks County, Pennsylvania Painted Dower Chest
Located in Milford, NH
Berks County, PA painted dower chest, circa 1801. Retaining a vibrant decorated surface with tulips
Category
Antique 19th Century American Blanket Chests
Materials
Iron, Brass
18THC DOWER CHEST FROM BERKS COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18THC DOWER CHEST FROM BERKS COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA GREAT ORIGINAL SURFACE PAINT. AND PATINA -ALL
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Trunks and Luggage
Materials
Pine
18th Century Polychrome Decorated Tulipwood Dower Chest
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional polychrome paint decorated tulipwood dower chest with stylized arches in red, black
Category
Antique 18th Century American Blanket Chests
Materials
Tulipwood
Painted Dower Chest
Located in Baltimore, MD
An outstanding mid-century blanket chest, the polychrome decorative paint, dedicated and dated in
Category
Antique 19th Century Hungarian Blanket Chests
Materials
Pine
19THC ORIGINAL BLUE PAINTED DOWER CHEST FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19THC ALL ORIGINAL BLUE PAINTED DOWER CHEST FROM CENTRE PENNSYLVANIA.DOVETAIL CASE AND SQUARE NAIL
Category
Antique 19th Century American Trunks and Luggage
Rare Pennsylvania Red Paint Decorated Hearts Dower Chest /1795
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fantastic & early original red with mustard decorated hearts dower chest from Lancaster County
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
Original Paint Decorated Pennsylvania Pine Blanket Dower Chest, Dated 1789
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This original Pennsylvania blanket chest is dated and signed 1789 and was even sold by another
Category
Antique 1780s American Primitive Blanket Chests
Materials
Pine
Pine Painted Blanket Chest
Located in Baltimore, MD
An outstanding example of nineteenth century German folk art, this beautiful dower chest features
Category
Antique 19th Century German Blanket Chests
Materials
Paint, Pine
Oriental Folk Art Painted Chest or Coffer
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
probably a marriage or dower chest
The chest is made in wood and is sound and in good condition
The chest
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Chinoiserie Blanket Chests
Painted Pine Trunk
Located in Baltimore, MD
A small pine dower chest in a very interesting polychrome paint design of stylised flowers and bows
Category
Antique 19th Century Hungarian Blanket Chests
European Folk Art Painted Pine Chest
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
is probably a marriage or dower chest and 1887 is the wedding date, the top is made from 2 planks and
Category
Antique Late 19th Century European Folk Art Blanket Chests
Pine Trunk or Blanket Chest in Original Decorative Paint, Dated 1846
Located in Baltimore, MD
This lovely little German baroque dower chest has a lot going on. The front is absolutely beautiful
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Hungarian Baroque Blanket Chests
Materials
Pine
Pennsylvania German Painted and Decorated Chest over Three Drawers
Located in Baltimore, MD
This is a handsome and notable Pennsylvania German painted and decorated dower chest, probably from
Category
Antique Late 18th Century American Folk Art Blanket Chests
Materials
Pine
Mule Chest
Located in Baltimore, MD
An outstanding example of a tall dower mule chest featuring original sang de boeuf/brown background
Category
Antique 19th Century Hungarian Blanket Chests
Materials
Pine
18THC ALL ORIGINAL PAINT DECORATED BLANKET CHEST FROM PENNA.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
WONDERFUL AND RARE 18THC ORIGINAL FEATHER PATTERNED, PAINT DECORATED DOWER OR BLANKET CHEST FROM
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Trunks and Luggage
Pine Painted Dower Chest
Located in Baltimore, MD
An outstanding faux mule chest featuring a black ground with hand-carved pattern and original
Category
Antique 19th Century Hungarian Blanket Chests
Materials
Pine
Pine Painted Dower Chest
Located in Baltimore, MD
A beautiful marriage piece featuring a black ground with original polychrome folk art motifs including vases of flowers and stylised dove with the initials of the bride, R.D., and th...
Category
Early 20th Century Hungarian Blanket Chests
Materials
Pine
Pine Early Paint Decorated Dower Chest
Located in West Chester, PA
Dated 1769, this dower chest is one of the earliest known. Made more exceptional by the existence
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Blanket Chests
Cherry Dower's Chest
Located in Sheffield, MA
Dower's chest, cherry, yellow pine secondary wood, three drawers, beautiful rich old finish
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Blanket Chests
English Oak Dower Chest
Located in Wainscott, NY
18th Century Oak English
Dower Chest, Excellent Patina
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pennsylvania Dower Chest
Located in Hudson, NY
pennsylvania dower chest
stepped chippendale bracket base
three drawers in a
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Painted Furniture
Materials
Metal
Paint Decorated Dower Chest
By Markreda Conradin
Located in Litchfield, CT
. Fabian's book, The Pennsylvania German Dower chest.
Category
Antique Early 1800s American Blanket Chests
Materials
Poplar
Early 18th Century Irish Dower Chest
Located in Peterborough, Northamptonshire
A fine Irish early 18th century walnut dower chest, the front panel with elaborate and beautifully
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 18th Century Carved Oak Dower Chest
Located in Witney, OXFORDSHIRE
A good early 18th century carved oak dower chest, the oblong hinged top enclosing a lidded candle
Category
Antique 1710s British Queen Anne Blanket Chests
Materials
Oak
Charles II Period Oak Dower Chest of Good Size
Located in Peterborough, Northamptonshire
A very well carved Charles II period oak dower chest of good size. The sharply incised carving with
Category
Antique Late 17th Century English Charles II Blanket Chests
Materials
Oak
Paint Decorated Blanket or Dower Chest
Located in Sheffield, MA
Chippendale paint decorated blanket or dower chest. The chest retains its original yellow paint
Category
Antique 19th Century American Chippendale Painted Furniture
Dower Chest
Located in Columbus, OH
This handsome Pennsylvania chest over drawers sports elaborate tulip and heart decorations, typical
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Blanket Chests
Materials
Pine, Poplar
Oak and Mahogany George III Period Cross Banded Dower Chest
Located in Darwen, GB
An oak and mahogany George III period cross banded dower chest. Having a rectangular solid oak top
Category
Antique Early 1800s George III Blanket Chests
Oak George III Period Lancashire Mule/Dower Chest
Located in Darwen, GB
An oak George III Period Lancashire mule/dower chest. The three plank oak hinged top opening to
Category
Antique 1780s George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
19th Century Dutch Dower Chest
Located in Savannah, GA
Very large mahogany chest with heavy brass handles, hardware and original key.
Category
Antique 19th Century Dutch Blanket Chests
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Dower Chests For Sale on 1stDibs
At 1stDibs, there are several options of dower chests available for sale. The range of distinct dower chests — often made from wood, pine and softwood — can elevate any home. There are all kinds of dower chests available, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. Dower chests made by Folk Art designers — are very popular at 1stDibs.
How Much are Dower Chests?
Dower chests can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $3,500, while the lowest priced sells for $1,295 and the highest can go for as much as $25,000.
Finding the Right Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets for You
Of all the antique and vintage case pieces and storage cabinets that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items.
In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior.
Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time.
Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of storage case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room.
In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.
A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard made of colored glass and metals, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.
Questions About Dower Chests
- What is a dower chest?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021A dower chest — also called a dowry chest or hope chest — is a Pennsylvania Dutch chest, a piece of furniture traditionally used by young women to store items in anticipation of married life. Find a collection of antique and vintage dowry chests on 1stDibs.
Read More
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