Items Similar to Dauphin County Pennsylvania Paint Decorated Dower Chest Made for Madlen Nafzer
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 14
Dauphin County Pennsylvania Paint Decorated Dower Chest Made for Madlen Nafzer
About the Item
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Paint-Decorated Dower Chest, Made for Madlen Nafzer in 1808
This colorful Pennsylvania German dower chest, with pinwheels and tiny flowers on Robin's egg blue tombstone panels, set on a salmon ground, was found with the descendents of Madlen Nafzer of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Passed down through her family for several generations, the chest is accompanied by a softbound book that details the history of the Nafzer family. It tells the basic story of the woman for whom the chest was made in 1808; of how her family arrived on American soil and of their subsequent moves from Pennsylvania to Ohio to Indiana with the migrating Pennsylvania Dutch Community.
Past its striking color and decoration, one of the most spectacular things about this particular chest is its untouched paint surface and early condition. While a lateral portion of the left, back foot is absent, broken and lost during the family's possession, the back of the foot is present and extremely stabile. This had been broken, presumably at the same time, but the original piece was kept and I personally doweled it back into place. I made no attempt to replace the missing side portion, so that the chest could be kept in this unspoiled form, a rare thing among surviving Pennsylvania Dower chests of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Though the name of the maker of the chest remains unknown, his work is rather well known. Freeman's Auction in Philadelphia, our nation's eldest auction house, sold an example by the same hand in November of 2007. It had the same coloration and decorative scheme, with the same, unusual, blue-painted and decorated, oval shaped panels on top. Pennsylvania dealers Harry Hartman and Jamie Price have both owned examples by this hand, the latter in roughly the same form but nearer to brown in color. And a representative from Winterthur reported to me that she had viewed a chest by the same hand in a private collection. None of the chests were signed. All had dates in the late 1820's except the Madlen Nafzer example, which is significantly earlier at 1808. So the painter is recognized but unknown and worked for a period of at least 20 years, maybe longer.
An exceptional addition to any collection of Pennsylvania German Folk Art and furnishings.
Condition: Modest wear on sides, greater paint loss on the top. See paragraph two for details about the rear, left foot.
- Dimensions:Height: 23 in (58.42 cm)Width: 52.5 in (133.35 cm)Depth: 22.5 in (57.15 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1808
- Condition:See Item Description.
- Seller Location:York County, PA
- Reference Number:Seller: bb-0381stDibs: LU849721117512
About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Established in 1991
1stDibs seller since 2008
69 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 to 2 days
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: York County, PA
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllSmoke-Decorated Pennsylvania Blanket Chest, Chrome Yellow
Located in York County, PA
Pennsylvania German (Amish or Mennonite) paint-decorated blanket chest of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania origin. Extensive smoke decoration on a ch...
Category
Antique 19th Century American Painted Furniture
Materials
Poplar
Centre County Pennsylvania Blanket Chest with Salmon and Black Floral Decoration
Located in York County, PA
PAINTED, CENTRE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA BLANKET CHEST IN SALMON AND BLACK WITH FLORAL DECORATION, 3 DRAWERS, AND APPLIED, SPLAY FEET, circa 1815-1825
S...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Schoharie County, New York State Blanket Chest
Located in York County, PA
Painted Schoharie County, New York blanket chest, decorated with a beautifully embellished yellow urn of flowers on a blue ground. This is traditional fashi...
Category
Antique 1820s American Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chrome Yellow, Paint Decorated Settee
Located in York County, PA
Chrome yellow, paint-decorated settee in an unusual triple-back-slat design with bold, shield-shaped spindles, circa 1820-1830.
Category
Antique 1820s Settees
Materials
Wood
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 hang...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Mahantango Valley Pennsylvania Blanket Chest with Unicorns, ca 1820-1840
Located in York County, PA
Diminutive blanket box, in windsor green paint, with rare and beautiful unicorn stencils. Made ca 1820-1840, the chest was found in the Mahantango Valley of Pennsylvania. Very likely...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century American Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
You May Also Like
19Thc Schoharie County, New York Paint Decorated Blanket Chest
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paint decorated blanket chest. Schoharie County, New York. Blue
paint with yellow, red black and green. Painted initials E.M.D. on
front. Dov...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century American Country Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
$4,716 Sale Price
20% Off
Schoharie County NY Painted Blanket Chest
Located in Sharon, CT
Untouched original surface. Colorful floral vignettes on a 'buttermilk
clay' painted surface. Retains original hardware.
Category
Antique Early 19th Century American Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
19thc Original Salmon & Decorated Pennsylvania Blanket Chest
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a amazing untouched 19thc original paint decorated blanket chest is a small scale size.Wonderful as a coffee table or end of a bed for quilts & blankets.The condition is very...
Category
Antique 19th Century American Adirondack Blanket Chests
Materials
Pine
$1,516 Sale Price
38% Off
Important & Rare Pennsylvania 18thc Paint Decorated Cradle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic early 18thc Pennsylvania painted and decorated baby cradle with strong German Dutch influence . This early cradle has come out of a fifty year collection and was found in Southern Pennsylvania originally . The hex signs...
Category
Antique 18th Century American Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
$12,000 Sale Price
20% Off
19thc Original Paint Decorated Pennsylvania Doll Cradle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Original paint decorated doll cradle from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This Pennsylvania German Dutch doll cradle is in a bitter sweet painted sur...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century American Adirondack Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
$1,036 Sale Price
20% Off
Grain Painted Blanket Chest Pennsylvania Circa 1830
Located in Hudson, NY
Painted blanket chest with turned feet. Rectangular lid with applied molding above dovetail jointed case . An absolute delight, this festive jewel made of dense poplar with a buttern...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century American Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Poplar, Paint, Nutwood
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
18th Century Painted American Furniture
Pennsylvania German
Philadelphia 18th Century Furniture
Winterthur Furniture
19th Century Pennsylvania Chest
Tubular Steel Dining Table
Vintage Aircraft Furniture
Vintage Ceiling Light Cover
Vintage Convex Mirror
Vintage French Luggage
Vintage Green Glass Dish
Vintage Italian Wooden Chandeliers
Vintage Key City Furniture
Vintage Scandanavian Danish Mid Century Modern Rug
Vintage Venetian Wall Mirror
Vintage Wall Watch
Vintage Wooden Trays
Vintage Wrought Iron Table Legs