Pennsylvania Dutch dower chest. The chest sports bun feet, hand-forged strap hinges, a central iron lock plate with escutcheon, and the original paint decoration consisting of symmetrical tulip-form trees of life nestled in arched bonnet top panels flanking a central heart-shaped motif, reading “Anno Gerghering 1783”. The text is painted in red, white and blue, perhaps because 1783 was the year in which the Revolutionary War officially ended.
“Anno”, (in the year of”) , is a common prefix used by PA German decorators before writing the date or the recipient’s name. “Gerghering” is likely a locally or phonetic variant of a more common PA Dutch surname, such as Gehringer or Gering. Two such families lived in Lancaster County during that period.
The chest is in good condition, with the degree of paint wear expected in a 250 year-old chest. The chest was likely made by Christian Seltzer or the Rank family of decorators in Lebanon County, PA.
Dimensions: 23½” high x 49½” wide x 22” deep.
Item No. 260276
Price: $2,800.
