Description:
Paint Decorated Dome-top Pine Box, Paris, Maine, early 19th century, dovetail constructed box with grain painted exterior, iron and brass lock, wire hinges, the top painted with a green and gilt fruiting branch, the front decorated with the Merrill family crest partially obscured by the lockplate, green and off-white linear borders, the interior inscribed "Merrill Chase," and penciled inscription "my great great grandfather Fr-- 100 years old, E-t--l Lord 1930," ht. 5 3/4, wd. 13 3/4, dp. 6 3/4 in.
Note: A genealogical search identifies the signer of the box as Merrill Chase, born October 17, 1773, in Newbury, Massachusetts. He married Sally Tucker in Minot, Maine, on March 3, 1796. They had eight children. Sally died before 1816. He went on to remarry and died January 17, 1860 in Paris, Maine.
Estimate $2,500-3,500