Description:
Paint Decorated Poplar Dower Chest, probably decorated by a member of the Kriebel family, Pennsburg vicinity, Pennsylvania, 1815, the hinged molded top opening to a well with molded till with secret compartment, above a case with applied mid-molding and two thumbmolded half drawers, above ogee bracket feet, original surface fancifully painted in arcs with mottling centering a panel with 'Jacob Hubner 1815' lettered within, ht. 27 1/4, wd. 49, dp. 21 in.
Literature: A similar example is pictured in The Flowering of American Folk Art, Lipman, pl. 305, and the attribution of the present work to the Kriebel family is made by the author.
Provenance: Descended from original Schwenkfelder immigrants to previous owner, and sold at Pook and Pook, Inc., May 21, 2004, lot 249.
Estimate $20,000-30,000