A William and Mary Red Painted Pine Two-Drawer Blanket or Mule Chest
New England, Early 18th Century
appears to retain the original bale and snipe hinges and feet, with an historic red-painted surface.
Height 42 x width 41 1/2 x depth 19 inches.
This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Provenance:
John Walton, Jewett City, Connecticut.

Moylan relates an interesting story about this piece: "When Holly and I visited John, he was ill and upstairs in bed. We were expected, of course, and John's wife Mary was showing us around. Suddenly we heard John call down the stairs 'Tell Moylan to buy that chest, and if he doesn't, to never come back!' Naturally, we bought the chest."

In overall fine and usable condition. Retaining the original bale and snipe hinges, feet, til and til lid, and historic red paint.  The surface shows wear consistent with age and use. Old scuffs, marks, and scratches consistent with age and handling. Few age cracks throughout. There is an 8 1/4 x 1 1/2” patch to the back of lid where the snipe hinge is placed, the other snipe hinge shows some reinforcement, likely due to shrinkage and loosening of the hinge. Scattered chip losses with overpainting in areas. The lid is lacking the proper right baton, the remaining baton likely previously detached. Lacking lock and associated clasp. The pulls, while seemingly of the period and having been on this piece for some time, show evidence of having been repositioned.