REVOLUTIONARY WAR LIQUOR CHEST
Handmade wooden chest, 18 1/2" x 12 1/4" x 11", painted green at the top, front and sides, and with original metal corner reinforcements and original twisted wrought iron handles at the sides. The hasp, lockplate and hinges are replacements, as is the leather retaining strap inside the lid. The shape and position of the original lock and hinges can still be discerned, as can the outline of a square cloth "pocket" inside the lid. The glasses and decanters, the cloth interior lining and the wooden insert which would have secured the contents are missing, and there is an approx. 1" x 3" triangular hole at one corner of the bottom board. These chests were common accoutrements found in the encampments of military officers during the 18th century, and would have held bottles of sherry, cognac and other liquors, as well as glasses. An example owned by General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, which closely resembles this example, is currently on display at the Fraunces Tavern Museum in New York City. This example was discovered in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.