American, late 19th century. Victorian oak dry air refrigerator or ice box having a highly decorated paneled case with applied carvings, the hinged lift-up lid containing a zinc and galvanized iron lined compartment for the block of ice, the single paneled door on the front concealing storage for food. Personalized plaque mounted above the door "MANF'D FOR/JOHN M. SMYTH CO/150-166/W. MADISON, CHICAGO". The backside with faint impressed numbers "070". Interior of hinged lid with cleaning instructions and remnants of label with patent dates "July 25th 1882, March 24th, 1885, Feb 2nd 1886, June 28th, 1887. Approximate height 37.62", width 25", depth 17". Note: John M. Smyth Co. was a long-time furniture store in Chicago. He began his furniture business on Madison Street in 1867. He moved down the street to the largest commercial structure on West Madison street in 1880 and, although the store burned down in 1891, he soon rebuilt a new store on the same land. Today, the Kennedy Expressway goes right through where his store was located. Mr. Smyth was not only a notable businessman but an alderman and a member of the City Council. He died of pneumonia in 1909 and a Chicago Public School was named in his honor after his death.

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