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Pennsylvania German Chest Rendered by Betty Jean Davis (artist), 1935/1942 watercolor and graphite on paper overall: 31.6 x 45.7 cm (12 7/16 x 18 in.) Original IAD Object: 26 1/2" high; 40" long; 22 1/2" deep Index of American Design 1943.8.17161 |
Object 14 of 23
Dower chests were a necessary item for every Pennsylvania German girl preparing for marriage. They were used to store the linens, needlework, and household accessories that she collected over the years. Like other large pieces of furniture, dower chests were made by the village carpenter or by the farmer himself, but they were painted by an itinerant decorator. Usually three to four feet long, they were placed in the bedroom or parlor. Dower chests were decorated with traditional symbols: flowers, birds, hearts, scrolls, and geometrical designs. This one, set on bracket feet, displays typically bold and elaborate decoration. The painted panels suggest an architectural arrangement, a common mode of decoration. Ornate columns and arches enframered and black flowers growing out of urns. The small central panel was reserved for the bride's name and the date, while the side panels extend the architectural motif.
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