Rare furniture artist's tool chest

Updated August 26, 2026

ca. 1820-1860; Attributed to the Northern Atlantic State region from Baltimore to Maine, furniture painter's tool chest. These ornamentor’s of furniture would apply their trade at various furniture shops. This traveling artist chest is designed to display his abilities and carry his tools of his trade. The chest is pine dovetail constructed with applied base rails, hinged lid with nose-molded extended board top on brass butt hinges, rosewood grain painted ground, front and sides have fine silver and gilt stencils of urns or baskets of melons and flowers. The lid has fine freehand painted roses and wildflowers design, interior compartmentalized with a large center tray for brushes, comb, and other larger tools and small square boxes compartments for paints. The front area of interior has seven round compartments for small jars. The chest has a simple chest lock and the interior of box has a screw mounted "dust deflector rail'; 20" x 11 1/2" x 10 3/4"; Condition: Good patina, retains original paint with oxidation and normal wear. The pine single board bottom was mounted with earlier era cut-nail. The bottom has a full length dry-in split.

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