Chest with drawers
about 1790
Object PlacePennsylvania
Medium/TechniquePainted pine, poplar, original brasses, iron handles and iron hinges
DimensionsOverall: 67.9 x 127 x 57.2 cm (26 3/4 x 50 x 22 1/2 in.)
Credit LineGift of Barbara L. and Theodore B. Alfond in honor of Malcolm Rogers on the occasion of his twentieth year as Director of the MFA, Boston
Accession number2014.1477
On View
On viewClassificationsFurniture
Collections
By 1775, approximately 80,000 German-speaking people had immigrated to Pennsylvania, forming one of the largest immigrant groups in 18th-century America. Today, the lives and values of these settlers can be studied through the colorful and lively artistic creations that decorated their homes, particularly the elaborate illuminated fraktur drawings. The calligraphic painted decoration of this chest incorporates the style and common motifs seen in fraktur, including tulips, pomegranates, and a florid inscription in a distinctive "fraktur" script. This chest was made around 1790 for young Peter Rammler (1770-1850) who lived near Stouchsburg, Berks County.
about 1795–10
1850-1900
1700–25
