Dark Blue/green-painted Punch-carved Crease-molded Pine Chest

Description:

Dark Blue/green-painted Punch-carved Crease-molded Pine Chest, New London, Connecticut, c. 1700-30, the cleated top opens on snipe hinges above a well, the facade with central crease molding surrounded above and below by designs punched with a pinking iron, and the initials "AH," possibly for Abigail Hempstead, and cutout skirt on sawtooth ends, old surface, (paint wear, minor wood losses),ht. 22, wd. 37 3/4, dp. 15 3/4 in.

Provenance: Possible descent in the Joshua Hempstead family, New London, Connecticut; Lemmens Auction, High Hill House, The Estate of George L. Considine, June 26-28, 1986; Christie's, The Collection of the Late Lillian Blankley Cogan, Farmington, Connecticut, September 7, 1992; Marguerite Riordan, Stonington, Connecticut.

Literature: A similar chest is pictured in New London County Furniture, Lyman Allyn Museum catalog, 1974, p. 16, #6. In the entry for that chest, it is reported that "traditionally a member of the Hempstead family made the chest [which is lettered "IH," possibly for Joseph Hempstead (1678-1758)]." The horizontal molding and the skirt cutout of that piece match those on this lot. It is possible that "AH" on this chest refers to Abigail Hempstead, daughter of Joshua Hempstead, and great-granddaughter of Robert and Joane Hempstead, who were among the co-founders of New London.
The property of Brian and Pam Ehrlich
Estimate $4,000-6,000


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