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Chest
Christian Selzer (1749–1831)
1783
Object Place: Jonestown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Medium/Technique
Painted pine
Dimensions
55.88 x 132.08 x 58.42 cm (22 x 52 x 23 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Charles Hitchcock Tyler
Accession Number32.274
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAmericas
ClassificationsFurniture – Case furniture and boxes
Catalogue Raisonné
Randall 18
DescriptionThe pine chest has a molded top, dovetailed construction, and moldings at the base above the bracket feet. On the front against the red ground of the chest are two rectangular panels enclosing stylized vases of tulips and other flowers. The background is off-white, the flowers are in tones of brown, and the vases are black. There is a border of stylized floral designs in black with red borders against a striated light brown ground. The vase in each panel is inscribed into black-urn, in a sgraffito-like way, "Christian (in script) / Selzer / 1783," of which the first numeral in the date is stylized and has an "S" through it.
On the interior there is a till with a molded lip to the lid and a similar projecting molding on the bottom. There are two strap hinges, which have lily terminals on the shaped inner leaves. The long large lock has exposed works on the inside and is decorated with an iron rosette. There is an iron escutcheon on the front of the chest which has a punched surface and pine-tree finials. The bracket feet and base molding are painted black.
The top of the back of the chest is cut to accommodate the hinges. The feet have lost some height. The red ground of the chest has been repainted, obscuring the open squares painted on the top, of which traces may be seen. The inside has been varnished and the black base repainted.
On the interior there is a till with a molded lip to the lid and a similar projecting molding on the bottom. There are two strap hinges, which have lily terminals on the shaped inner leaves. The long large lock has exposed works on the inside and is decorated with an iron rosette. There is an iron escutcheon on the front of the chest which has a punched surface and pine-tree finials. The bracket feet and base molding are painted black.
The top of the back of the chest is cut to accommodate the hinges. The feet have lost some height. The red ground of the chest has been repainted, obscuring the open squares painted on the top, of which traces may be seen. The inside has been varnished and the black base repainted.
InscriptionsSigned "Christian / Selzer / 1783" on the vase of each panel; the first numeral of the datre has an "S" through it.
ProvenanceBequest of Charles Hitchcock Tyler (Accession Date September 1, 1932)