Miniature Tabletop Folk Art Chest of Drawers

Presumably made as a jewel chest or valuables box, this miniature late 19th- or early 20th-century folk art chest has a shaped skirt, stands on lollipop feet, and sports an elaborate architectural top with a pediment, spires, and a small inset mirror. The stepped form houses drawers of varying sizes, shapes, and formats.

The entire piece appears to have been first painted in chrome yellow—areas where the brown has contracted slightly reveal traces of this. The brown, also likely original, fills the various shapes in a way that creates the impression that the drawers were later trimmed in yellow. This effect puts the exclamation point on the chests nutty form.

Constructed of scrap wood, including sections of molding and repurposed fruit and cigar box material.

Inscribed “Pritchard” in pencil on underside.

Mix of square and round nails.

Found in New Hampshire.