Blanket Chest Series
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Price is included for any item which is currently available for purchase.
The following chests are adapted from a 17th century blanket chest originating in Eastern North Carolina. The original piece can be found in the Collection of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts at Old Salem, in Winston Salem, NC and in John Bivens' book, The Furniture of Coastal North Carolina, pg 132. The chests are constructed using 18th century woodworking tools and techniques and are assembled using pegged mortise and tendon joints. These are heirloom quality pieces that can be handed down to future generations with pride.
If you are interested in purchasing one of the available items on this page or wish to commission a piece similar to one of the previously sold items, please contact Jerome Bias by clicking here.
Blanket Chest #1
This walnut chest is the first in the series. It is made primarily of solid walnut (not walnut stain on a less expensive wood or veneer, but solid walnut) and features a hand applied shellac finish. The secondary wood is southern yellow pine.
Measurements: Height 28", Length 42", Width 22"
Internal depth 19"
~Available for Purchase: $2,200~
Blanket Chest #2
This green chest is the second in the series and features cedar panels, period-correct brass hardware, a solid brass lock and a solid walnut top. The paint on the chest is milk paint, a historically accurate, non-toxic paint. The milk paint finish was sealed with tung oil, topped with hand applied shellac and hand rubbed until it was silky smooth. The chest is constructed of southern yellow pine, eastern red cedar panels and a walnut top.
Measurements: Height 28", Length 42" and Width 22"
Internal depth 19"
~Available for Purchase: $2,500~
Blanket Chest #3
This walnut chest is the third in the series. Constructed primarily of walnut, this blanket chest features eastern red cedar rear and floor panels, period-correct brass hardware and a solid brass lock. The finish is hand a hand applied coat of shellac which has been rubbed and waxed.
Measurements: Height 28", Length 42" and Width 22"
Internal depth 19"
~$3,000 - SOLD~
Blanket Chest #4
This pine chest is the fourth in the series and features raised panels, late 17th century brass escutcheons and drawer pulls and hand-forged blanket chest hinges. Constructed primarily of southern yellow pine, this blanket chest features eastern red cedar rear panel, floor and drawer bottoms, a solid walnut top and hand shaped moldings. The finish on the chest is milk paint and hand applied shellac, with a water and alcohol resistant tung oil finish on the walnut top.
Measurements: Height 31", Length 47" and Width 22"
Internal depth of chest 17", drawer 4"
~$4,500 - SOLD~
Blanket Chest #5
This creamy yellow chest is the fifth in the series. Constructed primarily of pine, this blanket chest features eastern red cedar rear and floor panels, a solid walnut top, hand forged hardware and a solid brass lock. The finish is yellow milk paint sealed with tung oil and topped with a hand applied shellac which was rubbed until silky smooth.
Measurements: Height 28", Length 42" and Width 22"
Internal depth 19"
~Available for purchase: $2,500~
Blanket Chest #6
This distressed blanket chest is the sixth in the series. The lid of the trunk is crafted of reclaimed pine from a 1890 farmhouse. Features include period-correct hardware, hand forged hinges and a solid brass lock. The primary wood is walnut with Eastern Red Cedar back and floor panels. The finish is Carolina blue milk paint which has been distressed, then sealed with tung oil, topped with hand applied shellac and hand rubbed until silky smooth.
Measurements: Height 28", Length 42" and Width 22"
Internal depth 19"
~Available for purchase - $2,500~
Blanket Chest #7
This walnut chest is the seventh in the series and the charm of the collection. The intention in the beginning of this series was to make an exact replica of the 1690 North Carolina Wainscot Blanket Chest, which is currently on display in the Museum of Southern Decorative Arts in Old Salem, North Carolina. This piece is the fulfillment of those plans. This walnut chest features molded stiles, raised panels, drawer, period-correct brass drawer pulls, handmade hinges and a hand rubbed shellac finish. It is completely hand crafted and just like the original, with one small exception. The secondary panels in this reproduction are eastern red cedar, rather than pine like the original.
Measurements: Height 30", Length 49" and Width 21"
Internal depth 17" with drawer depth of 6"