Attributed to Samuel Dunlap (1752-1830)
Henniker or Salisbury, New Hampshire, circa 1785-1820
H. 48 in.; W. 37 _ in.; D. (of case) 18 1/4 in.; D. (of entire piece) 19 5/8 in.

Provenance: Roy B. Gookin, Warner, New Hampshire;
Richard Withington Inc. Auctions, Gookin Sale, Warner, New Hampshire, 1975;
John Krapp, Henniker, New Hampshire, d. 1978;
Henry A. Berman & Sons Auction, Henniker, New Hampshire, October 29, 1997;
Eastside Winter Antiques Show, Wayne Pratt Inc., 1997

Literature: A nearly identical chest--signed by cabinetmaker Samuel Dunlap--is illustrated in Gerald W. R. Ward, "American Case Furniture," New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988, pp. 145-46, no. 65.
Related examples illustrated in Currier Gallery of Art,"The Dunlaps and Their Furniture," Manchester, New Hampshire: Currier Gallery of Art, 1970, figs. 57, 59-61. "Maine Antiques Digest," Oct 1997.

Gerald W.R. Ward in "American Case Furniture" states that eight five-drawer chests were entered into Samuel Dunlap's account book between 1785 and 1820. Characteristic of Dunlap school five-drawer chests, this example exhibits pad feet, cornice molding and lipped drawers. The nearly identical chest in the Yale Gallery of Art collection has been furnished with replacement brasses and stripped of its original red paint, though according to WardÕs entry, traces of red paint remain. On the present example the brasses (with the exception of the bottom right brass, which is an early replacement) and paint in this example are entirely original.

Estimate: $200,000 - $300,000

Collectors Joanne and Jeffrey Klein enjoy the eclectic mix of American folk art, painted furniture and modern sculpture and paintings. They love the juxtaposition of modern with traditional ranging from symbolism to widely varying textured painted and weathered surfaces. Their appreciation of form, color and texture is exhibited in their collection of exceptional painted furniture, weathervanes, redware pottery, hooked rugs and wood carvings.

Condition: This chest of drawers is in an extraordinary state of preservation. The paint is original.Original Birmingham pressed brass oval handles. Secondary wood, white pine.

This chest of drawers is in an extraordinary state of preservation. The paint is original.Original Birmingham pressed brass oval handles. Secondary wood, white pine.