A Yellow and Green Painted Pine Blanket Chest
Possibly African American, 19th Century
the lid painted March the..., the interior with a pencil stick-figure drawing and inscribed Rallghi Dove, with a further signature on the bottom board of the interior Raleigh Dove put on the lock.
appears to retain the original till box (never having a cover) and hinges.
Height 22 1/4 x 33 3/4 x depth 19 1/4 inches.
This lot is located in Cincinnati.
A Raleigh Dove was found in the 1910 Federal Census living in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina with his grandfather Edward, a farmer, and his wife Mary. Other household members include Edward's two 20 year old sons, John and Henry, and a four year old granddaughter. Both John and Henry worked in a saw mill. We speculate that this chest might have been made for Raleigh by one or both of these men, and that either might have been his father. The Census indicates that Raleigh was six years old making it unlikely that the notation dates to the construction of the chest. Subsequent census information reveals that Dove remained in the Wilmington, North Carolina area working as a driver for a bakery, but by 1930 was living in Brooklyn, New York as a porter.

Provenance:
Found in North Carolina, and purchased by Moylan from the picker.