Dovetail construction, wire nails used on interior. Inside is a till and a sliding drawer; shoe molding on all bottom inside corners. Below mid-line molding are two thumbnail-molded, side-by-side drawers with nailed joints and fitted with locks, escutcheons and bail-type brasses in batwing style.
Lid is two joined boards with ends tenoned into end boards and pegged, cutting board fashion. Edge molding is intrinsic, not applied, except for light molding attached to underside to create lip. Lid has strap hinges with fishtail terminals and is fitted with a lock and brass batwing-type escutcheon. Medallion is relief-carved into center of lid top with "18 SF 40." The meaning of this 1840 date is a mystery.
Molding at the base of chest; four ogee bracket feet.
Provenance
Provenance: One of twelve pieces of furniture transferred to this museum from the Lancaster County Historical Society. These pieces were part of the estate of Sarah Ann Stauffer (1913-1996) whose property, Lime Kiln Farm, was bequeathed to LCHS upon her death in 1996.
Clarke Hess had suggested the chest may have been made for Sarah Ann Frantz and the 1840 date may be her birth year. Often, he says, pieces of furniture were made for a child or heir at the time of the settling of an estate.
Research: Sarah Ann Frantz (sister of Sarah A. Stauffer's gr-grandfather Henry L. Frantz) was born 1835, Grandfather Samuel O. Frantz was born 1861, so this theory is incorrect. (The East Hempfield Twp. farm of Sarah A. Frantz is located on both the 1875 and 1899 Atlases, SW of Rohrerstown and S.O. Frantz is shown nearby on 1899 Atlas.)
Top has large crack through center and many dents, scratches and score marks. Loss at right end of mid--line molding of front. Multiple cracks in sides. Repairs done to feet. Refinished with heavy stain and varnish on lid and all interior surfaces. Original finish on front is heavily alligatored; finish on sides is crackled. Interior surfaces have had paper and textiles adhere to wet varnish. Sliding drawer has crack in bottom.
Object ID
G.99.41.9
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Transferred from Lancaster Co. Historical Soc., Heritage Center Collection
Blanket chest, walnut with dark brown stain, by Henry Slaugh, showing stylistic influences of Colonial Revival, Italian Renaissance and Arts & Crafts (per donor). Elaborate carving on front & two bottom drawers. Unusual tenoned dado joint used in case construction. Secured with nails.
Hinged lid is unadorned except for double string inlay on edges.
Front, at top, is a frieze with two 1.75"-wide panels of intricate relief carving on either side of a shield inlay keyhole escutcheon. Centered within each carved panel are the first and last names in overlapping letters of the attorney who commissioned the chest "REDMOND" "CONYNHAM". The date of 1916 is also carved at sides of names. In the top corners of the front are carved rectangular boxes with relief carved initials, "H" on left and "S" on right for the maker, Henry Slaugh. Within the relief carving are smaller incised letters, "F" and "W" on left and "E" and "R" on right." Henry Slaugh Workshop.
Center panel has a long rectangle of string inlay with hollow upper corners. Applied, carved ionic columns at extreme left and right are decorated with vertical string inlay. At the top and bottom of the central panel is a thin molding with double string of inlay. The bottom molding and inlay continue around the sides.
Below the center panel are two drawers with double brass bail pulls and central shield inlay keyhole escutcheons and string inlay around the perimeter of each drawer. Flanking the drawers are two inlaid oval paterae. There is a thin molding under the drawers that continues around the sides with a double string of inlay.
Chest has French feet with spurs. Interior contains two fitted sliding drawers.
Redmond Conyngham (1863 - Jan. 8, 1929) was a Lancaster lawyer whose longtime office address was 53 N. Duke. His home at 134 N. Duke was the same residence of his mother & step-father. Later it was 304 N. Lime some time before his death. The 1912 Lancaster Business Guide, p. 11, lists Conyngham, lawyer, and Wm. H. Hager, Dept. Store, at 134 Duke St. Mrs. Wm. H. Hager was his half sister Mary Wilson Hager(1871-1956). Their mother was Mary E. Miller Conyngham Wilson, M.D.; Redmond's father was John Redmond Conyngham(b. 5-26-1842 d.?).
Provenance
Donor purchased chest for $1,000 at the Mary Hager sale held by Horst Auction, Jan. 29, 2000. Chest passed to Conyngham's half-sister who died in 1956, Mary Wilson Hager (Mrs. Wm. H. Hager).
Horst records only say "From the home of Mary Hager." Many items were consigned this way, apparently by a bank that was administering the estate.
Moderate soil and abrasions overall. A 1-inch-long discoloration on top is11.75" from right edge and 22" from front. Chips along top edge of lid. Left column partially separated from chest. Wear near bottom of feet. Back left foot has large loss and some chipping. Chip on right front foot. Loss at left drawer escutcheon;some cracks in others. Scrape below carved numeral "9".
Object ID
G.00.05.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Gift of John J. Snyder, Jr. in honor of the Krote Cousins, Heritage Center Collection
