Sides and top of exterior painted in bold colors - yellow, blue, neon orange circles, arranged like flowers with leaves. Bakc made with two extensions on top ends that function as pegs that hold the lid/top and allow it to open and close. Flush bottom nailed to sides. Interior and bottom are unfinished. Spatters of paint inside and out as well as worn off top designs indicate this box was used.
Paper covered domed lid wooden box. Sheet iron hinges and latch, leather lashes. Interior covered in both English and German language newspapers of Lancaster County
Case with black lacquer finish and gilt Chinoiserie. Interior consists of multiple shelfs and storage areas. Top lid opens to reveal two closed compartments surrounding four open compartments. Front doors open to 4 drawers. Three drawers face the front below the doors.
Sackback Windsor chair claimed to be used in both Lancaster and Philadelphia in PA legislature.
Brass plaque on seat reads:
HAND MADE WINDSOR ELBOW CHAIRS / CIRCA 1750 / USED IN / LANCASTER AND PHILADELPHIA PA / BY MEMBERS OF THE / CONTINENTAL CONGRESS / AND / PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE / 1776 TO 1812 / PRESENTED BY HENRY SLAUGH / OCTOBER 12, 1961
This Windsor chair served members of the Continental Congress on September 27,1777, when Congress met for session in the original Courthouse on Lancaster's Center Square. It also served the Pennsylvania government from that same month until June 1778 during the British occupation of the City of Philadelphia. In 1784 when undergoing remodeling, a fire broke out destroying much of the building. Fortunately, many records and furnishings, including this chair, were recovered. Once rebuilt, the 'new' courthouse and this Windsor chair again served the state government from 1799 to 1812 when Lancaster was the capitol of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
