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c. 1720 Important HAND-PAINTED MASSACHUSETTS PILGRIM PAINTED LETTER BOX

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:12,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD
c. 1720 Important HAND-PAINTED MASSACHUSETTS PILGRIM PAINTED LETTER BOX
Colonial America
Extremely Rare c. 1720 Pilgrim “School Girl” Letter Box
c. 1720 Early Colonial Pilgrim Era, Important Hand-Painted, Letter or Keepsake Box, “School Girl” Style with Painted initials “R W” and “School/House,” Choice Very Fine.
An impressive, highly decorative and beautifully styled c. 1720 Early American Hand-Painted Pilgrim Era, “School Girl” Style Letter or Keepsake Wooden Box of likely Pine, measuring 3.5" High x 10.25" Long x 4.75" Deep. It retains its original paint including what appears to be a contemporary central “School/House”, this Box having been well preserved and cared for over the past near three centuries no doubt as a prized decorative and historic period artifact. The highly decorated top lid has split, with an early, possibly contemporary repair of two small attached wooden pieces for support on the lids’ underside, attesting to its originality. The original snipe hinges broken, one small round head modern nail added at the lower back to further support the interior base. Overall, as seen in our images with its strong color. This extraordinary example has choice eye appeal and would be an outstanding addition to any Early American Furniture and Decorative Arts collection. Its complete original auction catalog description and attribution, as offered by the prior East Coast auction house reads, in full:

“Important Pilgrim Painted Box Circa 1720 Eastern Mass. --- Extremely Rare Pilgrim school girl letter box Eastern Massachusetts or southern New Hampshire. Andover-Georgetown area of Essex County, or Hampton. See: Dean Fales “American Painted furniture.” The box bears a striking resembelence (sic) to the chest shown in example #55 page 45 and is more than likely the same artist. Several example(s) of similarly decorated chests are also shown on pages 36 and 38. Paint in wonderful old original surface. Old repair to the lid. Snipe hinges no longer functional. The pine box in old red surface has remains of the original snipe hinges. The lid with original decoration of a school house in white and freewheeling vines. The front of the box is adorned with a stylized tree and a decending (sic) fenced stairway in original white. Each end has circular decorations with snake like figures. The box bears the initials R W on the front in black. The box measures H 3.5", W 10.25", D 4.75".”

The early Colonial Period in America lasted between the years of 1519 and 1733, although the 1600's was the time when the most historical events such as the Pilgrims arrival first occurred. Ex: Loew Demers Auctions, Inc., October 23rd, 2010, Lot #18, which carried an original catalog estimate range of $20,000-$40,000 and stated to have “Provenance: Property of a Southern Gentleman,” later to our current consignor of the Great Lakes Region. An exceptional “museum quality” example for display.