The hinged top opening to a welled interior and a hinged box, above the carved foliate punchwork panels divided by ebonized split spindles, above one drawer simulating a pair of drawers, raised on block feet with later casters. With a paper label from the 1960's written by Margaret Fraser Daly a descendant of Dr. Joseph Lynde of Hartford, CT.

The family history is as follows: The chest was the property of Dr. Joseph Lynde of Hartford and his wife Martha Belden (married on November 29, 1796), and it was brought to New Lebanon, NY soon after the marriage of their daughter Cornelia Lynde to Silas Churchill, Jr. on October 27, 1825. Silas Churchill Jr.'s father was Rev. Silas Churchill who was the Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in New Lebanon for 45-50 years. Silas Churchill Sr. married Rhoda Belden. Joseph Lynde's wife Martha Belden and Silas, Sr.'s wife Rhoda Belden were related. The Churchill family lived in a house built around 1825 located on what is now route 22 - NY in New Lebanon, NY. The 1825 timing would suggest that the home was built for Silas Churchill, Jr. and Cornelia Lynde around the time of their marriage. The consignor knows that the chest was in the Churchill house in New Lebanon in the 1960's as he visited Margaret Fraser Daly (Churchill descendant) who was married to John Cheseman Daly. Margaret Daly died in 1967 and the home passed to her husband. John Daly married the aunt of the current owner in 1968 and the chest was moved to their home in Canaan, NY. Thence by descent.

32 3/4 x 48 x 21 1/2 in.

Note: A related piece is illustrated in Albert Sack, Fine Points of Furniture, Early American, Crown Publishers, Inc. New York, page 109, as "Best" circa 1670-1700. And noted that these early chests were inspired by English Elizabethan chests, but with an American interpretation of carved fronts and split spindles.