This is a large storage chest. The chest is rectangular, and made out of wood, with metal hinges, and metal brackets at the edges and corners, and four metal pegs in the top of the chest. At either end there are two very large metal handles fitted into ornamental metal plates for lifting the chest. The exterior of the chest is painted or enameled deep brown and painted with gold, brown and red decoration mostly taking the form of birds and foliage such as flowers and trees.
The chest stands on four feet at the corners, and the base is raised off the ground by these four feet about 20cm. The top of the chest is flat and hinged along one long edge. When opened, it reveals a rectangular interior, painted red. At one end there is a smaller compartment with a hinged flat lid. The chest is empty. Beneath the main compartment, and accessible at the front of the chest, there are two drawers with metal pulls at the front. These are brown inside, and empty.
Accession Number: 2019.ast.256
Alternative Name: Storage Chest
Wood, Metal: Copper Alloy, Metal: Iron Alloy
On a sticker affixed to one end of the chest: “PROPERTY OF
Dunlap Inst.
000053”
Dimensions (cm): Length = 131, Width = 55.5, Height = 75
This is a storage chest that likely was a piece of personal furniture belonging to affiliated with the David Dunlap Observatory, such as Clarence A. Chant.
Fair: The surface of the chest is in poor condition. The surface enamel or paint is chipped and damaged in many places, although particularly n the base, corners, edges and lid of the chest. In places, the wood is visible. In others, only the external surface layer has been removed. The chest is cracked in several places, including longways along the centre of the lid and along the sides of this, and along the back of the chest where the main compartment and drawer section meet.
The metal brackets, corners and handles are corroded, with verdigris and other oxidization products visible around the edges of these pieces. The screws that hold these components in place are very rusty, particularly those on the lid of the box. One of the large brackets affixed to the hinges at the rear of the box has come away from the box’s rear and is significantly beent away from it, leaving an open hole underneath its base. The screws that once held it in place are missing.
The interior of the box and drawers is worn but intact. The paint decoration of the lid, front and sides of the box is worn and delicate, with some portions of the decoration appearing white, as if the original surface has worn away, or reacted to change colour.
Associated Instruments:
Manufacturer:
Date of Manufacture: 19th or Early 20th Century
Provenance:
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