Chest

Object Name:

Chest

Object ID:

1947.008

Date:

1780-1800

Description:

Chest said to have belonged to Caleb Stark (1759-1838). Wood is walnut with pock-mark figuring. Chest is of six-board construction with the sides all dovetailed. Large iron bail handles on each of short ends. Three of the nut plates are iron round discs and one is decorated. Lid is attached with hand wrought brass straps hinges on interior of box. Back edge of lid has round molding. Remaining front and sides have added strip of molding attached with hand wrought iron and brass nails. Molding extends below the lid, forming a lip. Right side strip is missing (missing piece inside chest). Interior has a small compartment on the left that goes the full length and is missing a lid. Evidence of a yellow wash on interior of compartment. Bail handles are held in with brass screws and nuts. There is a strip of rounded molding around the bottom with the left side piece missing. Bottom is nailed on with iron hand-wrought nails and one support is on bottom with other missing. Bottom is hand hewn.

Material:

Wood

Dimensions:

H-18.5 W-37 D-20.25 inches

Provenance:

Said to have belonged to Caleb Stark.

There are two Caleb Starks, father and son; this item belonged to the father. The first Caleb (1759-1838), the son of General John Stark, was born in Dunbarton and died in Oxford, OH. The second Caleb (1804-1864) was born and died in Dunbarton. He graduated from Harvard in 1823, studied law in Litchfield and later New York City He began to practice in Cincinnati, OH, but soon after moved to Concord, NH, then back to Dunbarton. He was a member of the NH legislature and an author.

Credit Line:

Loaned by Lew S. Cutler

People:

Stark, Caleb (1759-1838), Cutler, Lew S. (1888-1949)