A miniature Chippendale carved walnut blanket chest Maxatawny Township, Berks County, PA, late 18th century

With lift-lid top, waist molding over two drawers, molded base on bracket feet, one drawer inscribed in pencil to underside, "John Hottenstein box union liberty and forever," the other drawer inscribed in ink to underside, "21 Jun/ Januari"; together with a framed cross-stitched needlework sampler decorated with various motifs such as flowers, flower pots, birds, crowns, cross, and heart, inscribed, "Mary Louisa Hottenstein./ David H. Hottenstein./ Catharine Hottenstein," the reverse inscribed in pen, "Made by Mary Louisa Hottenstein/ married Wm. Grim/ attend Ladies Sem. at Pughtown S. of Norristown, Pa."

H: 11 1/2 in. W: 16 1/2 in. D: 9 3/4 in. (chest), 18 1/2 in. x 8 in. (sampler, sight)

Note

The Hottenstein family were German immigrants who settled in Maxatawny Township after an original settler, Jacob Hottenstein (1697-1753), relocated from Oley Township. With an extensive lineage, the Hottenstein family has successions of lines which share the same first names, making identification difficult for the ownership of this miniature blanket chest. Many Hottensteins still reside in the Kutztown area of Pennsylvania.

The Hottenstein House, a protected landmark built in 1783 by David and Catherine Hottenstein, is a remarkable survivor of a Georgian floorplan with Germanic architectural details.

Provenance

A private collector.