Hobbies And Interests
Pennsylvania German Hope Chests
In the parlance of serious antique collectors, "dower chest" is a subset of hope chests, referring to a very stylized kind of hope chest, especially those of the 18th and 19th Centuries. The most sought after of these antique dower chests are those that originated in Pennsylvania among German families, whose dower chest craftsmen were counted among the most highly skilled. The best remaining examples now can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars at antique auctions.
High Demand Antiques
In April 2007, according to "Urban Art and Antiques," an 1803 Berks County, Pennsylvania dower chest was sold for $561,600, the world's record as of 2011, for a dower chest. The workmanship is only one reason these chest command these prices. The other reason is that there are no two alike. Each was built -- often for well-to-do families -- to be absolutely unique, with original designs and the bride-to-be's initials or name on the chest.
Elaborate Art
Handcrafted and built most often without a single nail, Pennsylvania German dower chests featured elaborate and colorful paintings. The dower chests were seen as a permanent feature in the household's décor, and were designed with an eye to adding a very colorful accent to a room -- usually either the bedroom or the parlor. Astronomical and nautical signs were often featured in the art, as were fanciful figures like unicorns. Tulips were very often incorporated into the design, because the tulip symbolized love and union for ethnic Germans.
Construction
Construction of the chests used an elaborate tongue and groove arrangement or dowels, with breadboard joints attaching molded edges around the tops. Shallow, molded, flat-board feet were the most common stands for dower chests. Many chests also featured mid-height molded rails and trimmed lower panels. Some were reinforced along the edges with equally elaborate ironwork.