Chest over Drawers
Attributed to John Bieber, American, 1768 - 1825. Made for Magdalena Leabelsperger, American, 1772 - 1844.
Geography:
Made in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Date:
1792Medium:
Tulip poplar, pine, painted decoration; brass, ironDimensions:
53 x 30 1/2 x 24 inches (134.6 x 77.5 x 61 cm)Curatorial Department:
American Art
1982-68-1Credit Line:
Purchased with the Thomas Skelton Harrison Fund, the Fiske Kimball Fund, and the Joseph E. Temple Fund, 1982
Made in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Date:
1792Medium:
Tulip poplar, pine, painted decoration; brass, ironDimensions:
53 x 30 1/2 x 24 inches (134.6 x 77.5 x 61 cm)Curatorial Department:
American Art
* Gallery 115, American Art, first floor (Johnson Gallery)
Accession Number:1982-68-1Credit Line:
Purchased with the Thomas Skelton Harrison Fund, the Fiske Kimball Fund, and the Joseph E. Temple Fund, 1982
Label:
During the eighteenth century, huge numbers of immigrants from German-speaking Europe settled in rural counties of Pennsylvania. At a geographic and cultural remove from the English-influenced styles of Philadelphia, these settlers preferred artistic traditions from their homeland, including the decorative painting seen on this chest. One of the most elaborately ornamented examples known, the chest features hearts and stars laid out with a compass, freehand-drawn flowers, and sponged backgrounds. The construction of this chest is unusually skilled; it was probably made by the joiner John Bieber of Salisbury and Oley Townships for the twenty-year-old Magdalena Leabelsperger of Berks County in anticipation of her marriage.
During the eighteenth century, huge numbers of immigrants from German-speaking Europe settled in rural counties of Pennsylvania. At a geographic and cultural remove from the English-influenced styles of Philadelphia, these settlers preferred artistic traditions from their homeland, including the decorative painting seen on this chest. One of the most elaborately ornamented examples known, the chest features hearts and stars laid out with a compass, freehand-drawn flowers, and sponged backgrounds. The construction of this chest is unusually skilled; it was probably made by the joiner John Bieber of Salisbury and Oley Townships for the twenty-year-old Magdalena Leabelsperger of Berks County in anticipation of her marriage.
Explore the Collections
* Works in the collection are moved off view for many different reasons. Although gallery locations on the website are updated regularly, there is no guarantee that this object will be on display on the day of your visit.