A Mennonite Red Wash, Black and Parcel Gilt Painted, Stencil Decorated Poplar Chest of Drawers

Ohio or Indiana, Dated 1899

stenciled Sarah E. Troyer / 1899, bearing a black painted SM on the backboards, having glazed ceramic drawer pulls, retains a historic surface.
Height 53 1/2 x width 43 1/4 x depth 20 1/4 inches.

The Troyer surname is extremely common in the Mennonite communities of Holmes County, Ohio and Elkhart County, Indiana, and marriage records were located in both states that could relate to this chest. The marriage of Sarah Troyer and Eli Troyer was recorded in Holmes County, Ohio on January 12, 1900, and the marriage of Sarah Yoder and Simon Yoder of Goshen, Indiana on May 14, 1899.

While a generation later, this chest shows the clear influence of chests made by the Soap Hollow, Pennsylvania Mennonite community, and is indicative of the western movement of this religious group. The shaped skirt and gallery, and use of a red and black palette, stenciled decoration and plain porcelain knobs is typical of the work of Sala and other Soap Hollow makers. The exclusive use of poplar for the chest is more typical of the Ohio Mennonite cabinet makers.

Provenance:

Brett Grinwis, Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Found in Indiana.