Thistles and Crowns
The Painted Chests of the Connecticut Shore
Description:... In the early years of the eighteenth century, a small group of woodworkers and painters created a distinctive group of chests in the Connecticut towns of Guilford and Saybrook. Decorated with distinctive patterns of thistles, crowns, roses, fleurs-de-lis, and other evocative symbols in vibrant colors, these chests offer a striking view into the artistry, style, politics, and culture of colonial New England. This catalogue includes four richly illustrated chapters to examine the construction, decoration, use, and history of this fascinating story of American decorative arts and design. Now scattered to the premier collections of American decorative arts across the country, this catalogue is published by the Florence Griswold Museum in conjunction with the first exhibition in decades to bring together a group of major examples from this important tradition.
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