Antique Folk Art Chest
This 19th century chest has a domed lid and shaped bracket feet. It has been painted in folk art featuring local flora. On the inside of the chest there is more painted fora on the inside of the lid. A candle box is also situated inside the chest.
Candle boxes were originally made to protect precious candles from being eaten by rats, mice and other vermin. Candles were mostly made from animal-based tallow, usually from sheep and cattle. The animal fat odour, even when not lit, would have attracted vermin. Only the rich could afford beeswax. Tallow candles would have given off a foul smell when burnt as well as a smoky flame. Sometimes, course flour or bran was used in the candle box to prevent candles from sticking to each other. Candle boxes differed greatly in size, timber and shape.
Recognition of folk art came about during the late 19th century. At first it was limited to the ‘peasant art’ of Europe, known as the ‘art of the land’. The new intellectual climate of the time attached a romantic value to the simple life. As well as this, the spread of democratic and nationalistic ideas resulted in the art of the common people coming into focus. Before industrialisation, folk art was widespread across Europe. It was produced by local people who had no access to the products of the wealthy. These local artists were engaged largely in agricultural, pastoral and maritime pursuits. Folk art reflects the cultural life of a community, including folklore and cultural heritage. Folk art usually had a practical utility. It was painted on objects rather than being exclusively decorative and it was crafted and used within a traditional community. Folk art was about carrying on tradition. Practised by untrained artists who were usually self-taught or through a learned trade, it existed outside academic art practice. In pre-industrialised Europe folk art was widespread. After industrialisation, folk art became more marginalised and was pushed to the fringes of society and more remote locations.
It is interesting to note that on the rear side of the chest there is some ancient text, possibly a local dialect.
The chest measures 26 cms in height, 44 cms in length and 24 cms in width.
This 19th century chest has a domed lid and shaped bracket feet. It has been painted in folk art featuring local flora. On the inside of the chest there is more painted fora on the inside of the lid. A candle box is also situated inside the chest.
Candle boxes were originally made to protect precious candles from being eaten by rats, mice and other vermin. Candles were mostly made from animal-based tallow, usually from sheep and cattle. The animal fat odour, even when not lit, would have attracted vermin. Only the rich could afford beeswax. Tallow candles would have given off a foul smell when burnt as well as a smoky flame. Sometimes, course flour or bran was used in the candle box to prevent candles from sticking to each other. Candle boxes differed greatly in size, timber and shape.
Recognition of folk art came about during the late 19th century. At first it was limited to the ‘peasant art’ of Europe, known as the ‘art of the land’. The new intellectual climate of the time attached a romantic value to the simple life. As well as this, the spread of democratic and nationalistic ideas resulted in the art of the common people coming into focus. Before industrialisation, folk art was widespread across Europe. It was produced by local people who had no access to the products of the wealthy. These local artists were engaged largely in agricultural, pastoral and maritime pursuits. Folk art reflects the cultural life of a community, including folklore and cultural heritage. Folk art usually had a practical utility. It was painted on objects rather than being exclusively decorative and it was crafted and used within a traditional community. Folk art was about carrying on tradition. Practised by untrained artists who were usually self-taught or through a learned trade, it existed outside academic art practice. In pre-industrialised Europe folk art was widespread. After industrialisation, folk art became more marginalised and was pushed to the fringes of society and more remote locations.
It is interesting to note that on the rear side of the chest there is some ancient text, possibly a local dialect.
The chest measures 26 cms in height, 44 cms in length and 24 cms in width.
This 19th century chest has a domed lid and shaped bracket feet. It has been painted in folk art featuring local flora. On the inside of the chest there is more painted fora on the inside of the lid. A candle box is also situated inside the chest.
Candle boxes were originally made to protect precious candles from being eaten by rats, mice and other vermin. Candles were mostly made from animal-based tallow, usually from sheep and cattle. The animal fat odour, even when not lit, would have attracted vermin. Only the rich could afford beeswax. Tallow candles would have given off a foul smell when burnt as well as a smoky flame. Sometimes, course flour or bran was used in the candle box to prevent candles from sticking to each other. Candle boxes differed greatly in size, timber and shape.
Recognition of folk art came about during the late 19th century. At first it was limited to the ‘peasant art’ of Europe, known as the ‘art of the land’. The new intellectual climate of the time attached a romantic value to the simple life. As well as this, the spread of democratic and nationalistic ideas resulted in the art of the common people coming into focus. Before industrialisation, folk art was widespread across Europe. It was produced by local people who had no access to the products of the wealthy. These local artists were engaged largely in agricultural, pastoral and maritime pursuits. Folk art reflects the cultural life of a community, including folklore and cultural heritage. Folk art usually had a practical utility. It was painted on objects rather than being exclusively decorative and it was crafted and used within a traditional community. Folk art was about carrying on tradition. Practised by untrained artists who were usually self-taught or through a learned trade, it existed outside academic art practice. In pre-industrialised Europe folk art was widespread. After industrialisation, folk art became more marginalised and was pushed to the fringes of society and more remote locations.
It is interesting to note that on the rear side of the chest there is some ancient text, possibly a local dialect.
The chest measures 26 cms in height, 44 cms in length and 24 cms in width.
Not suitable for delivery via Australia Post. Collection by appointment. Please make contact if you would like to arrange another type of delivery. Free delivery to some Melbourne metropolitan areas can be arranged.
