An Early New Mexican Spanish Colonial Box or Chest

Spanish Colonial New Mexico

Late 18th century | Wood | Item 1841

This is a rare and beautiful New Mexican pine box or chest. It is sturdy and can be used as a bench as well. This early pine box is made of 6, solid and complete original boards, likely all adzed and not saw cut. The front has four rosettes evenly spaced with two upper and two lower. There is a larger rosette on each end panel. The front and end panels are also scribed with circles in the corner and semi circles bordering all sides. There is scribed a small, complete circle inside each of the semi circles. The chest has the original brown paint on the top, front and end panels. The top has a much more glossy finish, likely from age and receiving other materials over time. The back and bottom panels are not painted. All corners are dove tailed. Square nails are evident as are later round nails that were added later on as fixes. The hinges in the back for the lid all appear to be original with no evidence of other hinges used. This is not the case with the front latching system. Some time ago the original latching system was removed and a newer system was put on. I have removed the newer front facing latching system since I found it distracting. It is still with the box, wrapped, on the inside.

The box was multi-purposed some time ago. The front panel was cut at the joint, leaving all of the dovetails in tact. This was done to create a fold out desk where the front panel would open forward and lay flat much like a Vaquero desk. Hinges were put onto the bottom to hold the desk top in place once it was open. These can be seen on the bottom of the chest in the first, frontal photo. Wood support members were added to the inside and these are all still present. When I purchase the chest, the front desk panel had been permanently nailed back into the box to mimic its original look and purpose. It can no longer be opened up like a desk. Only the top opens.