" Spice Box" Valuables Cabinet
 
" Spice Box" Valuables Cabinet

A Valuables Cabinet from Chester County, Pa. Also called a "Spice Box" circa 1770 in cherry and tulip poplar. 2002. Addison County, Vt.

There are only six , or so, of these cabinets from New England known from the 17th century, and four are from the Symonds shop in Salem, Ma. However, in Chester County, Pa. and the Delaware River Valley and areas around Pa., well over a hundred of these cabinets exist, made from the W&M period into the Federal period, and almost all with fabulous grain or inlay, in walnut, mahogany, cherry and curled maple.
The finish is linseed oil and beeswax and not colored, it is browner than it appears.