Bidspirit auction | INDIANA MENNONITE BLANKET CHEST

INDIANA MENNONITE BLANKET CHEST - Samuel Miller, LaGrange County, dated 1895, poplar. Dovetailed case, bracket feet, and original red and black paint with gold stenciled ”Anna Borntrager 1895.” 23” high, 41” wide, 18.5” deep. Samuel M. Miller (1870-1941) was born to Manasses M. Miller and Anna M. Miller (1848-1926). Anna Miller was the third of at least ten children born to Christian H. Miller (1819-1889) and Catharine Mast (1823-1870), and her younger brother was Christian C. Miller (1855-1931), who married Polly Plank (1857-1925), with whom he had at least ten children as well, including Jacob C. Miller (1880-1965). Samuel?s mother and Jacob?s father were brother and sister, making Samuel and Jacob first cousins. Jacob married Anna Borntrager (sometimes Bontrager) in 1901, and they had at least four children. Anna died in 1942. Samuel is a well-documented furniture maker in LaGrange County, producing painted furniture in the manner of Soap Hollow, Pennsylvania Mennonites (some of whom came west to Indiana and Michigan). A chest of drawers by Miller with the same paint treatment, made for another family member and dated in the 1890s, is in the collection of the Winterthur Museum. Provenance: a Pennsylvania collection. NOTE: We are happy to answer questions and take additional photos of lots prior to the auction (the sooner submitted the better). Any updates or new photographs will be posted to the catalog on our website. Please check there prior to placing bids to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information. SHIPPING: We offer in-house shipping on all lots in this auction. Please see the terms for more information and contact us for a packing/shipping estimate. Condition: Clean and original; some minor paint wear to the top.