Notes

Kists without handles suggest they were probably tool chests kept at the place of work and not used for transportation as this would make it difficult to lift them on and off a wagon. Tool chests were usually more elongated and flatter than other chests.

The patterns and motifs on painted chests were usually naively painted floral or geometric designs within a decorative frame. The painters depicted local flora so there is a difference between chests found along the east coast and those found on the west coast.

Kists retaining their original paintwork are extremely collectable as many had their original painted decorations wrongly removed in an attempt to 'retore' the piece in order to show the wood.