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(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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At a time when most houses had no closets, people used chests to store sheets and blankets, clothing and other valuable materials. Their owners did not consider them "bedroom" furniture, and they used them as decoration as well. A Connecticut River Valley furniture maker made this carved, painted chest for Sarah Hawks (1701-1783) of Deerfield. The chest and its carved tulip and leaf pattern are typical of chests produced in this area during this period.

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