Inscribed by the artist.  Dated 1796.   

Pine with wooden pin construction. Original untouched painted surface (never cleaned).

John Drissell (1762-1846) active from 1790 to 1817 in Lower Milford Township, Bucks County, PA. Drissell is renowned for distinctive painted woodenware, often featuring bold trilobed tulips, and inscription for whom it was made. This sliding lid box has both, tulips fill the side walls, and the lid lettered with what may be “Christina _____” and dated 1796.  Prominent on the lid is a hex-pinwheel, as often seen on Pennsylvania barns. “Squiggle” lines decorate each end, all on a brick red ground.

Only 8 boxes by Drissell are known..

Excellent structural condition. Minor period paint wear as shown. No repairs or restoration.  About 7 3/4 inches long x 4 3/8 wide x 2 3/4 tall.

LITERATURE:
-Irwin Richman, Pennsylvania German Arts, More Than Hearts, Parrots, and Tulips (Atglen, Pennsylvania, 2001,) page 55.
-Mennonite Arts, by Clarke Hess, pg. 64-65, Schiffer pub 2002.
-Winterthur Museum. John Drissell: His Hand and Pen, page 3.
-Pennsylvania Dutch American Folk Art, By Henry Kauffman, pg. 117.
-Paint, Pattern, & People, Furniture of Southeastern Pennsylvania 1725- 1850, by Wendy Cooper & Lisa Minardi pg. 36-37.
-Cummings, Pennsylvania Folklife, Fall, 1958, pages 28-31
-Pook and Pook: The Herr Collection. Jun 9, 2022, lot 21 for a very similar box. Also, Moyer Collection, July 14, 2020, lot 60.

Provenance: Private New England collection.