Chest-Over-Drawer c. 1725

This painted chest-over-drawer was created by Robert Crosman, sometime in the 18th century in Taunton, Massachusetts. Crosman lived through a period of immense transformation as colonial America moved towards revolution and independence. The imagery of birds and trees is common in early American decorative arts, but here, the execution feels particularly charged. The stylized birds, rendered with an almost naive hand, evoke a sense of both freedom and constraint; they are beautiful, yet their world is confined to the surface of this small chest. The chest may have been made for a young girl, perhaps as a hope chest, a place to store precious items in preparation for her adult life. The initials on the front suggest a personal connection, yet the aesthetic also speaks to broader cultural values around domesticity, gender, and identity in early America. It reminds us that even everyday objects can be powerful carriers of history, reflecting both individual stories and collective experiences.