Pair of tulip-shaped blanket chest hinges
Southeastern Pennsylvania, circa 1770-1800
Wrought iron, length 10 inches

For variations of this type of blanket chest hinge see Albert H. Sohn, Early American Wrought Iron, Three Volumes in One, (New York,1928), Plate 201, Figure 3: “This elaborately wrought hinge of flowering tulip pattern decorates a chest owned by Mr. Francis C. Mireau, of Doylestown, Pa. It is 16 ¼” in length by 5” in breadth, and joins a plain strap-end member which extends down the back of the chest.” Also see Herbert, Peter, and Nancy Schiffer, Antique Iron, Survey of American and English forms, fifteenth through nineteenth centuries (Atglen, PA, 1979), p. 56, Fig. B: Hinge, wrought iron, late 18th or early 19th c., Pennsylvania/ Wallace Nutting collection, Wadsworth Athenaeum. Tulip ends on strap hinges are very rare.”