Vintage Bulgarian Painted Dowry Chest, 1950s Folk Art Wooden Trunk

Beautiful vintage Bulgarian hand-painted wooden chest, dating from the 1950s and coming from a village in northern Bulgaria.

This type of chest is a traditional piece of Bulgarian rural furniture. Chests like this were often given to a newly married couple and used for storing blankets, rugs, textiles, clothing and household belongings.

The front is richly decorated with colourful hand-painted floral and geometric motifs in red, green, turquoise, yellow and black. The decoration is wonderfully bold and unmistakably folk in character, while the worn painted surface gives the chest an authentic aged appearance.

The chest is handmade from solid wood and retains its original metal hardware. The lock is working.

A beautiful and substantial piece of Bulgarian folk heritage, perfect as a blanket chest, storage trunk, coffee table, bedroom chest or decorative statement piece in a rustic, eclectic or folk-inspired interior.

Dimensions
Width: 81 cm / 31.9 in
Depth: 40 cm / 15.7 in
Height: 31 cm / 12.2 in

Origin: Northern Bulgaria
Period: 1950s
Material: Wood and metal
Decoration: Hand painted
Lock: Working

Condition

Authentic vintage condition with considerable signs of age and use.

The painted surface has wear, scratches, chips, fading and areas of paint loss. The wood also shows woodworm damage, including numerous holes and some localised deterioration/loss, particularly visible around the back and upper edges.

The chest has been professionally treated against woodworm, and it's safe to place in your interior.