Hand-Painted Small Hope Chest by Sandy Greco
by Heinz Ahlers
This neatly made and finely decorated hope chest is donated by Sandy Greco. Sandy, studied ceramics and fine art in Palermo Italy.
Sandy is noted for her remarkable Fraktur Art. Sandy’s art career was inspired by her father who worked in wood and restored painted antique furniture in Sicily. She began working in the Fraktur style when she encountered Fraktur at her first CLA show. The patterns and colors struck a chord with her, reminding her of her father’s work and the intricate patterns and aging techniques she had learned in Palermo. Sandy lists her art frequently on the CLA sales site and her pieces go quickly. Last year she donated a Fraktur painting to the auction that sold very well.
This year she has followed up with this fine small scale hand painted hope chest.. This piece connects with her family roots and with early American Fraktur decorated furniture. Young Pennsylvania girls started sewing household items and saved them in their Hope, or Dower, chests for their future marriage. These chests became a storage place for their important documents, many of them Fraktur objects. The amount of decoration varied with the wealth of the owner and the style of the decoration is associated with the county where the chest was made.
This nicely made pine chest by Tom Greco is 12 inches high, 20 inches wide and 14 inches deep. Sandy’s decoration on this piece is extraordinary. The subtle aging of the finish and surfaces compliment the classic Pennsylvania Dutch decor. The interior is lined with heavy cotton material embellished with brass tacks, and antiqued brass handles on the outside.
Sandy is now married to Tom Greco and lives here in Illinois with their family. Tom was a great supporter in getting her to undertake this traditional art form. Sandy states she chose to make this decorated chest for the auction to help support the CLA mission and to give back to all the wonderful artist who have supported her.
In addition to the photos of the hope chest we included photo of her fraktur painting from last years auction.
Sandy Greco can be contacted via email at flintlock52@yahoo.com.
