Folk art wedding chest, circa 1870

A pine wedding chest from central europe, probably german, circa 1870. The neoclassical style persisted in europe until after the 1820s. This colour scheme of terracotta red and green is typical of the style and is often seen in swedish and german painted furniture and harks back to the classical period. The flowers decorating the chest are symbols of eternal life. In the christian symbolism of the rural population of central europe, the moment of marriage was a holy sacrament marriage.