Painted Storage Box

Artist/Maker
Fraser, Charles
Place Made
Charleston South Carolina United States of America
Date Made
1810-1820
Medium
painted wood –nails
Dimensions
HOA 14″; WOA 19″; DOA 14 3/4″
Accession Number
5471
Description
DESCRIPTION: Painted wooden box; said to have been painted by Charles Fraser as a gift for his niece, Anna Susan Winthrop (1805-1857). The box is missing its lid, but consist of four painted panels. The front panel has the monogram “ASW,” presumably for Anna Susan Winthrop. All four outside panels have been painted with a burgundy faux-graining technique along the outside edges, at the center of which are large rectangular outlined areas. The areas are first outlined in thick black line, and after a space of 3/4″ outlined again with a thin black line. The central color is golden in color and represents natural wood graining. The panels have been painted with a white underpaint prep surface, which can easily be seen underneath all the painted surfaces, due to scratching. The monogram is painted within the outlined area in golden colors with burgundy-colored shadows and positioned in the center. The interior is a deep blue-green color, and the base (exterior) is natural wood. There is a latch and keyhole on the front and spaces for hinges on the back. Visible nails at bottom. At some point, there was molded edge trim around the bottom, and more than likely around the lid which is missing.

INSCRIPTION: Marks on bottom read “Fraser/ King Street”

History
Along with the stilllife painting (MESDA Acc. 5470), this painted box descended in the Winthrop family of Charleston. It was created by artist Charles Fraser for his niece, Ann Susan Winthrop (1805-1807), and bears her initials “ASW” in gilt letters. In her will, Ann bequeathed to her brother Dr. Henry Winthrop (1803-1890) her interest in the Tradd Street house and lot where they lived.

It is among a large group of related objects in the MESDA collection with Fraser family histories. These include a Chippendale-style chest of drawers (Acc. 2787) with a fitted upper drawer, an easy chair (Acc. 2788.2), a candlestand (Acc. 2788.1), a stilllife painting by Charles Fraser (Acc. 5470), and a miniature by Fraser for his niece Sophia Fraser (Acc. 5509).

Artist Biography
ARTIST: Charles Fraser (1782-1860), born in Charleston, was the fourteenth and last child born to Alexander and Mary Grimke Fraser. At the age of sixteen he followed his family’s wishes and began the study of law, which he pursued until 1800. By 1804 he was again studying law and working in the office of the Attorney-General of South Carolina. In 1807, he was admitted to the bar.

Fraser demonstrated his artistic aptitude at an early age; extant sketchbooks date as early as 1796, when Fraser was only fourteen. He was painting by 1800, and throughout his legal career he continued to paint. He established lifelong friendships with artists such as Thomas Sully, Edward Greene Malbone, and Washington Allston. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Fraser was not an itinerant artist, though he did make five trips to the northern states, visiting other artists in route. He worked to promote public art exhibitions and collections in Charleston and was a director of the South Carolina Academy of Fine Arts until its closure circa 1832.

During his lifetime his works were displayed in such cities as Philadelphia and New York. His most important exhibit was the 1857 “Fraser Gallery,” which was organized in his honor by a group of prominent citizens in Charleston. Over three hundred of his works were loaned for this exhibit. “He painted over four hundred miniature portraits that chronicle the society of Charleston (and beyond) in the pre-Civil War nineteenth century. Although he received less support for landscape, genre, history, and still life paintings and sketches, Fraser is now recognized for his accomplishments in these areas as well.” (Robert Hicklin Appraisal Notes)

Fraser was also known in the literary circles of Charleston for his poetry and, according to his will amassed a fairly large art collection. “Fraser was esteemed and celebrated as an artist, author, and civic leader during his lifetime. A distinguished orator and author, his speeches, essays, and poetry were published in local newspapers, literary journals, and anthologies. His book, Reminiscences of Charleston (1854), is valued for its historical scope and accuracy, as well as the artist’s personal recollections of a rich and critical period in American history.” (Robert M. Hicklin Appraisal Notes)

Credit Line
Gift of Robert and Jane Hicklin, Charleston, South Carolina in memory of Charles and Peggy Gignilliat.