Planning on building and carving a chest

[Jacob s white]

I plan on building a eastern red cedar blanket chest and would like to carve it but am unsure what to carve but want to figure it out before I build the chest so I can practice carving that specific thing so any recommendations would be appreciated

[David Bassett]

Are you aware of Peter Follansbee's work? When I hear carved chest it's all that pops into my head. He has a book, published by LAP, called "Joiner's Work" which covers the construction of his 17th Century New England carved chests.

[Jacob s white]

I saw him make a chest on the wood wrights shop with Roy underhill but didn’t know he had a book

[Mark Yundt]

This may seem an odd response but I have no idea what your “skill set “ is. Not familiar with your work I have a hard time saying , carve this , carve that. Are you an accomplished wood worker as well as carver? What is your selection of tools , both chisels and machinery? I could make suggestions but it could be way below or far above your abilities. What examples have you carved so far?