Chest of drawers

Status

Not on view

Date1760-1790, with modern alterations

Geography Possibly made - United StatesPossibly made - England

Medium/TechniqueMahogany (primary), oak (secondary), brass, mirrored glass, baize

DimensionsOverall (H x W x D): 31 1/2 in. x 41 5/8 in. x 23 7/8 in. (80.01 cm x 105.74 cm x 60.66 cm)

Credit LinePurchase, 1981

Object numberW-2800

DescriptionSerpentine front mahogany chest of drawers with canted corners. Cross-banded serpentine top with thumbnail molding. Applied fluting of three flutes on each front canted corner. The case holds four drawers with cock beaded molding. Inserted in slots inside the top drawer is a green baize-covered writing surface, with finger pull in center front and hinged center panel which lifts upward to access the compartments below. The writing slide slides out the back of the top drawer, and when inside the chest is supported by two wooden strips which are affixed to the center front of the top of the case. The top drawer is fitted with several compartments. In the center is a mirror, which can be raised by means of a brass knob at the top and adjusted to various angles. When the mirror is laid flat, it slides out the back to reveal a compartment below. To the observer's right are 10 rather small compartments, one of which has a lift-off wooden cover, another which lifts out and has four small compartments within it, and one, at the front corner, which has 6 narrow, square slots in the center. To the observer's left are 5 compartments, one with a lift-off wooden cover and another with 6 narrow, rectangular slots in the center. Drawers are separated and supported by drawer dividers and full dustboards. Several of the drawer supports have unintelligible graphite markings on them. A cove-molded base molding extends around the front and sides. The whole is supported on four bracket feet, the front two with canted corners, which are supported by blocks with casters.
Published ReferencesCescinsky, Herbert. English Furniture From Gothic to Sheraton. Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Dean-Hicks Company, 1929. p. 327.

Nutting, Wallace. Furniture Treasury. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1962. #250.

Gusler, Wallace B. Furniture of Williamsburg and Eastern Virginia, 1710-1790. Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Museum, 1979. pp. 80-83, Figures 50, 50a and 50b.

Comstock, Helen. American Furniture: Seventeenth, Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Styles. New York: The Viking Press. Fig. 571.

MarkingsWritten in graphite in the lower right corner on reverse of the second drawer: "4". Written in graphite in the lower left corner on reverse of the third drawer: "6". Written in graphite in the lower left corner on reverse of the bottom drawer: "8".

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