Chest with Drawer
Original OwnerOriginally owned by the
Baldwin family
(American)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1700-1740
MediumTulip poplar, iron
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 24 7/16 x 28 11/16 x 13 3/4in. (62.1 x 72.9 x 34.9cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of George Dudley Seymour
Object number1945.1.1069
DescriptionDiminutive tulip poplar chest with drawer in the William and Mary, or early baroque, style. The chest with drawer has a 9 inch deep chest, concealed behind three false drawers arranged two in a row over one, over one full-width drawer. The top has ovolo, or thumbnail, molding on the front and sides. A cleat, or strip of wood, extends from front to back at each side on the underside of the top (both are replaced). Each drawer is surrounded by projecting double astragal molding, or double half circle molding. There is base molding at the bottom of the front and sides of the case. Below the molding on the front of the chest is a skirt with a shaped lower edge, consisting of a cyma curve, or S-curve, with a reverse cyma curve, flanked by a short horizontal, then a cyma curve and a reverse cyma curve. The sides of the case extend down to form a skirt and feet at the sides only. The skirt has a shaped lower edge, consisting of a large cyma curve and reverse cyma curve. Hardware on the chest of drawers consists of a pair of iron cotter-pin hinges that join the top to the chest, and a pair of round wooden knobs on the full-width drawer. The chest is painted with an overall brown wash.
Condition: The top has split across the center and been repaired with glue and the replaced cleats nailed to the underside of the top. The molding surrounding the drawers is replaced. Each lower drawer side is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The top is constructed of a single board. The chestnut cleats (replaced) are nailed to the underside of the top. The sides of the chest fit into rabbets in each end of the front and back board of the case; these joints are nailed from the front and back corners. The back is constructed of a single board that covers the back of the chest. The front is constructed of a board that forms the front of the chest and false drawers. The bottom of the chest is held in place with nails through the front, back and sides of the chest with drawer. The double astragal molding that outlines the drawers is glued in place (replaced). The skirt is nailed into a rabbet in the front edge of each side of the case. The base molding is nailed to the top front of the skirt and to the sides of the case.
Drawer Construction. The false and true drawers are outlined with double astragal molding on the case. The drawer runners are nailed to the interior bottom sides of the case. The drawer front is solid. The sides of the drawer are dovetailed to the front and back of the drawer. The bottom of the drawer slides into a groove in the sides and front, and is nailed at the back.
Condition: The top has split across the center and been repaired with glue and the replaced cleats nailed to the underside of the top. The molding surrounding the drawers is replaced. Each lower drawer side is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The top is constructed of a single board. The chestnut cleats (replaced) are nailed to the underside of the top. The sides of the chest fit into rabbets in each end of the front and back board of the case; these joints are nailed from the front and back corners. The back is constructed of a single board that covers the back of the chest. The front is constructed of a board that forms the front of the chest and false drawers. The bottom of the chest is held in place with nails through the front, back and sides of the chest with drawer. The double astragal molding that outlines the drawers is glued in place (replaced). The skirt is nailed into a rabbet in the front edge of each side of the case. The base molding is nailed to the top front of the skirt and to the sides of the case.
Drawer Construction. The false and true drawers are outlined with double astragal molding on the case. The drawer runners are nailed to the interior bottom sides of the case. The drawer front is solid. The sides of the drawer are dovetailed to the front and back of the drawer. The bottom of the drawer slides into a groove in the sides and front, and is nailed at the back.
Status
Not on view
