Chest with Drawer
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1710-1740
MediumPine, iron, red and white paint.
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 13 1/4 x 27 1/4 x 16in. (33.7 x 69.2 x 40.6cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number2006.40.0
DescriptionPine chest with drawer painted with the initials "AD" in the Queen Anne, or late baroque, style. The arrangement of the chest with drawer consists of a chest that is 6 3/4 inches deep over one full-width drawer. The top is canted, or slanted, at the top edge of the front and sides. A cleat, or strip of wood, extends from the front to back on the underside of each side of the top. There is a horizontal band of incised molding at the bottom of the front of the chest and at the top of the drawer front. The bottom of the chest with drawer extends past the front and sides of the chest; it is canted at the front and sides as well. Hardware includes a pair of iron cotter-pin hinges at the back edge of the lid. The top center front of the chest had a locking mechanism (now missing and repaired). The top center of the drawer had a locking mechanism (now missing).
Painted Decoration. The front of the chest and drawer are painted with a symmetrical design, each consisting of trailing vines, abstract flowers, and scrolls. On the front of the chest, a white four-petal flower is located in the center, flanked by two white vines that curve to the side. The drawer front has a horizontal design of red and white scrolls, with the white initial "M" on the left and the white initial "D" on the right. The chest with drawer has an overall red-brown wash.
Condition: The painted decoration is well worn and flaking. The lock on both the chest and the drawer are missing. The lock on the chest has been replaced with a block of wood; there is a corresponding hole in the top at the front center edge. The lock on the drawer has not been replaced. The leather straps are missing from the inside of the top. The wood at the top right edge of the back of the case has been completely replaced. The wood around the lower half of each cotter-pin hinge has split across the full width of the back of the case. There is an additional split about halfway down the back of the case.
Design and Construction Details:
Case Construction. The lid is constructed of a single board; the cleats are nailed to the underside of the lid. A pair of leather straps were nailed to the interior of the cleats and top of the sides to hold the lid open (now missing). The front of the chest, and the sides and the back of the case are each constructed of a single board. The front of the chest is nailed to the front edge of each side of the case. The back of the case is nailed to the back edge of each side of the case. The bottom of the chest is held in place with nails through the front, sides and back of the chest. The bottom of the case is nailed to the underside of the sides and back of the case.
Drawer Construction. There are no drawer runenrs; the drawer bottom runs on the bottom of the case. The drawer front overhangs the sides of the drawer. The drawer sides are butted up against the front and back of the drawer, and held in place with nails through the front and back. The drawer bottom is nailed to the underside of the sides of the case; the front and back of the drawer extend down to cover the front and back edge of the drawer bottom.
Painted Decoration. The front of the chest and drawer are painted with a symmetrical design, each consisting of trailing vines, abstract flowers, and scrolls. On the front of the chest, a white four-petal flower is located in the center, flanked by two white vines that curve to the side. The drawer front has a horizontal design of red and white scrolls, with the white initial "M" on the left and the white initial "D" on the right. The chest with drawer has an overall red-brown wash.
Condition: The painted decoration is well worn and flaking. The lock on both the chest and the drawer are missing. The lock on the chest has been replaced with a block of wood; there is a corresponding hole in the top at the front center edge. The lock on the drawer has not been replaced. The leather straps are missing from the inside of the top. The wood at the top right edge of the back of the case has been completely replaced. The wood around the lower half of each cotter-pin hinge has split across the full width of the back of the case. There is an additional split about halfway down the back of the case.
Design and Construction Details:
Case Construction. The lid is constructed of a single board; the cleats are nailed to the underside of the lid. A pair of leather straps were nailed to the interior of the cleats and top of the sides to hold the lid open (now missing). The front of the chest, and the sides and the back of the case are each constructed of a single board. The front of the chest is nailed to the front edge of each side of the case. The back of the case is nailed to the back edge of each side of the case. The bottom of the chest is held in place with nails through the front, sides and back of the chest. The bottom of the case is nailed to the underside of the sides and back of the case.
Drawer Construction. There are no drawer runenrs; the drawer bottom runs on the bottom of the case. The drawer front overhangs the sides of the drawer. The drawer sides are butted up against the front and back of the drawer, and held in place with nails through the front and back. The drawer bottom is nailed to the underside of the sides of the case; the front and back of the drawer extend down to cover the front and back edge of the drawer bottom.
Status
Not on view
