Dressing Table
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1770-1790
MediumCherry primary wood, eastern white pine and oak secondary woods, brass hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 33 x 33 1/2 x 20 1/4in. (83.8 x 85.1 x 51.4cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Frederick K. and Margaret R. Barbour
Object number1965.11.1
DescriptionMassive cherry dressing table in the Chippendale, or rococo, style. The top has molded front and side edges above applied compound cove molding at the upper edge of the case. The drawer arrangement consists of three drawers of equal height. The central drawer is wider, and has a large, concave shell with eighteen wide ribs. The front skirt has three flathead arches, one beneath each drawer. The middle of the front skirt has a recessed area that corresponds to the shape of the shell. An acorn-shaped hanging pendant (replaced) is located between each arch. Each side skirt has one flathead arch. The cabriole legs each end in a spherical claw-and-ball foot with long talons. Hardware includes one brass escutcheon with a bail pull on each side drawer. The carved central drawer has one brass knob centered at the bottom of the shell.
Condition: The dressing table is quite dark, most likely the result of applying a dark brown stain over a lighter, red-tinted stain. The top and front surfaces have many scratches. The wood around the top of the left vertical partition has split. Some knee returns may have been re-nailed. The drawer runners and surrounding wood at the front show wear that is consistent with use over time. All the drawers have had additional strips of wood added to the bottom of each side. The interior of each drawer has been finished. The hardware is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The large carved shell on the center drawer has nine pairs of alternating convex and concave ribs. The center of the shell has a semi-circular fan. An arched, crenellated border around the shell contains a textured, or stippled, surface. The top is formed from two boards, joined to each other with a butt joint, and connected to the case with wooden pins. The case is made with mortise-and-tenon construction. The lowest edge of the oak backboard is extended by a pair of elongated arched brackets that are nailed to the bottom edge of the backboard and tenoned into the leg posts. The cornice molding is nailed to the case. The knee returns are nailed to the skirts and legs. The rail above the drawers is visibly dovetailed to the leg posts. The vertical partitions between drawers are visibly dovetailed to the rail above and skirt below. Drawer runners are tenoned into the backboard and rabbeted to the front skirt. The drawer guides are nailed to the runners or the sides of the case. The drawer fronts are lip-molded with ovolo, or thumbnail molding at the edges; the drawer sides are rounded on top. The front center drawer is augmented with a semi-circular piece of wood to permit carving of the deep shell. The drawer bottoms fit into grooves in the front and sides of each drawer and are nailed at the back. A running strip was added to the bottom of the drawer sides. The lower back edge of each drawer does not have a Suffield notch. The drawers have dovetail pins of average size and angle.
Condition: The dressing table is quite dark, most likely the result of applying a dark brown stain over a lighter, red-tinted stain. The top and front surfaces have many scratches. The wood around the top of the left vertical partition has split. Some knee returns may have been re-nailed. The drawer runners and surrounding wood at the front show wear that is consistent with use over time. All the drawers have had additional strips of wood added to the bottom of each side. The interior of each drawer has been finished. The hardware is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The large carved shell on the center drawer has nine pairs of alternating convex and concave ribs. The center of the shell has a semi-circular fan. An arched, crenellated border around the shell contains a textured, or stippled, surface. The top is formed from two boards, joined to each other with a butt joint, and connected to the case with wooden pins. The case is made with mortise-and-tenon construction. The lowest edge of the oak backboard is extended by a pair of elongated arched brackets that are nailed to the bottom edge of the backboard and tenoned into the leg posts. The cornice molding is nailed to the case. The knee returns are nailed to the skirts and legs. The rail above the drawers is visibly dovetailed to the leg posts. The vertical partitions between drawers are visibly dovetailed to the rail above and skirt below. Drawer runners are tenoned into the backboard and rabbeted to the front skirt. The drawer guides are nailed to the runners or the sides of the case. The drawer fronts are lip-molded with ovolo, or thumbnail molding at the edges; the drawer sides are rounded on top. The front center drawer is augmented with a semi-circular piece of wood to permit carving of the deep shell. The drawer bottoms fit into grooves in the front and sides of each drawer and are nailed at the back. A running strip was added to the bottom of the drawer sides. The lower back edge of each drawer does not have a Suffield notch. The drawers have dovetail pins of average size and angle.
Status
Not on view
