Bureau Table
Furniture MakerAttributed to the shop of
Aaron Chapin
(American, 1753 - 1838)
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Reverend Thomas Robbins
(American, 1777 - 1856)
Date1809
MediumCherry veneer and cherry primary wood, eastern white pine and tulip poplar secondary wood, green baize, brass hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 37 3/8 x 42 3/4 x 22 1/4in. (94.9 x 108.6 x 56.5cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of Reverend Thomas Robbins
Object number1856.1.7
DescriptionCherry bureau table in the Federal, or early neoclassical, style. The top of the bureau pivots forward form a table; the top is lined with green baize. The drawer arrangement consists of four graduated drawers. The top drawer is slightly narrower than the others and is flanked by a loper, or thin board that pulls out to form the support for the top when open. The front and side skirts are bowed in the center; the French feet are flared slightly. Hardware on each drawer consists of an oval brass lock escutcheon in the center flanked by an oval brass escutcheon with a bail pull. Each loper has a small brass pull; the top pivots on three brass hinges. Each side of the bureau table has a single ring-and-bail pull. There is one working key for the bureau table.
Condition: The green baize is original and has several small holes. The writing surface has a crack across the center. The top two backboards are replacements. The left case side has split vertically down the center. The veneer on each foot has been repaired. The hardware is original, and has been removed, cleaned and reinstalled. The center and right top hinge are disconnected.
Design and Construction Details:
Case Construction. Both top surfaces of the bureau table are formed from a panel of wood that fits with tongue-and-groove joints into a frame at the side of each section of the top. The green baize is nailed onto the table's surface; the edges of the table top are veneered and painted red. Incised molding is located at the edges of both sections of the top; the lower portion of the top has incised molding at the top and bottom edges, the upper portion of the top has incised molding at the top edge only. The backboards are horizontally oriented and slide into grooves in the sides of the case. Each side of the case extends down to form the side skirt. The rail below the lowest drawer is in front of a separate full-depth dustboard, which forms the bottom of the case. The front skirt and feet are held in place by a row of small, rectangular glue blocks. The front feet have wedge-shaped additions to give the feet a slight splay; the front and side of each front foot is veneered. Each rear foot has a wedge-shaped brace that slides into a groove on the foot.
Drawer Construction. Each drawer front is surrounded by cock beading on the drawer dividers and sides of the case. The drawer dividers are double tenoned into the sides of the case. The drawer runners are nailed to the sides of the case. The drawer runner for the lopers is nailed to the case sides; these form the drawer runners for the top drawer as well. A drawer guide separates the top drawer from each loper. The drawers have a flat front. The tops of the drawer sides are flat. The bottom of each drawer slides into a groove in the sides and front and is nailed at the back; rectangular glue blocks are applied to the underside edges of the bottom. The dovetails extend past the back of the drawer to form drawer stops. The second drawer has a strip of white leather nailed to the back of the drawer stops.
Please see attached essay by the Chapin authority, Dr. Thomas P. Kugelman for more information about this piece.
NotesHistorical Notes: According to museum records, Reverend Robbins purchased this table from Aaron Chapin in Hartford, Connecticut, in late 1809. He took it with him to Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, in 1832, but he brought it back to Hartford in 1844.Condition: The green baize is original and has several small holes. The writing surface has a crack across the center. The top two backboards are replacements. The left case side has split vertically down the center. The veneer on each foot has been repaired. The hardware is original, and has been removed, cleaned and reinstalled. The center and right top hinge are disconnected.
Design and Construction Details:
Case Construction. Both top surfaces of the bureau table are formed from a panel of wood that fits with tongue-and-groove joints into a frame at the side of each section of the top. The green baize is nailed onto the table's surface; the edges of the table top are veneered and painted red. Incised molding is located at the edges of both sections of the top; the lower portion of the top has incised molding at the top and bottom edges, the upper portion of the top has incised molding at the top edge only. The backboards are horizontally oriented and slide into grooves in the sides of the case. Each side of the case extends down to form the side skirt. The rail below the lowest drawer is in front of a separate full-depth dustboard, which forms the bottom of the case. The front skirt and feet are held in place by a row of small, rectangular glue blocks. The front feet have wedge-shaped additions to give the feet a slight splay; the front and side of each front foot is veneered. Each rear foot has a wedge-shaped brace that slides into a groove on the foot.
Drawer Construction. Each drawer front is surrounded by cock beading on the drawer dividers and sides of the case. The drawer dividers are double tenoned into the sides of the case. The drawer runners are nailed to the sides of the case. The drawer runner for the lopers is nailed to the case sides; these form the drawer runners for the top drawer as well. A drawer guide separates the top drawer from each loper. The drawers have a flat front. The tops of the drawer sides are flat. The bottom of each drawer slides into a groove in the sides and front and is nailed at the back; rectangular glue blocks are applied to the underside edges of the bottom. The dovetails extend past the back of the drawer to form drawer stops. The second drawer has a strip of white leather nailed to the back of the drawer stops.
Please see attached essay by the Chapin authority, Dr. Thomas P. Kugelman for more information about this piece.
Owner Note: Reverend Thomas Robbins of East Windsor, Connecticut, was the first librarian of the Connecticut Historical Society.
Status
Not on view
