Chest-on-Chest
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1796
MediumCherry primary wood, eastern white pine, tulip poplar, chestnut and birch secondary woods, brass hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 86 1/2 x 42 1/2 x 21 7/8in. (219.7 x 108 x 55.6cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Frederick K. and Margaret R. Barbour, in memory of Newton C. Brainard
Object number1965.53.0
DescriptionCherry chest-on-chest with a swan's neck pediment in the Chippendale, or rococo, style. The pediment has a conforming roof, or bonnet top, which is open at the center. At the top of the chest, there are three finials, each in the shape of a flame over a flared, ribbed urn with a serrated rim. Each finial sits on a fluted, rectangular plinth; the center plinth is larger than the two side plinths. Below the pediment molding, there are two raised panels, or fielded panels, that conform to the shape of the pediment. The upper case drawer arrangement consists of two drawers side by side, over four full-width, graduated drawers. The upper case fits inside the mid-molding of the lower case. The lower case drawer arrangement consists of four full-width, graduated drawers. Each front corner of each case is canted and has a fluted pilaster, or flat column, with four flutes. The ogee bracket feet each have a pointed curl, or spur, on the knee bracket return. Hardware includes a brass ring-and-bail pull on each of the two top drawers. Every full-width drawer has a brass-lined keyhole in the center, flanked by ring-and-bail pulls. The keyholes in the upper case are blind. There is one working key.
Condition: The upper case and lower case were used separately at one time. The base has been rebuilt. The drawer runners and drawer guides are replaced. Some lower drawer sides are replaced, or have had extra wood added. The hardware appears to be original.
Design and Construction Details:
Carving and Design. The fluting on each pilaster is interrupted, then resumes about a half inch before each end. The upper and lower end of each canted corner is ornamented with a stylized lamb's tongue stop.
Case Construction. The back of the bonnet top is cut straight across the center. There are curved vertical supports on the inside edges of the bonnet. The panels in the pediment are applied. The backboard is chamfered, and it slides into grooves on the sides of the upper and lower case. The base molding is applied to a three-sided frame on the underside of the lower case. Each foot is constructed of ogee facing applied to a corner block; the facing is reinforced with glue blocks.
Drawer Construction. The drawer dividers are secured to the each front corner of each case with a blind half-lap joint, to accomodate the canting on the corner. The drawer runners and guides are nailed to the sides of the case. The top center drawer runner in the upper case is doweled through the backboard. The vertical partition between the top two drawers is visibly dovetailed to the tympanum above and to the drawer divider below. Each drawer front is lip-molded and has ovolo, or thumbnail, molding on all four sides. The drawer sides are rounded on top. The drawer bottoms fit into grooves on the front and sides of each drawer and are nailed at the back. The dovetails are small and almost triangular.
Condition: The upper case and lower case were used separately at one time. The base has been rebuilt. The drawer runners and drawer guides are replaced. Some lower drawer sides are replaced, or have had extra wood added. The hardware appears to be original.
Design and Construction Details:
Carving and Design. The fluting on each pilaster is interrupted, then resumes about a half inch before each end. The upper and lower end of each canted corner is ornamented with a stylized lamb's tongue stop.
Case Construction. The back of the bonnet top is cut straight across the center. There are curved vertical supports on the inside edges of the bonnet. The panels in the pediment are applied. The backboard is chamfered, and it slides into grooves on the sides of the upper and lower case. The base molding is applied to a three-sided frame on the underside of the lower case. Each foot is constructed of ogee facing applied to a corner block; the facing is reinforced with glue blocks.
Drawer Construction. The drawer dividers are secured to the each front corner of each case with a blind half-lap joint, to accomodate the canting on the corner. The drawer runners and guides are nailed to the sides of the case. The top center drawer runner in the upper case is doweled through the backboard. The vertical partition between the top two drawers is visibly dovetailed to the tympanum above and to the drawer divider below. Each drawer front is lip-molded and has ovolo, or thumbnail, molding on all four sides. The drawer sides are rounded on top. The drawer bottoms fit into grooves on the front and sides of each drawer and are nailed at the back. The dovetails are small and almost triangular.
Status
Not on view
