Dressing Table
Furniture MakerProbably made by
Isaac Wright & Co.
(American, 1831 - 1838)
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Oliver Williams Mills
(American, 1796 - 1866)
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Ann Teresa Phelps
(American)
Date1831-1838
MediumPine and maple primary wood, tulip poplar secondary wood, brass hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 42 x 34 x 18in. (106.7 x 86.4 x 45.7cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of Marguerite E. Mills
Object number1986.66.2
DescriptionPainted pine and maple dressing table in the Empire, or late neoclassical, style. The top backboard has scrolled corners, above a shallow shelf supported by two shallow, narrow drawers, above a deeper second shelf supported by one wide drawer. The turned legs are straight; each has two groups of three rings over a tapered portion that ends in three additional rings, over a tapered portion with a ball at the bottom.
The painted surfaces of the dressing table are black and gold on a white background. The front of the top backboard has a bunch of grapes, four grape leaves, and several curled vines. The curved, sloping edges of the two shelves of the dressing table have a stenciled border consisting of gold leaves on a black surface. The edge of the backboard, the edge of each drawer, and the top of the front legs each have a similar border of elongated gold leaves on a black background. The rings on the front legs are painted black or gold. The back legs are painted white. Hardware consists of one large brass knob on each of the top shelves, and two large brass knobs on the lower shelf.
Condition: The top back left corner of the lower shelf has been replaced and repainted. The white surface of the dressing table has light scratches and nicks, and has yellowed over time. Portions of the paint are flaking lightly on the left side of the top backboard and around the handles of the two top drawers. The hardware appears to be original.
Design and Construction Details: The dressing table is joined with tenons, screws, and small iron nails. The top backboard is screwed to the top shelf, which is nailed to the shallow drawer case below. The top drawer case is formed by rails that are tenoned into the sides. The back of the top drawer case is nailed into a rabbet at the back of the sides. The rails of the top drawer case are screwed into the second shelf below. The second shelf does not extend the full depth of the dressing table, but is nailed to the drawer case below. The lower drawer case is formed by a rail, sides, and back that are tenoned into the leg posts. The drawer runners in both drawer cases are nailed to the sides of the case. The drawers are dovetailed at each corner. The drawer bottoms fit into grooves in the front and sides of each drawer and are nailed at the back. Plane marks are visible on the underside of each drawer bottom.
NotesHistorical Note: Isaac Wright (d. 1838) opened his furniture factory in Hartford, Connecticut, in partnership with Philemon Robbins and Joseph Winship in 1831. After Wright's death in 1838, his partners formed the Robbins & Winship firm, which survived under various names until 1899. (Hunt 5/24/2005)The painted surfaces of the dressing table are black and gold on a white background. The front of the top backboard has a bunch of grapes, four grape leaves, and several curled vines. The curved, sloping edges of the two shelves of the dressing table have a stenciled border consisting of gold leaves on a black surface. The edge of the backboard, the edge of each drawer, and the top of the front legs each have a similar border of elongated gold leaves on a black background. The rings on the front legs are painted black or gold. The back legs are painted white. Hardware consists of one large brass knob on each of the top shelves, and two large brass knobs on the lower shelf.
Condition: The top back left corner of the lower shelf has been replaced and repainted. The white surface of the dressing table has light scratches and nicks, and has yellowed over time. Portions of the paint are flaking lightly on the left side of the top backboard and around the handles of the two top drawers. The hardware appears to be original.
Design and Construction Details: The dressing table is joined with tenons, screws, and small iron nails. The top backboard is screwed to the top shelf, which is nailed to the shallow drawer case below. The top drawer case is formed by rails that are tenoned into the sides. The back of the top drawer case is nailed into a rabbet at the back of the sides. The rails of the top drawer case are screwed into the second shelf below. The second shelf does not extend the full depth of the dressing table, but is nailed to the drawer case below. The lower drawer case is formed by a rail, sides, and back that are tenoned into the leg posts. The drawer runners in both drawer cases are nailed to the sides of the case. The drawers are dovetailed at each corner. The drawer bottoms fit into grooves in the front and sides of each drawer and are nailed at the back. Plane marks are visible on the underside of each drawer bottom.
Status
Not on view
