Chest of Drawers
Furniture MakerProbably made by
John Nash
(American, 1758 - 1835)
Date1785-1800
MediumCherry primary wood, tulip poplar and eastern white pine secondary wood, brass hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth ): 37 5/8 x 43 x 20 1/2in. (95.6 x 109.2 x 52.1cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of George H. Gilman, Jr.
Object number1985.14.25
DescriptionCherry chest of drawers in the Chippendale, or rococo, style. The top has molding at the front and side edges and cornice molding below. The drawer arrangement consists of four full-width, graduated-heighth drawers. The front corners have fluted quarter columns. The bottom front and sides of the case have base molding. The splayed ogee bracket feet project beyond and front and sides of the case. The interior edge of each foot has a knee return with a C-curve then a small spur that ends in a tapered section. Below the base molding and between the feet is gadrooning, consisting of a band of short projecting lobes, set at a raking angle. Hardware on the drawers consists of a center brass-lined blind keyhole flanked by ring-and-bail pulls.
Condition: The cornice molding and bracket feet have been re-glued. The cornice molding on the left side has cracked; both sections are still attached to the case. The bottom edge of each drawer has an added strip of wood. The exterior back of each drawer has a small patch or area where a glue block was removed near the dovetails at one or both sides. Previous hardware holes on the drawer fronts have been filled. The finish has been darkened. The hardware is replaced.
Design and Construction Details:
Design. The molding at the front and side of the top consists of a cove over ovolo, or thumbnail molding. The quarter columns consist of a complex turned capital and base with a column between that has five flutes. Below this, the cornice molding consists of a fillet and cyma curve, or S-curve. The base molding consists of a cove over a fillet.
Case Construction. The top slides onto dovetails at the top of the sides. The cornice molding is nailed to the top and the case. The backboards are horizontally oriented and fit into grooves in the sides of the case. There is no subtop. A brace extends from the front to the back on each side of the case, just below the top; this is nailed to the sides of the case. The base is constructed with a three-sided frame which extends at the front and sides to form the base molding. The ogee bracket feet are constructed of thick molded ogee facing that is applied to the supporting frame and reinforced with glue blocks behind the knee returns. The back of the rear feet are supported by a brace that is visibly dovetailed to the ogee facing. The gadrooned strip at the front and sides is nailed to the frame from below.
Drawer Construction. Each drawer is outlined by cock beading on the case. There is a rail above the top drawer. The drawer dividers are dovetailed to the case and concealed behind a facing strip. The drawer runners rest in lap joints on the drawer dividers and are nailed to the case sides at the back. The drawer guides are nailed down on top of the drawer runners. Each drawer has a plain edge. The drawer sides are rounded on top. The drawer bottoms fit into grooves in the front and sides of each drawer and are nailed at the back. The dovetail pins are of an average angle.
Please see attached essay by Dr. Thomas P. Kugelman for more information about this piece.
Condition: The cornice molding and bracket feet have been re-glued. The cornice molding on the left side has cracked; both sections are still attached to the case. The bottom edge of each drawer has an added strip of wood. The exterior back of each drawer has a small patch or area where a glue block was removed near the dovetails at one or both sides. Previous hardware holes on the drawer fronts have been filled. The finish has been darkened. The hardware is replaced.
Design and Construction Details:
Design. The molding at the front and side of the top consists of a cove over ovolo, or thumbnail molding. The quarter columns consist of a complex turned capital and base with a column between that has five flutes. Below this, the cornice molding consists of a fillet and cyma curve, or S-curve. The base molding consists of a cove over a fillet.
Case Construction. The top slides onto dovetails at the top of the sides. The cornice molding is nailed to the top and the case. The backboards are horizontally oriented and fit into grooves in the sides of the case. There is no subtop. A brace extends from the front to the back on each side of the case, just below the top; this is nailed to the sides of the case. The base is constructed with a three-sided frame which extends at the front and sides to form the base molding. The ogee bracket feet are constructed of thick molded ogee facing that is applied to the supporting frame and reinforced with glue blocks behind the knee returns. The back of the rear feet are supported by a brace that is visibly dovetailed to the ogee facing. The gadrooned strip at the front and sides is nailed to the frame from below.
Drawer Construction. Each drawer is outlined by cock beading on the case. There is a rail above the top drawer. The drawer dividers are dovetailed to the case and concealed behind a facing strip. The drawer runners rest in lap joints on the drawer dividers and are nailed to the case sides at the back. The drawer guides are nailed down on top of the drawer runners. Each drawer has a plain edge. The drawer sides are rounded on top. The drawer bottoms fit into grooves in the front and sides of each drawer and are nailed at the back. The dovetail pins are of an average angle.
Please see attached essay by Dr. Thomas P. Kugelman for more information about this piece.
Status
Not on view
