Chest with Drawer
Original OwnerPossibly originally owned by
Samuel Nettleton
(American)
Original OwnerPossibly originally owned by
Silvanus Nettleton
(American, born 1704)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1710-1740
MediumMaple and tulip poplar wood, iron and leather hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 35 7/16 x 37 3/8 x 18 1/4in. (90 x 94.9 x 46.4cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1962.2.2
DescriptionPainted maple and tulip poplar chest with drawer in the seventeenth century style. The arrangement of the chest with drawer consists of a chest that is 15 3/4 inches deep over one full-width drawer. The top has molding on the front and sides, consisting of a fillet over a half circle. A cleat, or strip of wood, extends from the front to back on the underside of each side of the top. Horizontal molding is applied to the front and sides of the chest above and below the drawer. There are two small wood knobs on the drawer front. The sides of the chest extend down to form a side skirt and feet, consisting of an inverted triangle, angled line, and a straight foot. Hardware includes a pair of cotter-pin hinges at the back edge of the lid and the remnants of three leather strap hinges. The top center front of the chest has a keyhole and locking mechanism. Leather straps at the edge of the chest keep the lid from falling backward (straps are now missing or disintegrated).
Painted Decoration. The front of the chest with drawers is painted with a geometric design of lines, flowers, leaves and a border of undulating lines in blue, red and white. The border of undulating lines is located at the edges of the chest and drawer, across the center of the chest, and possibly over the molding. The flowers and leaves are painted along a radiating grid of white lines in the rectangles created by the border.
Condition: The chest with drawer was partially stripped, removing an original red wash but leaving the remaining portion of the original painted decoration. The top of the chest has many areas of an unknown red substance, possibly a putty used to even the surface of the chest. The mid-molding on the left side is replaced. Both right feet have been repaired by adding wood to the bottom. The bottom of the drawer and back of the chest with drawer have minor bug damage. An area of wood is missing from the top back edge of the drawer. The leather hinges and straps have disintegrated or are missing. The wood pulls on the drawer and the cotter-pin hinges are replaced.
Design and Construction Details:
Case Construction. The sides of the chest with drawer extend the full height of the case. They fit into a rabbet in the edges of the front of the chest, and are nailed from the front. The backboards are horizontally oriented and nailed with a butt joint to the back edge of the sides. The mid- and base molding is nailed to the front and sides of the chest with drawer.
Drawer Construction. The drawer runners are nailed to the sides of the chest with drawer. The drawer has a significant overhang at each side of the front. The drawer sides are nailed to a lap joint at the front corners. The back of the drawer fits into lap joints in the back corners of the drawer. All of the lap joints are secured with nails. The bottom boards run side to side and fit into grooves in the drawer sides and front.
Painted Decoration. The front of the chest with drawers is painted with a geometric design of lines, flowers, leaves and a border of undulating lines in blue, red and white. The border of undulating lines is located at the edges of the chest and drawer, across the center of the chest, and possibly over the molding. The flowers and leaves are painted along a radiating grid of white lines in the rectangles created by the border.
Condition: The chest with drawer was partially stripped, removing an original red wash but leaving the remaining portion of the original painted decoration. The top of the chest has many areas of an unknown red substance, possibly a putty used to even the surface of the chest. The mid-molding on the left side is replaced. Both right feet have been repaired by adding wood to the bottom. The bottom of the drawer and back of the chest with drawer have minor bug damage. An area of wood is missing from the top back edge of the drawer. The leather hinges and straps have disintegrated or are missing. The wood pulls on the drawer and the cotter-pin hinges are replaced.
Design and Construction Details:
Case Construction. The sides of the chest with drawer extend the full height of the case. They fit into a rabbet in the edges of the front of the chest, and are nailed from the front. The backboards are horizontally oriented and nailed with a butt joint to the back edge of the sides. The mid- and base molding is nailed to the front and sides of the chest with drawer.
Drawer Construction. The drawer runners are nailed to the sides of the chest with drawer. The drawer has a significant overhang at each side of the front. The drawer sides are nailed to a lap joint at the front corners. The back of the drawer fits into lap joints in the back corners of the drawer. All of the lap joints are secured with nails. The bottom boards run side to side and fit into grooves in the drawer sides and front.
Status
Not on view
