Chest
Original OwnerOriginally owned by the
Buell family
(American)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1770-1790
MediumYellow pine and eastern white pine, iron hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 25 9/16 x 45 5/16 x 18in. (64.9 x 115.1 x 45.7cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1981.42.24
DescriptionPainted pine chest in the Queen Anne, or late baroque, style. The front and side edges of the top have ovolo, or thumbnail, molding. A pair of cleats, or strips of wood, extend the full depth of the top, at the underside of the left and right edge. The interior right side of the chest has a lidded till. A skirt is applied to the front bottom of the chest; the top edge of the skirt has a narrow line of molding. The skirt has a small cyma curve, or S-curve, with a small reverse cyma curve, flanked by a small horizontal and a large cyma curve that ends in the front of the foot (now missing). The sides of the chest extend down to form the feet and side skirts. Each side skirt consists of a large cyma curve and a reverse cyma curve. The chest has a dark, painted surface, possibly with graining. Hardware on the chest includes a pair of iron cotter pin hinges along the back edge of the top. A keyhole with locking mechanism behind is located at the top front edge of the chest. To the right of this is a metal hasp and ring.
Condition: The tips of the front feet have broken off. The dark painted surfaces are scratched and worn, especially at the molded edges of the top. There are two small gouges in the wood, one at the right side of the keyhole and one on the right center of the front of the chest. The hasp and ring hardware is a later addition.
Design and Construction Details: The top is constructed of one wide board with an additional narrow strip of wood at the back. Plane marks are visible on the top surface of the chest. The cleats are nailed to the top from below. The sides of the chest fit into rabbets in the front and back boards; these joints are nailed together from the front and the back. The side and bottom of the till fit into grooves in the sides of the chest. The lid pivots on two small projecting knobs that slide into a mortise in the front and back of the chest. The left edge of the lid has ovolo molding. The bottom of the chest is held in place with nails through the sides. The sides extend down to form the side skirts and feet. The panel that forms the front skirt is nailed to the front of the feet.
Condition: The tips of the front feet have broken off. The dark painted surfaces are scratched and worn, especially at the molded edges of the top. There are two small gouges in the wood, one at the right side of the keyhole and one on the right center of the front of the chest. The hasp and ring hardware is a later addition.
Design and Construction Details: The top is constructed of one wide board with an additional narrow strip of wood at the back. Plane marks are visible on the top surface of the chest. The cleats are nailed to the top from below. The sides of the chest fit into rabbets in the front and back boards; these joints are nailed together from the front and the back. The side and bottom of the till fit into grooves in the sides of the chest. The lid pivots on two small projecting knobs that slide into a mortise in the front and back of the chest. The left edge of the lid has ovolo molding. The bottom of the chest is held in place with nails through the sides. The sides extend down to form the side skirts and feet. The panel that forms the front skirt is nailed to the front of the feet.
Status
Not on view
