Chest of Drawers
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1800-1815
MediumMahogany veneer over cherry primary wood, various secondary woods, brass hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 36 3/4 x 45 1/4 x 21in. (93.3 x 114.9 x 53.3cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of George Dudley Seymour
DescriptionMahogany veneer chest of drawers with a bow front in the Federal, or early neoclassical, style. The top (replaced) has a pattern of light wood inlay in the center, consisting of an oval fan. A pair of light wood, inlaid lines outlines the top of the chest, about one inch from the edge. The top edge of the front and side of the top has a band of of alternating light and dark wood, cut at an angle. The drawer arrangement below consists of four, full-width, graduated drawers. Each drawer front is veneered, and has a thin line of light wood inlay at the outer edge. About an inch in from the edge is additional inlay, consisting of a pair of light wood lines separated by a thin line of dark wood. Each corner of the rectangle createcd by these lines has a quarter fan of light wood inlay. The front corner of each side of the chest has an inlay pattern, consisting of short, vertical bands at the top over a pattern of figure eights, over a pattern of increasingly narrow horrizontal bands, or a carrot, over three dots, and a semi-circular grouping of inlay at the bottom; this is flanked by a thin line of vertical inlay. Each ogee bracket foot projects beyond the sides of the case and has a knee return with a spur and a cyma curve, or S-curve. Hardware on each drawer consists of a brass-lined keyhole flanked by an oval, stamped, brass escutcheon with bail pull. There is one working key for the chest of drawers.
Condition: The top is replaced. Small areas of veneer all over the front of the chest have been repaired. The veneer on the left side of the top is separating from the wood below, most notably at the corners. The right side of the case has split, and was repaired with a textile strip on the interior right side of the chest of drawers. The drawer runners and guides have been replaced. The lower edges of many drawer sides have been repaired or replaced. The chest of drawers is refinished.
Design and Construction Details:
Case Construction. The backboards are horizontally oriented and are nailed into rabbets in the sides of the case. The top (replaced) is attached to the case by three struts across the front, center and back of the case; the struts are dovetailed to the top of the case sides and the top is screwed to these struts from below. The base is constructed of a three-sided frame that extends at the front and sides to form the base molding; this frame is nailed to the bottom of the case. The ogee bracket feet are constructed of molded ogee facing over a supporting pad; the feet are supported by corner blocks. The knee bracket returns are nailed in place and reinforced from behind with blocks that are nailed to the frame. The back of the rear feet are supported by a plain brace with a curved lower edge; the brace is nailed in place.
Drawer Construction. The drawer dividers are tenoned to the sides of the case; the front of the drawer dividers are veneered. A single scribe mark is visible in the center of each drawer divider. The drawer runners (replaced) are glued and screwed to the side of the case. Small wood blocks have been nailed down to the tops of the drawer dividers. Each drawer front is bowed and veneered; the interior conforms to the bowed shape of the drawer front. The drawer sides are flat on top. The drawer bottoms fit into grooves in the front and sides of each drawer and are nailed at the back.
Condition: The top is replaced. Small areas of veneer all over the front of the chest have been repaired. The veneer on the left side of the top is separating from the wood below, most notably at the corners. The right side of the case has split, and was repaired with a textile strip on the interior right side of the chest of drawers. The drawer runners and guides have been replaced. The lower edges of many drawer sides have been repaired or replaced. The chest of drawers is refinished.
Design and Construction Details:
Case Construction. The backboards are horizontally oriented and are nailed into rabbets in the sides of the case. The top (replaced) is attached to the case by three struts across the front, center and back of the case; the struts are dovetailed to the top of the case sides and the top is screwed to these struts from below. The base is constructed of a three-sided frame that extends at the front and sides to form the base molding; this frame is nailed to the bottom of the case. The ogee bracket feet are constructed of molded ogee facing over a supporting pad; the feet are supported by corner blocks. The knee bracket returns are nailed in place and reinforced from behind with blocks that are nailed to the frame. The back of the rear feet are supported by a plain brace with a curved lower edge; the brace is nailed in place.
Drawer Construction. The drawer dividers are tenoned to the sides of the case; the front of the drawer dividers are veneered. A single scribe mark is visible in the center of each drawer divider. The drawer runners (replaced) are glued and screwed to the side of the case. Small wood blocks have been nailed down to the tops of the drawer dividers. Each drawer front is bowed and veneered; the interior conforms to the bowed shape of the drawer front. The drawer sides are flat on top. The drawer bottoms fit into grooves in the front and sides of each drawer and are nailed at the back.
Object number1945.1.1122
InscribedThe interior backs of the drawers have the following numbers inscribed in wax pencil: top drawer has "4", second drawer has "3", third drawer has "2", bottom drawer has "1". There are additional curled lines on the interior back of the third drawer, also in wax pencil. The underside of the bottom of the chest of drawers has a chalk "X" or "*" inside a circle.On View
Not on view
