Images(6)

Spice Chest

Date1700-1750

OriginGreat Britain

MediumWalnut, oak, deal, brass

DimensionsOH: 18 1/2"; OW: 19"; OD: 10 1/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1933-85

DescriptionAppearance: Spice chest; Rectangular top with applied rounded molding on front and sides and molded base (replaced) on front and sides; mortie and tenon joined, raised panel door hinged with brass H hinges (replaced) on proper left side; lock (not original) recessed into rear of door with brass escutcheon on exterior; interior has large, deep center drawer with two medium sized drawers in row above and below enter drawer; center drawer flanked by stack of two smaller drawers on each side; original brass cotter pin drawer pulls with star shaped backplates.

Construction:
The top is nailed to the sides from the top. Rounded molding is nailed to the front and side edges of the top. The frame under the bottom consists of 1 ¾” wide lath nailed to the bottom on each side, butt joined to lath nailed to the front of the bottom and at the back, a modern 1” board overlapping the side lath and screwed to it. The mitered base molding on the front and sides is nailed to the edges of the bottom, extends below the frame and supports the weight of the cabinet. It is likely that the molding is a replacement. Mitered blocks are glued to secure the molding to the frame at the front corners, additional glue blocks secure moldings to the center of the front frame and to the side frame.

The back consists of ¼’’ thick vertical boards nailed to the back of the top, bottom, and sides.

The interior drawers rest on the bottom and on ¾ depth deal drawer blades separated by dividers, both of which are set in dados in the top, bottom, sides and each other and reinforced with single nails in some locations.

The rails of the raised panel door are through-tenoned to the stiles and pegged. The raised panel is chamfered on the back and held in dados in the stiles and rails. The door is joined to the side with surface mounted “H” hinges screwed to the proper left case side and the edge of the door stile.

The drawer sides are nailed to the edges of the fronts and backs. Drawer bottoms are nailed to the front, back, and sides of the drawer. Most of the nails are original and virtually all the original nails are intentionally bent over.

Lock appears to be original to the door. Drawer pulls are original although a few of their wire holders are replacements.
Inscribed“III X” or “X III” is carved in large letters on the underside of the bottom.