Corner Cupboard

Date1745-1755

MediumBlack walnut, yellow pine, and glass

DimensionsOH: 75 1/8"; OW: 44 1/4"; OD: 23"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1930-131

DescriptionAppearance:
Corner cupboard, triangular, in two sections: Upper section has large cove cornice with chamfered front corners; front of cupboard follows profile of cornice; pair of glazed doors, each with six panes, separated by molded mullions; upper outside pane on each door has shaped corner molding; doors hinge on outside and open to reveal two shelves; broad band of molding attached to top of lower section at front to accommodate top; lower section fitted with two doors, each with simple, fielded panels; doors hinge on outside and open to reveal single shelf; all doors have oval brass escutcheons at center of inside edge; simple band of applied molding at base.

Construction:
The basic construction of the upper and lower cases is identical. The top and bottom walnut rails are through tenoned and pegged into the walnut stiles. The walnut stiles are chamfered on the outside edges and mitered as are the adjoining backboards. The three board, probably butt joined, triangular yellow pine tops and bottoms are nailed into rabbets in the yellow pine vertical board rear faces. Additional nails are driven through the tops and bottoms into the stiles and rails. The rear faces of the cupboards are butted and nailed where they join at the back corner.

On the upper case, the single piece mitered walnut cornice is nailed to the stiles and top rail, leaving a triangular gap between the back of the cornice and the top rail. The two yellow pine shelves are nailed from the back into dados. The rails of the two glazed doors are through tenoned and pegged to the stiles. The doors exhibit standard sash construction with glass panes glazed into rabbets in the rails, stiles and muntins. The shaped elements in the upper corners of the doors are integral with the top rails.

On the lower case, the three piece mitered waist molding is glued and nailed to each other, the top, stile and top rail. There is a triangular gap between the top (cove) section of the molding and the under section to which it is nailed. The single piece mitered base molding is glued and nailed to the bottom, stile and bottom rail. The single yellow pine shelf is nailed from the back into dados. The shelf is notched to allow for a now missing lock on the proper left door. The rails on the two raised panel doors are through tenoned and pegged to the stiles. The inside stiles of both doors are rabbeted to overlap when closed. The raised panels are set in dados on the inside edges of the stiles and rails with integral quarter rounds on the inside front edges.
InscribedChalk marks on back of lower section. Each board numbered from I-VII indicating the boards were once removed and then put back.