Images(4)

Corner Cupboard

Date1790-1815

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Norfolk

MediumMahogany and yellow pine

DimensionsOverall: 91 1/2 x 50 3/4 x 24 3/4in.

Credit LineBequest of Mary B. and William Lehman Guyton

Object number2011-77

DescriptionAppearance: Two part corner cupboard with canted corners; upper section contains glazed doors with molded mullions forming hexagonal and square shapes; stiles veneered with crossbanded mahogany; molded cornice with broken scroll pediment with carved rosettes and a tombstone shaped central element between scrolls all outlined with lightwood stringing; interior of upper case consists of three shaped, fixed shelves; lower case stiles also veneered with crossbanded mahogany; two flat paneled doors with inlaid lightwood stringing and light and dark fans in each corner; interior consists of one fixed shelf; molded waist and base molding; straight bracket feet.

Construction: The two board top is positioned 1 ½" below the top edge of the backboards, stiles, and flanker stiles that, along with the upper rail are nailed to it. The fixed cornice (broken pediment with carved rosettes) is nailed from above to a pine batten that is glued and probably nailed to the full length of the upper rail. The three piece (cove, dental and ogee) mahogany cornice molding is nailed to the pine board and flanker stiles.

The backboard, stiles, flankers and lower rail are nailed to the bottom. The three fixed shelves are nailed to the back and stiles. Each shelf, and the bottom, has a single plate groove parallel to the backboard.

The back is made up of two vertical butt joined backboards on each side butt joined to the case flankers and mitered, butt joined and nailed to the rear stile.
The stiles and rails of the glazed doors are joined with through-tenons. An astragal molding is nailed to the leading edge of the proper left door to cover the central seam between the doors. The glass panes are set into rabbeted muntins and secured from behind with putty. The muntins are tenoned into the stiles and rails and miter tenoned into each other.

On the lower case, the backboards, stiles, flankers and upper rail are nailed flush into the top. The mid molding is nailed to the rail, stiles and flankers and extends ½" above the top to provide a rim against which the upper case is set. The rear and front stiles and flankers extend to the floor as feet and are nailed to the bottom 6" above the floor. The lower rail is nailed to the bottom and extends ½" below it. Below the bottom, the front stiles and flankers are faced with veneered pine panels to form the bracket feet. The base molding is nailed to the lower rail, stiles and flankers.

The stiles and rails of the lower case doors are through tenoned. The panels are rabbeted on the back side in order to float in dados in the stiles and rails. As with the upper doors, an astragal molding is nailed to the leading edge of the proper left door to cover the central seam between the doors.

On both the upper and lower cases, the stiles and returns are mahogany veneered pine, as is the cornice.
Label TextAs a major port city Norfolk, Virginia was home to a number of cabinet shops producing elegant, fashionable furniture. After the Revolution, Norfolk’s cabinetmaking community was populated by many immigrant craftsmen, some who came directly from Britain and others who migrated from Northern cities. Cabinetmaker James Woodward advertised that he had “the best workmen from Philadelphia and New York, and from Europe” working in his Norfolk shop. His unstated suggestion that these craftsmen were producing furniture in the styles and designs popular in those centers is strengthened by the British nature of this and other related Norfolk area corner cupboards. Indeed, without the American yellow pine found in their interiors these cupboards might be confused with English examples.
ProvenanceDonor acquired this from a dealer in New Market, MD.

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