Chest of drawers

Date1799

MediumMahogany, Eastern white pine, tulip poplar

DimensionsOH: 36 1/2"; OW: 43 1/2"; OD: 21 5/8"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1964-233

DescriptionAppearance: Flat, rectangular top, integral molded on edge at front and sides; straight, plain sides; front composed of four, full-length, cock-beaded, graduated drawers, each with bands of oval inlay outlining drawer, pair of oval, stamped brasses with bail pulls on each drawer (not original); inset brass keyhole escutcheon at center of each drawer; serpentine skirt on front and sides forming French feet; front skirt and feet outlined with bands of string inlay similar to those on drawers, terminating in round dots at lobes between feet and serpentine skirt.

Construction:
The single board mahogany top is joined to the single board mahogany sides with sliding half-dovetails, and the white pine bottom is probably in sliding dovetails in the sides. The white pine back is comprised of two lap-joined horizontal boards topped with a 1” board that is nailed from the top edge with early nails to the upper of the two wide boards. The back is nailed into rabbets in the sides and to the back of the rear top batten (nails now supplemented with two modern screws near the top) and nailed to the edge of the bottom.

The top rail is nailed from the underside to the top and butt joined to the sides.

The drawer blades are sliding dovetailed or dadoed to the sides. White pine drawer supports are tenoned into the rear of the drawer blades and dadoed to the case sides and mitered at the back. New wood has been glued to the upper surface of the supports due to wear. Two rectangular drawer stops (2” x 1½”) are nailed to each drawer blade as drawer stops. Stops for the top and bottom drawers have more wear than those for the middle drawers. Top rail and drawer blades are relieved on the underside to receive lock tongues. Drawer blades, top rail and leading edges of the sides are faced with mahogany.

The bottom rail is glued to the underside of the bottom. It and the sides are joined with a series of rectangular glue blocks (most chamfered) to the underside of the bottom. The bottom rail and sides are shaped to form skirts and, at the edges they are glued to the vertical foot blocks and pieced with additional mahogany to form flared feet. The front face of which in turn is edged with double string inlay.

The rear facing bracket feet are butt joined to the sides and butt joined and nailed to the back and to the vertical corner posts. They are also joined to the underside of the bottom with rectangular glue blocks.

The drawers are of dovetail construction with bottoms chamfered to fit into dados in the front and sides and nailed to the edge of the back from below. Applied cock bead is nailed to the edges of the drawer fronts (white pine veneered with mahogany with which in turn in inlaid with a large double strong oval). The interior surfaces of the drawer fronts are coated with a red wash which was clearly applied prior to the drawers being assembled as there is no trace of it on any of the tulip poplar sides, bottoms or backs. Replacement runners have been glued to the underside of the sides. Locks appear original, brass pulls are replacements.

“S*N*I*” (“S” reversed) is scratched in block letters on underside of bottom, followed by “Newyork 1799” (scratched). Also, the initials “CN” are inked in black on the back.
Label TextBy the end of the 18th century, furniture "manufactories" in New York City were providing a wide range of cabinet wares for the local population. Some of their products were also exported to rural parts of New York State and to other American coastal cities from Maine to Georgia. Typical of the exported forms is this chest of drawers which descended in the Glen-Sanders family of upstate New York. A wealthy and influential clan, they ordered most of their household furniture from New York City.

As in the South, New York cabinet goods were greatly influenced by English prototypes. Similar chests of drawers with flared "French" feet were also made in Baltimore, Maryland, Norfolk, and Virginia.
InscribedScratch carved on underside of base (S is inscribed backwards)"S*N*I*Newyork 1799". Illegible numerals ("7/8"?)and or letter painted on rear of lock in upper drawer (see photo in OF). "C N" painted in black on backboards, upper proper right corner.
ProvenanceNo exact history known; descended in one of several branches of Glen-Sanders family of Scotia, New York