Chest of Drawers

Date1680-1700

MediumElm, walnut, ash, oak, deal, and beech

DimensionsOH: 34 1/2"; OW: 35 3/4"; OD: 21 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1936-103

DescriptionAppearance: Chest of drawers; flat top with molded edge at front and two sides. Sides composed of horizontal strip above two vertical panels; panels being separated by a molded rectangular member. Front of chest composed of four full length drawers, the two middle drawers being of equal size, top drawer smallest in size, bottom drawer largest. All four drawers made up of paneled sections made to resemble eight small drawers, each drawer divided by convex molding. Top drawer composed of four molded rectangular panels. Two middle drawers composed of two six-sided panels; bottom drawer composed of two octagonal panels. Drawers are grooved on sides to fit interior runners. Each drawer has an ornate central brass escutcheon. Pulls: drops attached to six-pointed stars. Molded base on front and two sides. Four legs rectangular in section, formed by a continuation of stiles

Construction: Upper and lower side rails are tenoned with double pegs to the stiles (lower pegs on the lower side rails are hidden by the base molding). The upper and lower front rails are tenoned and pegged to the stiles (lower with replaced floating tenons). The two board top varies in width from ¼” to 3/8” and is surface pegged to the front and side rails. The top is further supported by a medial rail that is tenoned to back of the upper front rail and dovetailed into the upper edge of the upper rail of the back.

The upper and lower rails of the three-panel back’s frame are tenoned and double pegged into the stiles. The two interior vertical stiles are tenoned and pegged into the upper and lower rails. The two outside panels are chamfered to fit into grooves in the interior edges of the stiles and rails. The center panel is tongue and groove joined to the stiles and rails. All three panels are single board.

The medial stiles of the two-panel sides are tenoned and pegged into the side rails and are finished with integral molded edges. The side panels are tongue and groove joined to the surrounding stiles and rails. The outer edges of the stiles and rails (other than the medial rails) that adjoin the panels are beveled.

The three drawer blades are tenoned and pegged to the stiles. Drawer supports are set in notches in the stiles. The stiles extend 3” below the rails and function as feet.

Top molding and base molding are nailed to the rails. Drawer blade face moldings are nailed to the drawer blades and stiles. The molding for the uppermost drawer blade extends around to the sides where it is nailed to the rails.

Although modern boards have been nailed to the bottom edge of the lower rails, evidence would indicate that originally there was no bottom.

The sides of the drawers are nailed from the front of the drawers into rabbets in the drawer fronts. The drawer backs are face nailed from the back to the rear edges of the sides. The drawer bottoms are nailed from the underside into rabbets in the drawer fronts and to the bottom edges of the sides and back. Drawers are grooved on the sides to slide on drawer supports. Drawer fronts are embellished with applied glued panels framed with applied moldings and beveled outer edges. Drawer pulls and escutcheons are original. The top drawer was fitted for a spring lock but there is no evidence of one ever being installed. The other three drawers have period locks that appear original

Materials: top of elm; sides - panels of elm, rest of walnut; drawer fronts of walnut. Secondary woods: drawer sides & back - ash; drawer bottoms - deal; inside of drawer fronts - elm; base - deal; inside panels of sides - deal; back of chest - deal, ash & walnut; back inside - right & left vertical members are of oak; separator between third and bottom drawers of oak; drawer runners a combination of beech and oak.
MarkingsNone found