Images(2)

Dressing Table

Date1730-1780

OriginEngland

MediumOak and deal

DimensionsOH: 28 5/8"; OW: 31 1/4"; OD: 19 5/8"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1936-115

DescriptionAppearance: Dressing table with rectangular top, molded on front and side edges; shaped skirt with central gothic or ogee pointed arch on front and sides; front skirt has three drawers, central drawer shallow and wide flanked by two "square" deeper drawers; bail and rosette drawer pulls (some parts appear original); legs rounded below skirt terminate in round pad feet.

Construction
The sides, back, upper front rail and lower front rail are tenoned to the stiles. The square stiles are integral with the round legs which terminate with pad feet on integral ½” round blocks. Triangular 5” long glue blocks secure the top to the back, sides and upper front rail. (Three in back (one missing) and front and two on each side)

The outer L-shaped drawer supports/guides are notched around the rear legs and nailed to them and notched over the drawer blade and around the front leg. The inner drawer supports/guides for the side drawers are tenoned to the back, set in notches and nailed to the lower front rail, and notched to fit around the drawer dividers. The drawer dividers are tenoned to the upper front rail and nailed to the sides of the lower front rail.
The drawer supports/guides for the middle drawer are tenoned to the back, set in notches in upper edge of the lower front rail and nailed, and notched to fit around the drawer dividers. Irregular rectangular drawer stops are glued (center drawer stop is nailed) to the back behind each drawer.

The drawers a are of dovetail construction with bottoms set in dados in the front and sides and nailed to the bottom edge of the back. The bottoms are nailed into the front dados, a few nails from the sides appear to have been added. The center drawer differs in that lath runners are nailed to the bottom along the front and side edges.

The table and drawers are entirely of oak with the exception of the table back, drawer bottoms, and interior secondary woods which are deal.

The table retains parts of its original brass drawer pulls.