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Clothespress 1977-228
Clothespress with secretary drawer
Clothespress 1977-228

Clothespress with secretary drawer

DateCa. 1780
OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia or Virginia, Petersburg
MediumPrimary: mahogany; Secondary: yellow pine, red cedar, tulip poplar, and walnut
DimensionsOH: 81 3/4" OW: 47 3/8" OD: 25 3/8"
Credit LineGift of Miss Martha B. D. Spotswood
Object number1977-228
DescriptionAppearance: clothespress, with drop-front secretary drawer consisting of a central prospect door, flanked on either side by four bracketed pigeon holes over two small drawers over one long drawer; coved cornice with dentil molding; rule-jointed, flat panelled doors on upper case, enclosing five sliding trays which surmount two short drawers; wide waist-molding; two long drawers under desk section; fluted quarter-columns on lower case; replaced ogee bracket feet. Construction: standard case construction, with top and bottom boards dovetailed to sides; red cedar sides and bottoms (front-to-back, possibly riven then planed) on drawers and trays; trays slide on runner screwed to case sides; dust boards on case bottom are slightly thinner than the drawer blades, planed on the outer edges underneath, and set into thin (1/ 2") rabbets, with some small wedges locking them in place; walnut backboards; composite blocking behind replaced feet.
ProvenanceTradition of ownership in the Haxall family of Strawberry Hill in Petersburg. Acquired from the Haxalls by the Spotswood family of Petersburg.