Chest of drawers

DateCa. 1800

OriginAmerica, New Hampshire, Portsmouth

MediumMaple, mahogany, white pine, curly maple and satinwood

DimensionsOH: 41"; OW: 36 1/8"; OD: 21 5/8"

Credit LineGift of the John D. Rockefeller, 3rd, Fund, Inc., through the generosity and interest of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, 3rd, and members of the family.

Object number1979-226

DescriptionAppearance: Bow-front chest of drawers; the top with geometric crossbanded edge above a case with four graduated long drawers each inlaid with three contrasting rectangular sections, two large flanking one small, a geometric inlaid band above a serpentine skirt with a central drop-panel pendant inlaid with contrasting satinwood and mahogany, continuing to flaring French feet.

Construction: The back of the case is nailed into rabbets on the sides; an interior rail along the backboards is screwed to the top and dovetailed to the sides; there are four segmented glue blocks in front of this back rail; the front top rail is screwed to the top and dovetailed to the sides; the drawer blades are dovetailed to the sides of the case; drawer supports are nailed to the sides (one replacement drawer support stamped "CW 2002" is screwed to the side); there is a vertical glue block in the case corners between each drawer guide; the bottom of the case is dovetailed to the sides; there are glue blocks behind the skirt and feet; the drawer sides are dovetailed to the drawer backs and blind dovetailed to the drawer fronts; they have chamfered bottoms slid into dados on the front and sides and nailed along the back edge; runners are nailed to the bottoms of the sides and wedged out by segmented glue blocks; there are also glue blocks along the front edge.
ProvenanceAquired by Mrs. Rockefeller from Brooks Reed Gallery, Boston (through Mr. Aldrich.)