Images(2)

Miniature Chest of Drawers

Date1790-1810

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts

MediumMahogany, birch veneer, and basswood

DimensionsOH: 9 1/4"; OW: 11 5/8"; OD: 5 3/8"

Credit LineBequest of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Hennage

Object number1990-275

DescriptionAppearance: Miniature chest of three drawers with overhanging top with square edge; three drawers, each veneered with birch outlined with mahogany with two round brass drawer pulls; geometric banding inlaid around base above a scalloped skirt and French feet.

Construction: Case sides are dovetailed to the bottom and the sub top; two tops, a sub top and a decorative birch or maple and mahogany veneered top with a square edge and mahogany crossbanding, possibly attached by nails to the sub top and covered with veneer; two horizontal backboards are lapped to each other and nailed into rabbets in the case sides and nailed to the bottom board; there are rose head nails used that are replacements; two mahogany drawers blades are slid into dadoes into the case sides; drawer supports are slid into dadoes behind the drawer blades; vertical drawer stops are glued in the rear corners; geometric banding inlaid around the base, connecting to a scalloped skirt backed by short, shaped segmented glue block on the front and shaped single long glue blocks on the sides; the skirt is in three pieces, the front and two sides, and connect to form French feet with a miter joint and glued together, supported by a glue block on the back feet only; drawers are a standard dovetail construction, bottoms are oriented horizontally and chamfered on the sides and front, slid into a dado on the case sides and drawer front, and nailed to the drawer back; drawer bottoms have been renailed.

ProvenanceIsrael Sack, Inc.