Images(2)

Miniature chest of drawers

DateCa. 1790

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts

MediumMahogany, white pine, light and dark wood banding, brass and silver

DimensionsOH: 13 1/8"; OW: 16 3/4"; OD: 10 3/4"

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

Object number1991-40

DescriptionAppearance: Miniature serpentine chest of drawers with an overhanging, molded top conforming to serpentine shape of case with a lightwood line inlay outlining the top with inlaid fans in each corner; the case sides have a rounded, diagonally striped banding on the front corners; four graduated drawers with scratch beading outlining the edge, each drawer has two single post brass drawer pulls (some possibly original) with an original central oval silver escutcheon; original steel locks on drawers; molded base over ogee bracket feet.

Construction:
Case sides are half blind dovetailed to the bottom and joined to top with sliding dovetails; a single horizontal backboard is nailed into rabbets in the case sides and bottom; three mahogany drawer blades with serpentine fronts are slid into dados or sliding dovetails in the case sides; there is an additional strip of mahogany glued to the fronts of the case sides with a striped banding glued into rabbets in the outer corners of strips; drawer supports are glued in dados behind drawer blades (all but one on the proper right middle drawer are missing); vertical glue blocks acting as drawer stops are glued to the rear corners of the case; the base molding is butt joined to the case front with glue and nailed to the case sides; the ogee bracket feet are mitered (front only) and glued to the underside of the base molding; three shaped glue blocks, one vertical flanked by two horizontal, support the front feet and three shaped glue blocks, one large triangular, one horizontal, and one vertical at the backside of the triangular glue block against the side bracket support the rear feet; the graduated serpentine front drawers are of standard dovetail construction; drawer bottoms are oriented front to back and nailed into a rabbet in the front and the underside of the back, and glued into rabbets in the sides.
InscribedChalk inscription (possibly a name) on drawer back of second drawer from bottom.
ProvenanceGarbisch Collection
Purchased by donor from Israel Sack, Inc. in 1980