Images(2)

Chest of drawers

DateCa. 1770

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts, Boston

MediumMahogany and white pine

DimensionsOH: 30 1/2"; OW: 36"; OD: 22"

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

Object number1991-55

DescriptionAppearance: Blockfront chest of drawers with rectangular overhanging molded top with front edge conforming to shape of case below; four graduated drawers with rounded blocking at each end; drawer openings with beaded edges; each drawer with pair of shaped backplate and bail drawer pulls and matching escutcheons (replaced); base molding over shaped and blocked straight bracket feet.

Construction: Top joined to sides with sliding dovetails, bottom dovetailed to sides; tongue and groove horizontal backboards nailed in rabbet in case sides and to rear edge of bottom board; three rectangular glue blocks inside case at joint with top and back; beaded edge mahogany faced white pine drawer blades in sliding dovetail or dado in case sides; facing strip on front edges of sides with integral bead at drawer openings; drawer supports behind blades in dados in case sides; vertical glue blocks in rear corners of case as drawer stops; base molding joined to front edge of bottom board with giant squared “dovetail” and backed below bottom board with large segmented glue blocks; base molding nailed to sides of case and backed with large segmented glue blocks; bracket feet backed with vertical glue block, chamfered towards base, and two horizontal shaped glue blocks; angled white pine rear foot joined to mahogany side foot with half blind dovetails; drawers have standard dovetail construction; side to side oriented drawer bottoms have slight chamfer at edges of sides and front and are in dadoes in the same and are nailed to underside of back; top edges of drawers have double bead; drawer front shaped the same on inside as outside.

Note- no evidence of central drop on skirt.
ProvenanceDescended in the family of John Taylor (1743-1825), a merchant of Salem, Massachusetts with ships sailing between Baltimore, New Orleans, and London. Believed to originally have been owned by John Taylor and descended to Sarah Wingate Taylor of San Rafael, California.
Purchased by donor from Ginsburg and Levy, Inc. in 1968.