Images(4)

Chest of drawers

DateCa. 1770

Possibly by Thomas Needham Sr.

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts, Boston

MediumMahogany and white pine

DimensionsOH: 33 1/2"; OW: 38 1/2"; OD: 22"

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

Object number1991-56

DescriptionAppearance: Blockfront chest of drawers with rectangular overhanging top with molded front and side edges; front edge conforming to shape of case below; four graduated drawers with rounded blocking at each end; top edges of drawer sides have integral double bead; top outside corner of drawer backboards chamfered; applied bead around drawer openings; each drawer with pair of shaped brass backplate and bail drawer pulls and matching escutcheons; brass carrying handles centered on each side of chest; ogee base molding over shaped knee brackets, cabriole legs with ball and claw feet, and central shaped pendant; original brass hardware and original iron locks for top three drawers (bottom drawer never had a lock).

Construction: Sides joined to top with sliding dovetail and to bottom with dovetails or half blind dovetails; horizontal butt joined backboards nailed in rabbets in case sides; mahogany fronted white pine drawer blades with integral bead on top and bottom edges in sliding dovetails or dados in case sides; front edge of case sides covered with thin mahogany facing with integral bead at drawer openings; drawer supports nailed to case sides behind drawer blades; vertical drawer stops nailed to sides of case at rear; deep front base molding butt joined to case bottom board in straight line across front and nailed to case sides; large segmented glue blocks glued to underside of bottom board around front and sides supporting base molding; front legs flanked by knee blocks and supported by shaped horizontal glue blocks; rear legs joined from rear to case bottom board and rear end of segmented block under bottom board with sliding dovetail; horizontal shaped glue blocks behind rear side knee brackets; rear angled and shaped brackets supported against rear foot with vertical glue block on rear and vertical and horizontal glue block with chamfered corners at front; standard drawer construction with front to back oriented drawer bottoms nailed in rabbet in drawer front and sides and to underside of back; drawer runners (replaced) nailed to bottom along drawer sides; drawer fronts gouged on inside behind convex shaped fronts.
ProvenanceFormerly belonged to Mrs. Bradlee Smith of Brookline, MA, a direct descendant of William Penn, when first aquired by Israel Sack.
Purchased by donor from Israel Sack, Inc. in 1975.