Images(3)

Dressing table

DateCa. 1770

Possibly by Nicholas Bernard (d. 1789)

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

MediumMahogany, tulip poplar, white pine, yellow pine, and white cedar

DimensionsOH: 30 3/4"; OW: 35 1/4"; OD: 18 7/8"

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

Object number1991-63

DescriptionAppearance: Dressing table with overhanging rectangular top with molded edges supported by a small cove molding; one long drawer above three small drawers of unequal size, center small drawer is slightly wider than those flanking it and is carved with a recessed shell and projecting foliate motifs; drawers flanked by fluted quarter columns; scalloped skirt carved along lower edge with foliate motifs and in center with applied leaves; cabriole legs with foliate carved knees and knee blocks over ball and claw feet. Long drawer has pair of pierced brass backplate and bail drawer pulls and matching escutcheon, small side drawers have one matching drawer pull each, central drawer has pendant pull. All brasses replaced.

Construction: Back, sides, and front medial and lower rails tenoned and pegged to legs; top front rail tenoned into or in dovetail in top of front legs; two battens are tenoned into the rear of the front rail and through the back; top is screwed to battens from underneath; cove molding under top nailed to sides and front rail; vertical drawer dividers tenoned into lower rail and through medial rail; full height and depth drawer guides tongue and groove joined to rear of vertical dividers and in dado in case backboard; two side bottom boards which support lower drawers are tongue and groove joined to rear of lower rail and in dado in backboards; center bottom board tongue and groove joined to rear of lower rail and in large notch in lower edge of backboard with chamfered glue block nailed below to the back to support bottom board; lower side drawer guides nailed to top of bottom board between legs; L shaped upper drawer support and guide notched around legs and nailed to same; chamfered vertical glue blocks in front and back corners of case (behind quarter column in front) between drawer guides; top drawer guides (to prevent top drawer from tipping when open) notched around legs and nailed to same near top of case; fluted quarter columns integral with tops of legs with inset capitals and bases; knee blocks glued to sides of legs and underside of case.

Drawers are of standard dovetail construction; front to back drawer bottoms slightly chamfered around sides, in dados in sides and front and nailed to underside of back; full length runners along front and sides, mitered at rear edge.
InscribedModern sticker inside top drawer, proper right side "Varick desk....in Family. Property o Andy V Stout 3rd"
ProvenanceDescended in the Varick and Stout families of New York to Andrew Varick Stout 3rd.
Purchased by donor from Bernard and S. Dean Levy, Inc. in 1978.