Images(6)

Dressing table

Date1790-1800

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts or Rhode Island

MediumMahogany, white pine, tulip poplar, and glass

DimensionsOH (closed): 28 1/2"; OW: 31 1/8"; OD: 18"

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

Object number1991-76

DescriptionAppearance: Dressing table with rectangular top fitted at the center with a hinged compartment that opens to reveal a rectangular looking glass with storage space below; under the storage space are three small drawers of unequal size (center drawer larger than side drawers); matching brass shaped drawer pulls with solid backplates on each drawer, center drawer with escutchon pull, matching escutcheon above to lock hinged top compartment; four square tapered legs.

Construction:
The mahogany front rail is tenoned and single pegged to the legs. The mahogany tops of the rails and white pine back rail are tenoned and double pegged to the tapered mahogany legs. The legs are notched on the inside corners from the tops of the legs to the top of the drawer openings. The mahogany front to back dividers which separate the three upper compartments over the drawers are in sliding dovetails in the front and back rails. The vertical dividers between the drawers have mitered corners and sit in notches in the top and bottom beads around the drawer fronts and are nailed from under the bottom board and toe-nailed from the front of the dividers into the underside of the front rail.

The proper left (PL) compartment is divided by a medial divider that is glued into dados in the case side rail and compartment divider. Lath supports (1”) are nailed to the front and back rails of the PR compartment along the compartment bottom board, probably to hold a now missing tray.

The fold down looking glass assembly in the center compartment is secured by two butt hinges screwed to the bottom rail of the looking glass panel and to a sliding rail which is in turn tongue and groove joined to slide in front to back dados in the compartment dividers (allowing the looking glass to fold down or, when upright, slide closer to the user).
The rails of the looking glass frame are miter joined mahogany with a single bead mitered molding at the edges. An integral concave mitered molding on the inside of the frame secures the looking glass. The frame is surface screwed to the underside of the folding panel. The folding panel is beveled at the back edge so that it makes full contact with the top edges of the dividers for support when the looking glass is in use.
The panel to which the looking glass is attached consists of a center board encased by side rails that are miter joined to the front rail either with tongue and groove or mortise and tenons. When the top is closed the rear edge of the panel butt joins a mahogany board that is nailed to the top edge of the back rail and has a corresponding bevel to that of the mirror panel.

The two side panels of the top are similarly configured with a mitered front and side rails encasing the center board. It is likely that the rails are tongue and groove or tenon joined to the center boards. The center and side panels are butt joined when closed. Joining edges are rabbeted to overlap so that the center panel must be open for the side panels to open. Side panels are joined to the case side rails with butt hinges.

Each of the compartments has a separate tulip poplar bottom nailed from below into rabbets in the underside of the front rail; the side compartment floors are supported by front to back blocks nailed to the side rails and rest in dados or on top of drawer guides; the center compartment bottom is set in dados or rests on top of both drawer guides.
The case bottom board (tulip poplar), which also supports the drawers, is nailed from below into rabbets in the back and side rails, notched to accommodate the front and back legs and rests in dados in the front legs. It is nailed from below to the drawer guides which are in dados in the rear of the vertical dividers. Drawer openings are faced with single bead mahogany.

Drawers are of dovetail construction. Drawer bottoms are nailed from below into rabbets in the fronts and to the bottom edge of the back. Bottoms are nailed from the sides into rabbets in the sides. Drawer fronts are mahogany, sides, backs and bottoms are tulip poplar.

Escutcheons, drawer pulls and hinges appear original. Drawer lock on looking glass compartment is original, lock for center drawer is missing.
ProvenancePurchased by donor from Israel Sack, Inc. in 1986