Images(8)

Chest of Drawers with doors

Date1680-1700

OriginEngland

MediumOak, elm, fruitwood, deal, and palm nut ("vegetable ivory")

DimensionsOH: 43 1/4";OW: 47 1/4";OD: 22 5/8"

Credit LineUnknown

Object number1933-509

DescriptionAppearance: Chest of drawers with doors in two parts. Upper case with applied molding around the top contains one deep drawer with geometric applied moldings flanked on either side by projecting pierced corbels over two short split spindles. Drawer front divided into three sections, the center section of which is about 2 1/2" wide and has a large iron escutcheon over two short split spindles. Flanking the center are two identically arranged rectangular sections with applied scratch bead moldings arranged with a ebonized central rectangle with a central iron cotter pin pendant loop drawer pull surrounded by 2 sets of additional moldings in a rectangle design with projecting corners. 4 round palm nut ("vegetable ivory") buttons are nailed in the center of the ebonized projecting corners.

The upper case has two thin rectangular tenons attached to each side that fit into mortises in the top of the lower case side rails.

Lower case has a waist molding above two paneled doors behind which are three graduated drawers with applied rectangularly shaped moldings and a central vertical ebonized chanel molded board. Case stiles flanking drawers are molded with a similar vertical ebonized chanel molding. Base molding has squared off corners at the feet. Replaced flattened elm ball feet are tenoned to replaced oak blocks screwed with modern screws to the underside of the case.

Doors have a similar design to the upper case drawer. Like the drawer design, the lower case doors are divided into two square sections flanked and divided by tall double split spindles with pierced corbels above and below. The central spindle element is attached to the proper left door. The square sections of the doors have a mitered raised square block at the center with applied scratch bead moldings creating a cross at the center. 4 round horn/bone/ivory buttons are nailed to ebonized squares at each outer corner of the cross. Around the raised central square are two sets of applied moldings creating squares with projecting corners. 4 round palm nut buttons are nailed in the center of the inner ebonized projecting corners.

Inner drawers fronts are divided into three sections with the outer two sections having scratch bead moldings applied around the drawer edges creating two rectangles containing one iron pendant loop drawer pull flanking a central panel with a vertical ebonized chanel molding.

All drawers are side hung with dovetails at the front corners, nailed at the rear. Drawer fronts and sides are oak; drawer bottoms and backs are elm.

Case sides are flat paneled with applied moldings glued to the panel inside the rails and stiles. Upper case has one horizontal panel, lower case has two.

Upper case has horizontal backboard chamfered on the ends to fit in dados in the stiles and nailed to the top and bottom rails. Lower case has multiple vertical backboards attached in the same manner as the top backboard.

Lower case has front to back oriented top and bottom boards nailed in place.
Label TextThe blanket chest—essentially a large box with a lid—was the most common form of storage furniture from the Middle Ages through the 19th century. More specialized forms did not develop until the mid-17th century. Advances in furniture construction, including the structurally sophisticated dovetail joint, allowed for the subdivision of case forms for specialized functions.

One of the earliest new forms was the chest of drawers with doors. It typically features a large drawer above a pair of doors that enclose additional drawers. Applied moldings, split spindles, figured wood veneers, bone or “vegetable ivory” appliques, and contrasting stains typically ornament these early chests. The bold geometric patterns that resulted defied the rules of classical proportion and design.

ProvenanceAcquired for the Colonial Williamsburg Capitol when it was being furnished in 1933. Source unknown.