Images(4)

Taunton Chest

Date1725-1750

Attributed to Robert Crosman

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts, Taunton

MediumEastern white pine, iron and paint

DimensionsOH: 21"; OW: 22 5/8"; OD: 13" OH: 53.3 cm.; OW: 57.4 cm.; OD: 33.0 cm.

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1971.2000.1

DescriptionAppearance: Flat rectangular top molded on front and both sides; braced beneath each side with a pair of shaped battens which fit down over outside edge of chest when closed; top attached on pair of iron butt hinges at rear which replace original staple or snipe hinges; straight rectangular sides cut out in semicircle at center bottom to form feet; flat paneled front surrounded on both sides and bottom by half-round molding nailed on; key hole at center top of front below panel; single rectangular drawer with plain wood knob at center; molded strip below drawer above feet; front panel decorated with stylized flowering tree, white and red; two small trees of similar design on drawer, remnants of similar design on top; entire chest covered with original red paint.

Construction: The backboard and front of the chest section have shallow rabbets at each end; the front edges of the sides have a portion cut away the height of the chest section; the backboard is nailed to the rear edge of the sides and the front of the chest section is nailed to the recessed section of the front edge of the sides; the bottom board of the chest section sits in a dado in the case sides and has a rounded front edge and a rabbet along the front edge in which the chest's front rests and is nailed once from below; corresponding half round moldings are sprig nailed to the front edges of the sides and are mitered around molded edge of chest bottom board, covering the larger nails holding the front in place; the base molding is set into notches in the front edges of the sides and pegged from the side behind notches; drawer runners are nailed to the inside of the sides behind the base molding; the one board top has rounded front and side edges, battens nailed to the underside of each end, and is hinged to the back (replaced hinges).

Drawer sides are half-blind dovetailed to front and dovetailed back, with larger dovetails in front than at rear; two bottom boards with front to back oriented grain are inserted into a dado in the rear of the front and are nailed to the bottom edge of the back; two small square wooden pins (one broken off) are inserted at an angle from the bottom through the bottom boards and into the front.
Label TextSince the publication of Esther Stevens Fraser's research on a group of similarly decorated case pieces in 1933, chests and chests of drawers embellished with this distinctive tree-like decoration have been attributed to Robert Crosman, a carpenter and drum maker who worked at Taunton, Massachusetts. Two of these so-called "Taunton chests" bear the initials of Crosman's sisters, Phoebe and Abigail, one has the initials of his cousin, Abigail Woodward, and each is dated on or near the year the women were married. These three chests-- as well as others may have been made by Crosman as gifts for various members of his family. Despite this chest's modest size, a full assortment of woodworking tools was required to build it. Besides measuring and marking tools and a compass, several saws were needed to cut the boards, the semi-circular cut-outs forming the feet, and the dovetails; smoothing and molding planes were used to dimension and finish boards, cut moldings and camfer the drawer bottom; the hold for the drawer pull was made with a bit and brace; and a hammer, nails, paint, and brush were employed to assemble and decorate the chest.
MarkingsNone found
ProvenanceMary Allis, Fairfield, Conn.