Images(5)

Painted Cupboard

Dateca. 1830

OriginAmerica, Ohio (probably)

MediumTulip poplar; black walnut, oak, iron, brass, glass, and paint

DimensionsOH: 93 1/4"; OW: 79 3/4": OD: 21 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Murdoch

Object number1975.2000.1

DescriptionDESCRIPTION: Two piece cupboard joined at waist; Upper section: two sliding doors flanked on each side by a vertical row of 3 panes of black reverse-painted glass, with floral motifs painted between, above a candle drawer painted with a floral motif; applied placque carved with an eagle holding a banner in its beak reading "EPLURIBUS UNUM" in center above doors; painted floral decoration with hearts flanking eagle placque; stepped molding cornice. Lower section: stepped and molded waist molding; 2 paneled doors painted in center with tulips flanking a central small drawer above floral motif; four straight bracket feet along front of cupboard.
CONSTRUCTION: simple plank construction with face areas of cupboard pegged on; cut sprig nails used for tacking on moldings; waist and cornice moldings on left side show that a mistake was made in the original planning of the construction and the cutting of the materials: the moldings here are pieced out by a five inch section and retain paint and degree of wear homogeneous with the rest of the cupboard; the carcass of the upper section is 7/8" wider than the lower section; the spring locks on the lower doors, pulls on the three drawers, the lock on the right sliding door, and the butt-type hinges appear to be original; there is an original metal latch on the left sliding door on the inside preventing movement of the door when secured; the central sculptural eagle element is a separately carved panel held in place by nailed on moldings; the sliding doors are walnut; there is one oak shelf in the lower section; the cupboard has straight bracket feet with an unusual central "bootjack" shaped foot.
DECORATION: Upper section: mustard yellow ground; dark red sliding doors; inside backboards showing behind shelves are alternately unpainted and painted orange; large fraktur-like bird and floral motifs to left and right are also painted in red and dark green; small floral spring motifs between reverse-painted panes are also red and green; moldings around eagle relief panel are red; background of panel is dark green; eagle is gilt entirely but worn showing dark green ground; lettering and floral banner is in gilt and red; drawer fronts are orange-red ground with black and dark green floral sprigs on drawer faces; upper cornice is dark green. Bottom section: mustard yellow ground; borders of raised panels in doors are blue; waist molding is dark blue; foot areas dark green; face of central drawer also appears to be same green although very much more worn; floral units on center of doors and in center of bottom section are painted in green and red.
Label TextThe sheer size of this “dresser,” as the form was then known, makes it an impressive example of American painted furniture. The massive cornice moldings, reverse-painted glass side lights, rolling glazed doors, stenciled and freehand-painted designs, carved and painted plaque, and probable Ohio origin also make this cupboard particularly noteworthy.

The yellow, Prussian blue, and red-orange colors as well as the Fraktur-like designs, compound moldings, triple-pinned tenons in the paneled doors, and the scale of the case reveal the cabinetmaker's Germanic heritage. An unusual decorative feature is the painted plaque below the cornice depicting a relief-carved eagle and the inscription "EPLURIBUS UNUM." Although the eagle's form and pose were presumably derived from the national symbol, this eagle grasps a pitcher and a decanter instead of arrows and an olive branch. This combination of patriotic and domestic imagery, along with the cupboard’s size, suggest it may have been used in a public building such as a tavern.

Inscribed"EPLURIBUS UNUM" is painted above the carved eagle on the plaque below the cornice.
ProvenancePossibly Philip and Magdalena Culp (Kolb), Richland County, Ohio; unidentified Butler, Ohio, owner; Mary Sonners (or Sommers), Delaware, Ohio; Garth Oberlander, Delaware, Ohio; Garth's Auction Barn, Inc., Delaware, Ohio; Maze Pottinger Antiques, Birmingham, Mich.; partial gift of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Murdoch, Brielle, N. J.

Exhibition(s)