Side Table with Drawer

Date1740-1770

OriginAmerica, North Carolina or Virginia

MediumBlack walnut and yellow pine

DimensionsOH: 26 1/2"; OW: 30; OD: 19 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1940-401

DescriptionAppearance: Side table with drawer has flat, rectangular top overhanging skirt; straight skirt molded on lower edge; rectangular drawer with molded edge and central brass pull; four legs, blocked at top, tapering and cylindrical below terminating in pad feet.

Construction: The overlapping single board top is (apparently) screwed to the rails from above with the screw heads hidden with modern wooden plugs. There is evidence of now missing pocket screws that had earlier secured the top to the side and back rails from below. The side rails and back rail are tenoned and double through-pegged to the stiles, with modern triangular glue blocks in each corner. The front rail is half-dovetailed to the top of the stiles and the drawer blade is tenoned and pegged to the stiles. The drawer blade and side rails are bead molded on the lower edge. The stiles are integral with the turned and tapered straight legs which terminate in pad feet.

Drawer supports (replaced) are lap joined to the drawer blades, tenoned into the back rail and notched around and nailed to the front and back stiles. Modern drawer guides are nailed to the side rails. A medial front to back rail (possibly added) is screwed to the underside of the top from below.

The drawer is of dovetail construction with single board side-to-side grained bottom chamfered on the underside to fit into dados in the front and sides. The bottom is nailed from the underside to the edge of the back. The overlapping walnut drawer front has integral molded edges. All other drawer woods are yellow pine.

Woods: Primary wood is black walnut, secondary wood is yellow pine.
MarkingsNone found