Side table with drawer

Date18th century

MediumYellow pine (Southern hard pine)

DimensionsH: 28 3/8"; W: 27 15/16"; D: 24 3/8"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1942-2

DescriptionAppearance: Side table with drawer. Rectangular four-board top overhangs frame. Straight skirt with bead molded lower edge. Straight legs with bead molding on outside corners and chamfer on all other corners. Rectangular side and medial stretchers. Replaced drawer in front skirt.

Construction: The overlapping four board top is (probably) screwed to the back and side rails, the screw heads are covered with modern wooden plugs. The back and side rails are tenoned with double pegs and the drawer blade with a single peg into the stiles. The stiles are integral with the slightly tapered square straight legs which are bead molded on the outside corners, chamfered on the other three corners, and have been cut off 2” below the stretchers. The side stretchers are tenoned and pegged into the legs, and the medial stretcher is through tenoned and pegged into the side stretchers. The side and back rails, drawer blade and side stretchers are bead molded on the lower outside edge.

The replaced drawer supports are notched around the stiles and nailed to the stiles and the sides. The replaced drawer guides rest on top of the drawer supports and are nailed to the sides.

The replaced drawer made up of old wood is of dovetail construction with the bottom chamfered to fit into dados in the front and sides.

The table and drawer are entirely of yellow pine.
Label TextWhile produced in yellow pine, a common and relatively inexpensive wood, this table is ornamented with a small bead molding along its legs, stretchers, and lower edge of its skirt. The owner might not have been able to afford a more costly wood like walnut, cherry, or mahogany, but this decorative detail added a level of refinement to his otherwise basic table.
MarkingsNone