Dressing table

Date1760-1780

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts, Boston or North Shore

MediumMahogany, white pine

DimensionsOH: 30 1/2" OW: 34" OD: 19"

Credit LineGift of Mrs. John M. Bobbitt

Object number2008-19

DescriptionAppearance: Dressing table with rectangular top, an ogee-molded edge and notched corners. The case has one long drawer over three short drawers (the central one having a carved fan) and a shaped skirt with three flattened arches and two pendant acorns. It rests on cabriole legs with pad feet.

Construction: The top, secured by 12 replaced glue blocks, overhangs the front by 1 1/8" and the sides by 1 ½". The case sides, backboard, and apron are tenoned into the stiles, which are integral with the legs. The one piece backboard is horizontal grained. Front top rail is attached to stiles with dovetails hidden from view by the top. The drawer blade is secured to the stiles with sliding dovetails. The drawer dividers are dadoed into the drawer blade and secured to the apron with either sliding dovetails or face dovetails backed by dados. The drawer runners are tenoned to the back panel and nailed into rabbets in the apron. Drawer guides are glued on the drawer runners. Drawer stops are glued at the back of the runners. The knee blocks are glued to the legs and the lower edges of the adjacent horizontal elements. The acorn drops have been replaced and are secured to the skirt with a wooden peg and glue. The drawers are dovetailed in the usual manner. The front-to-back bottom boards are set into rabbets in the front and sides and secured to the bottom edges of the backs and fronts with original nails. Runners are glued and nailed to the bottoms along the sides. Brasses are not original.