Images(3)

China Press

Date1810-1835

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Charles City County or James City County (possibly)

MediumMahogany, yellow pine, tulip poplar, glass

DimensionsOH: 78 ½”; OW: 41 ½”; OD: 19 3/8”

Credit LineGift of Susan W. Redd and Martha W. McMurran

Object number2015-175

DescriptionAppearance: China press in two parts. Upper case: two glazed doors each with two columns of four panes (8 total each) divided by molded muntins; behind doors are three movable shelves in three set locations defined by notches in strips nailed to the sides; two shelves have molded front edges, third shelf probably replaced/added; flat top and molded cornice; recessed flat paneled veneered sides; raised paneled walnut back nailed to sides, top, and bottom boards.

Lower case has battens for structural top with primary wood top pieces added to front and along sides leaving a recess for the upper cabinet to sit on structural top; primary wood top pieces have rounded edges; recessed flat paneled sides with veneered rails and stiles; two recessed flat paneled doors with veneered rails and stiles; one moveable shelf in interior; three locations for shelves based on notches in strips nailed to inner sides of case; tapered “French” straight bracket feet.

Construction: On the upper case, the yellow pine two board top and single board bottom are half-blind dovetailed to the recessed panel sides. A ¾” x ¾” mahogany strip is glued to the front edge of the bottom. The front strip matches the width of the bottom but due to half-blind dovetails the case is ¼” wider on each end. There is evidence of nails (now gone) on the front of the strip.

The upper rail is nailed to the leading edge of the top and probably to the edge of the sides. The mitered single piece shaped mahogany top molding is nailed to the upper rail and the edge of the top. It is further supported with triangular glue blocks adhering it to the edge of the top and the upper rail. Immediately below the upper molding, a flat scratch beaded mahogany molding is nailed to the upper rail and case sides.

The stiles and rails of the sides are tenoned and pinned with screws to each other and the vertical panels are chamfered on the inside to fit into dados in the stiles and rails. The stiles and rails are of tulip poplar with the exterior exposed surfaces veneered with mahogany; the veneer extends below the bottom rails to cover the exposed edges of the bottom. The panels are mahogany. Yellow pine vertical shelf supports are nailed inside the front and back stiles, angled at each end and notched to support the three interior mahogany shelves. Interior yellow pine surfaces are stained to match the mahogany surfaces. The rails of the glazed mahogany doors are through tenoned into the stiles; the interior edges are shaped with a bead. The beaded muntins are tenoned to the stiles, rails and each other.

The rails and stiles of the frame of the two-panel yellow pine back are tenoned to each other. The vertical panels are chamfered on the back to fit into dados in the stiles and rails and the assembly is nailed with wrought and cut nails into rabbets in the side panels and to the edge of the bottom and top.

On the lower case, three yellow pine rails are half-blind dovetailed to the upper edge of the sides. The front and back rails have three dovetails each while the medial rail has one large dovetail reinforced in the center with two nails. The 6 ½” by full width mahogany front board (probably replaced) of the partial top is screwed to the front upper rail from below. Behind it, 1” mahogany returns (probably replaced) are nailed to the top edge of the sides and extend to the back of the case. This creates an open space in which the upper case rests.

The frame rails of the recessed paneled sides are tenoned into the stiles and pinned with a screw. They are of yellow pine with mahogany veneer on all exterior surfaces. The mahogany panels are chamfered on the inside edges to fit into dados in the stiles and rails. The sides are half blind dovetailed to the two board yellow pine bottom. The front face of the bottom is mahogany veneered. Shelf supports of the same design as those in the upper case are nailed inside the front and back stiles.

The recessed panel doors are joined to the sides with butt hinges. The proper right door rails are through tenoned to the stiles, both are mahogany. The mahogany panels (probable replacements) are set in dados in the stiles and rails. The proper right door has a screw pinning the tenon at the proper right corner from the rear.

The back is comprised of four vertical lap joined tulip poplar boards nailed with wrought nails into rabbets in the side and face nailed with wrought nails to the edge of the back upper rail and edge of the bottom.

Mitered yellow pine boards are nailed to the underside of the bottom along the front and side edges with yellow pine returns in the back butt joined to the side elements and also nailed to the bottom. A shaped mahogany bottom molding is glued to the outer edge of the front and side boards extending beyond the edge of the bottom to form a bottom molding under which the molded mahogany bracket feet with shaped returns are glued. Vertical weight bearing glue blocks at the corners of the underside of the frame are flanked by horizontal blocks. The blocks are glued to each other and to the mahogany bracket feet.
Label TextThe press is an interesting combination of stylish features and sound but unusual construction features. The tapered bracket feet and veneered doors and sides suggest an awareness of furniture styles of the early 19th century. The use of recessed paneled sides, while structurally sound, is quite unusual for an elegant piece of veneered case furniture. The recessed paneled sides were in use in Norfolk furniture of the 1820s-30s, possibly influencing the maker of this press. There are no comparable pieces known of this form so attributing it to Norfolk or Richmond is not possible. The combination of stylish features with this construction suggests a more rural maker, perhaps in the vicinity of James City or Charles City Counties where the Gregory family lived in the early 19th century.
ProvenanceThis China Press descended in the Gregory and Warburton family of Charles City and James City Counties and Williamsburg, Virginia. The donor’s father’s family lived at Pinewoods in James City County until the beginning of the 20th century when they moved to the Peyton Randolph House in Williamsburg. Later in the 20th century they moved to 402 Scotland Street. The donors believe this piece was used at Pinewoods.