Images(3)

Corner Cupboard, Fragment

Date1735-1755

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Williamsburg area

MediumWalnut, tulip poplar, glass, iron, brass

DimensionsOverall: 101.6 x 105.7 x 53.7cm (40 x 41 5/8 x 21 1/8in.)

Credit LineGift of Susan W. Redd and Albert M. Redd, Jr.

Object number2015-202

DescriptionAppearance: Top half of corner cupboard with narrow canted corners, coved and ovolo cornice molding; two six-pane doors, top rail forms a flattened arch around top two panes, attached with brass h-hinges. Original lock with brass escutcheons.

Construction;
The walnut front of the cupboards and the doors are mortise-and-tenon constructed (doors are through-tenoned). The sides of the cupboard doors were thumb-mold-planed prior to being mortise-and-tenoned, thus requiring a reverse-thumb to be cut in the rails of the door. The vertical pane supports are through-tenoned into the upper and lower door rails. The cross elements supporting the glass panes are glued in place. One pane of glass is missing (the other panes are not original), and some of the glazier's pins are replaced (triangular ends, non-ferrous). The cupboard front sides have been chamfered on the outer 2 inches. There is an applied ovolo-over-cove-molding at the top of the cupboard in the sections (chamfer-front-chamfer). Above the left chamfer part of the molding is missing. The tulip poplar sides are screwed into the front frame from the rear (original screws), and nailed together in the rear and to the top with original large rose-head nails. The two interior shelves are nailed to the sides of the cupboard from the back with original large rose-head nails. The shelves are painted a fading red.

Label TextThis fragment of a two part corner cupboard (the top portion) descended in the Gregory and Warburton Family of Charles City and James City Counties and Williamsburg. This family history locates the cupboard's origin between Charles City County and Williamsburg. Design elements relate it to CW's walnut two part corner cupboard 1930-131, which may have been made across the James River on the Southside.
ProvenanceThis corner cupboard 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. Given the family’s history it is likely that this corner cupboard was made in Williamsburg.