High chest of drawers
Artist/Culture
American
Date1740–1760
Mediummahogany, pine, brass
Dimensions215.9 x 109.2 x 57.1 cm (85 x 43 x 22 1/2 in.)
ClassificationsFurniture
Markings[Scur?] written in chalk on rear exterior surface of top half, upper left edge of bonnet
[2] in graphite on drawer support below center top drawer
[3] in graphite on drawer support below top right drawer
[6] in graphite on drawer support below third (from top) graduated drawer
Credit LineGift of the Paine Charitable Trust
Object number1965.263
DescriptionThis high chest of drawers is composed of two parts, each with a section of the complex surbase molding attached at the waist. At the top is a full bonnet with molded, broken pediment, cutout circles, and a shaped center plinth that holds a turned finial. The chest is pictured without the finials. The rear surface of the top half is composed of five panels, and either side is composed of two. This chest has twelve drawers in total, seven on the top half and five on the bottom. Three smaller drawers are abover four graduated drawers on the top piece, the center of which is larger than the two flanking drawers. This has a concave shell with nine inlaid banded panels radiating from the center knop, a pattern which is repeated at the bottom center drawer on the lower half of the chest. On the interior surface of this drawer's bottom panel, workshop arithmetic is visible. The brasses have been replaced, and there is triple stringing on the drawer fronts throughout. Each of the drawers are constructed with dovetail joins, and all drawer bottoms except for the left upper drawer on the bottom half of the chest have been replaced. The bottom half of the chest shows interior repairs, and the bottom surface is not visible. Its top surface is constructed of two boards, with a large chunk of replacement wood in the front left corner. The sides are composed of two panels, which are flush with a center strip of wood and held on either side by similar reinforcement. There are two circular holes in the rear panels. A patch of wood has been replaced on the lower left edge of the left bottom drawer, and the knee block beside it also seems to have been replaced. Both of the two lower drawers have unconventional shapes; the rear panel of the left drawer is diagonally inserted into the side panels, and the bottom panel of the right drawer is constructed from two panels and joined diagonally. The skirt pattern is three truncated arches with replaced, acorn-shaped drops between. Cabriole legs have scrolling knee bracket returns; the pad feet rest on cylindrical pads under the foot.ProvenancePaine Charitable Trust
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