image of object
Photo: Courtesy Northeast Auctions, Hampton and Portsmouth, N.H.
Click the image to enlarge

Tall chest of drawers

Object number

RIF1362

Maker

Maker Unknown

Dimensions

46 × 37 1/2 × 17 1/2 in. (116.84 × 95.25 × 44.45 cm)

Date

1780–1800

Current location

Unknown

Geography

Made in, Possibly made in Rhode Island
(view a map of Rhode Island)

Medium

Birch (primary); white pine (backboards, drawer linings, top)

Provenance

Northeast Auctions, Hampton and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, February 24-26, 2006, lot 884

Associated names

Northeast Auctions

Construction

The top is fastened to the case sides with half-blind dovetails. On the interior below the top, strips of wood are affixed to the case side to keep the drawers from tipping when open. The drawer fronts are fastened to the drawer sides with half-blind dovetails with half pins at top and bottom; the kerf marks on the drawer fronts are fine and long. The drawer bottoms are chamfered and fit in grooves in the front and sides and are nailed to the underside of the back. The tops of the drawer sides are flat and also flush with the drawer fronts. The middle drawer support for the two small drawers is tenoned through the backboard. The two-piece backboard is half lapped with the upper board resting in a rabbet cut in the lower board. The boards are nailed to rabbets in the case sides. Examined by P.E. Kane, February 17, 2006

Bibliography

Northeast Auctions, Portsmouth, N.H., New Hampshire Weekend Auction, sale cat. (February 24–26, 2006), 98, lot 884, ill.