image of object
Photo: Courtesy Harden Studios, Barnstable, Mass.
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Chest of drawers

Object number

RIF3425

Maker

Maker Unknown

Dimensions

37 3/4 × 41 1/2 × 21 1/2 in. (95.885 × 105.41 × 54.61 cm)

Date

1800–1815

Current location

Unknown

Geography

Probably made in Rhode Island
(view a map of Rhode Island)

Medium

Cherry (primary); chestnut, yellow poplar (secondary)

Marks

None

Inscriptions

"Top" and "X5," in graphite, on top of upper front rail; "x" and other illegible writing, in graphite, on underside of lower front rail

Style

Hepplewhite, Federal

Provenance

Harden Studios, Barnstable, Massachusetts, 2007

Associated names

Harden Studios

Construction

The two-board bow-fronted case top has a line-inlaid, veneered edge, and is secured to its conformingly shaped case by screw pockets through the top rail and through a longitudinal batten at the back of the case, both of which meet the case sides in half-blind dovetails. The case back consists of three horizontal half-lapped boards. The drawer dividers, and top and bottom rails meet the case sides in blind joints. Behind them are full-depth drawer supports and vertical stops in the rear corners of the case. The top of the bottom rail is flush with the top of the two-board case bottom. The two-board drawer bottoms are parallel to the drawer fronts. Behind the serpentine front skirt are multiple small rectangular glue blocks, some chamfered. The feet consist of horizontal glue blocks, mitered at each corner, to which are attached carved vertical glue blocks, the whole faced with solid flaring brackets on both faces of the front feet and the sides of the rear feet. The backs of the rear feet are simple, square-edged trapezoidal brackets. Notes compiled by T. B. Lloyd from photographs supplied by Harden Studios.

Notes

Bibliography

Harden Studios, "Bow-Front Chest," http://www.hardenstudios.com/Antiques/Furniture/Chests/itempages/dyrchest.htm (accessed December 14, 2007).