American Queen Anne Highboy Chest of Drawers

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American Queen Anne Highboy Chest of Drawers

About the Item

With a molded cornice projecting boldly over the pair of stacked drawers on either side flanking a square drawer with a spinning pinwheel decoration, the case exudes presence while exhibiting wonderful proportions at only 71 1/8" high. The pinwheel decoration is of inordinate fine quality, the tight rays graduating as they swell outward, these given a third dimension with the impression at the end of each ray; the effect creates a tubular shape, almost suggesting that these pipes swell from beneath the surface of the drawer. A pitch substance was rubbed into these recesses to create the ebonized effect within the carvings. Each drawer in the top and base are crafted with poplar sides and bottoms, these deeply chamfered along the bottoms and sliding into the rabbeted sides. All drawer retain untouched original hardware. The drawer blades dividing each drawer join the sides of the case in tiny dovetails. Three horizontal backboards retain their untouched rosehead nails, the only change in two hundred and fifty years being the addition of three modern nails to the top edge of the top board for stability. The back of the Pinwheel decorated drawer is inscribed illegibly in chalk, possibly noting "M_ _ _ _ _ _ _ certify that ma_ rg_ _ _ _ _". The base of the highboy is constructed with pinned tenon-mortise joinery, securing permanently the sides and front into the square legs; likewise, the single horizontal backboard joins into the legs and is secured with wooden pins from the back. The chest experienced some pest problems at some point early in it's life, with evidence of mouse chewing throughout the drawer bottoms and sides throughout the chest; as a result, pieces of the drawers are replaced where the damage was probably too extensive to be excused. Particularly the back corner of the long drawer, where the mouse chewing seems to have compromised the strength of the drawer prior to patching. A single drawer flanks either side of the Sunburst decorated middle drawer. Beneath this is a highly unusual, possibly unique, design feature: the middle portion of the apron is not only beautifully formed with wonderful scrolling, but actually serpentines in a concave and convex flow; we've seen a handful of examples with a concave apron form of similar design, but have not yet found a documented example of a serpentine flow to the apron. The effect is stunning and exponentially magnifies the soft scrolling of the entire apron. The highboy is supported over cabriole legs of a distinctly Connecticut flare - each is softly chamfered along the knees, front and side edges; these terminate over raised padded feet. Notes: American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, vol. I p. 269 [American Queen Anne Highboy, Connecticut c. 1740-60 exhibiting sunburst drawer over half sunburst drawer w/ a concave apron] American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, vol. VIII p. 2080 [American Queen Anne Cherry Lowboy, Connecticut c. 1750-70 exhibiting spinning pinwheel lower drawer w/ chamfered cabriole legs] Kugelman, Connecticut Valley Furniture, p. 63 [American Queen Anne Highboy, Wethersfield, Connecticut c. 1760-80, exhibiting sunburst drawer over concave apron w/ chamfered cabriole legs] - see also p. 219, p. 235-6, p. 410 for Welchester examples Ward, American Case Furniture in the Mabel Brady Garvan and Other Collections at Yale University, p. 213 [American Chippendale Lowboy, Connecticut - possibly Wethersfield, c. 1760-1800; exhibits pair of pinwheel drawers flanking sunburst drawer] Provenance: Christies, October 19th, 1991, Sale 7368, Lot 145 Measurements: [top] 37 1/2" wide (at cornice) x 17 1/4" deep x 35" high [base] 39 1/2" wide (knees) x 19 1/4" deep x 37 1/4" high; total height is 71 1/8" Condition: [Overview] Surface cleaned and waxed somewhat recently. Minor restorations, cracks and losses to the lips of drawers. Most drawers feature fresh runners. The lower section suffered some mouse chewing and as a result had some replaced pieces to drawers - only damaged pieces seem to have been replaced, everything else untouched and original. Original hardware. Backboards untouched other than three modern nails. Some small pine pieces have been added to flank the drawers on the inside, an easily reversible repair intended to help stabilize the drawers. [Detailed condition] In top of case, two original runners screwed into case w/ 19th century screws; Runners appear fully original in top and bottom; Pinwheel drawer has strips added to runners to help stabilize drawer; lipping on second long drawer from the top is restored/replaced on right and left corners; most drawers have bottom edge of the drawer sides replaced with fresh runners; most drawers have a few modern nails securing the bottom to the backboard as well as a few modern nails in the dovetails to help stabilize the joints; top drawer of the base has a square patch replacement to the back rail and back corner of the bottom along with extensive mouse chewing. Small drawers of the base have replaced splices to the back board next to mouse chewing. Leg returns are secured with modern nails - we've spent some time examining these and believe all returns are original. Minor dings, cracks and abrasions to the surface throughout. We have 263 additional images documenting every aspect of condition and construction - these are available upon request.

Dimensions:
Height: 71.13 in (180.68 cm)Width: 39.5 in (100.33 cm)Depth: 19.25 in (48.9 cm)
Style:
Queen Anne (Of the Period)
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
18th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1740-1780
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading.
Seller Location:
Shippensburg, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: 130508QJB121stDibs: LU105901243580