American Chippendale Antique Chest of Drawers, Pennsylvania circa 1770

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American Chippendale Antique Chest of Drawers, Pennsylvania circa 1770

About the Item

This is an excellent example from the Philadelphia or Delaware River Valley region of Pennsylvania, a fine American Chippendale Walnut Chest of Drawers of rather desirable proportions. The chest has a refined presence with well preserved color in the walnut case. The quality of the chest is self evident, the top with a sandwiched molding wrapping around the rim, projecting slightly over the front and deeply over the back - this allowed the chest to rest flush with the wall despite the thick floor molding. Each of the graduated drawers has a molded lip of the solid, the faces solid walnut, the sides and bottom crafted of poplar: these are hand dovetailed, the bottoms deeply chamfered and slid into rabbets in the sides; the riven bottom boards run perpendicular to the face, nailed at the back with (mostly) original wrought iron rosehead nails with white pine blocks fitted in the chamfered edges along the sides. Original steel locks are retained in the drawers, locks now absent, the brasses replaced with period batwings - the chest had Federal oval brasses placed on it at one point, that owner drilling new holes very close to the original holes; the current brasses are in those same later holes. The back of the chest is joined with two original hand planed planks nailed around the perimeter. The top and bottom join to the chest with hidden dovetails, evident in the score marks on the inside of the case. The feet are preserved in almost entirely original condition other than age appropriate repairs (noted below); the form of these ogee bracket feet is above reproach, a fine scroll cut swirl that has robust flare to it and terminates in a bladed edge. The blocking of the feet is intricate and likely the reason the feet have survived in such good condition; large triangular blocks support the thick corner block, these carved to fit the bracket feet. Measurements: 38 3/4" wide x 20 1/2" deep x 34 1/4" high Condition Report: Refinished. Replaced brasses, these period batwings in holes of previous (but not original) hardware; this is at least the third set of hardware on to have resided on the chest. Impressions from prior oval brasses is lightly visible behind the current brasses. Keyhole escutcheons not original and not appropriate for the case - ideally, these would be batwing brasses that match the current hardware: see scars of original batwing escutcheons. Brass cleaner visible in open grain around brasses. Loss and repairs to the molding around the top, noteworthy chip to front right corner and loss to back left corner. Some minor repairs to drawers with wood inserted in shrinkage gaps on bottoms, some blocks absent, some reglued edges/blocks, one drawer with a spliced runner under dovetails. Locks original, no key. Feet cracked and with repairs: front right foot lower half of right-ward facing is replaced (note unrefined carving on the blade of the foot), back left foot corner block replaced, front left foot blocking original but secured with modern screws; all other blocking, molding and feet are entirely original. Overall very fine feet. Visual detractions include the scarring/repairs/cracks to feet, minor scratches to top and sides. Backboards secured with modern nails, the original roseheads mostly absent - the backboards were probably taken off to install fresh drawer runners at one point, these [and the foot facing/brasses] the only replacement to the chest.

Dimensions:
Height: 34.25 in (87 cm)Width: 38.75 in (98.43 cm)Depth: 20.5 in (52.07 cm)
Style:
Chippendale (Of the Period)
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
18th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1770
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. See condition notes.
Seller Location:
Shippensburg, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: 130108OSP251stDibs: LU105901259676