American Federal Inlaid Chest of Drawers

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About the Item

While the Hepplewhite form employing splayed french feet in case pieces is well developed, even common, this fine chest of drawers exudes a certain strength that is uncommon in Federal period works of the Hepplewhite style. The solid walnut and solid poplar construction gives it inordinate weight, but the intense lift of the feet, raising the apron sharply in the corners, eliminates the heaviness of the look. The projecting top is crafted of two boards, the last 3/4" along the front actually a continuation of the front of the chest up through the top, a somewhat unusual and perhaps unique construction method. Surrounding this is a dropped and applied molding over four graduated drawers, these with molded lips of the solid, each framed with hand dovetailed poplar boards with a deeply chamfered poplar bottom sliding into rabbets in the frame and tacked at the back with square nails. The dovetailing method is somewhat original, using very large dovetails at the front, smaller dovetails at the back, the lowest back dovetail squared on it's lower edge to receive the drawer bottom in the rabbet cut. Flanking these drawers are chamfered columns on either side. Both sides of the case are single solid planks of walnut, incredibly large boards with wonderful grain appearance. Five vertical poplar boards line the back of the case, these entirely undisturbed and nailed in neat rows, the boards on the far left and right sides continuing all the way to the ground. As a result of this construction method, the feet are in simply outstanding stable condition, despite the incredible weight being supported. The feet are entirely original, the interior blocking of each a complex and almost puzzle-like formation. The most interesting and visually striking aspect of this chest is the apron: an inlaid patera flanked by round inlaid pinwheels beneath a thin stringer-inlaid border that wraps around all three sides of the case. The apron is active and has great motion to it, the sides of the case with a deep scalloping that matures as it reaches the front of the chest where two sharper swells flank the half-moon patera inlay. We have not had the woods micro-analyzed, but the darker wood appears to be a cherry, while the lighter wood is a bit more elusive - perhaps being maple. The inlay on the chest is almost unquestionably of rural origin, probably completed in the same shop as the chest, with a certain roughness found in inlays that were not produced by specialists. The edges of the inlaid designs are filled with a black pitch, helping to finish the less than perfect fit. It is a fine work of high precision and showing a command of the materials that is admirable; we haven't found a highly similar example, but the distinct elements are quite quickly identified in furniture from Lancaster County and some examples from Chester County. Particularly the pinwheel, which is found with identical feet to the chest on several documented tall case clocks of the period (Wood & Kramer, f. 2-46, 2-44, 2-36, 2-31) in Lancaster County; an interesting Classical Walnut Inlaid Clothes Press with identical feet and the similar half-patera inlaid apron is preserved in the collection of the Chester County Historical Society (Schiffer, f. 113). This is a fine piece that exceeds expectations in every regard. Entirely untouched, the finish and removal of drawer dividers being the only change over the course of two hundred years, still retaining it's original hardware and locks while remaining in outstanding condition, this is a Pennsylvania chest of drawers that should be part of a more extensive collection. Notes: Clockmakers of Lancaster County and Their Clocks, 1750-1850, Wood & Kramer - some interesting parallels between the chest and tall case clocks of the county Furniture and Its Makers of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Schiffer Condition: Finish has some nice age and patination but is not original. Top drawer is missing the original dividers. Every drawer has lip repairs and lip restorations: bottom drawer has a patch repair, though this actually appears to be very early and may actually be original - this treatment is often found with knots in the grain. Original brasses and locks, though there is no key. Gnawing inside of case and drawers, appearing to be from a mouse - visually notable above a few drawers. Light scratching, minor abrasions and dings as expected with any antique piece, including light wear along apron. Left leg has a white paint mark. Currently has a tiny gap in top from shrinkage (not captured in photographs, having shrunk slightly during the drier winter climate, but also not visually detracting or particularly noteworthy). We have a very large collection of additional images available upon request, these documenting every aspect of condition and construction.

Dimensions:
Height: 45.25 in (114.94 cm)Width: 43.5 in (110.49 cm)Depth: 22.38 in (56.85 cm)
Style:
Federal (Of the Period)
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Circa 1805-1820
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Shippensburg, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: 1301PYP21PZ1stDibs: LU105901245520

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