By Charles B. Cobb
Located in Camden, ME
A Charles Cobb chest hand made at his Californian studio in the early 1980s
This extraordinary studio-crafted “Cherub Chest” by Charles Cobb, created in the 1980s, exemplifies the poetic fusion of art and function that defined the American Studio Craft movement. Cobb, who established his studio in Northern California in the mid-1970s, gained recognition for one-of-a-kind sculptural furniture pieces that conveyed personal symbolism through expressive carving and masterful materiality.
Hand-carved in figured Acacia wood, the chest features lyrical, chiseled details across its surfaces—abstract cherubic forms that subtly emerge from the grain, inviting touch and contemplation. The drawer fronts are edged in cerulean blue, providing a vivid contrast to the organic warmth of the wood. Inside, drawer boxes in curly maple and walnut speak to Cobb’s devotion to craftsmanship, even in hidden elements. Two sculptural rosewood pulls anchor cabinet doors on a medium white-painted body, balancing the composition with quiet elegance.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Cobb was commissioned for significant private and public projects, with work collected by discerning clients across California, New York, and Japan. His pieces are held in both residential and institutional collections, appreciated for their narrative depth and finely wrought form.
The Cherub Chest is a rare,example of Cobb’s vision—where furniture becomes symbolic, sculptural, and enduring. A museum-worthy piece for collectors of American studio furniture, sculptural design, and 20th-century West Coast craftsmanship.
The profile of this beautifully hand crafted piece reminds me of a bouquet of flowers gracefully drooping over the edge of a large container.
The chest is from his series of one off cabinets titled Cherub Chests...
Category
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ebony Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
