Dressing chest - Dressing chest

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Item
Dressing chest
CIS Survey ID
CIS-2011-0029
Other Name
Chest of drawers; chest
Object Type
Furniture
Date Created
1830 - 1850
Place of Manufacture
Louisiana
Size
63.5" x 42.5" x 18.75"
Material
Pine; mahogany veneer; mirrored glass; cedar; mahogany
Marks/Inscription/Labels
There is a graphite mark on the top proper left drawer on the base and a graphite number "2" on base of front case rail. There is a number "1" in graphite on the base and bottom backboard of the proper right top drawer and on the front case rail. The front rails of the dresser's drawer supports are each marked successively with numbers 1-4 in graphite starting on the bottom. The top and third drawer are numbered in graphite on the back of the backboard and on the base corresponding to its place in the case ranging from 1-4, with "1" on the bottom and "4" on the top drawer. The second and bottom drawers from the top are numbered on the back of the backboard.
Accessories/Hardware
Original locks remain in the two small drawers in the upper case and in three of the four drawers in the main, lower case. The drawers retain their original turned pulls.
Inlays/Veneers
The case's exterior is veneered with mahogany.
Condition
Overall good with losses to veneer. The bottom drawer is missing both knobs. The original skeleton key survives.
Media Type
image/jp2
Description
Dressing chest or chest of drawers with rectangular mirror and two graduated top drawers. The mirror is supported by two turned vertical stiles with acorn finials which are doweled into the top case. The mirror is secured to the supports with a screw and a nut. The mirror has a mortise and tenon frame and the beveled mirror glass is dadoed into the rails and glue blocked. Two smaller drawers in a case rest in a shoe molding that runs along the front and both sides on the top of the main case. The case is detachable from the body of the dresser. The base of the case consists of a front rail and three perpendicular rails mortised and tenoned into the front rail and the two side rails are mortised and tenoned into the backboard. The central rail is let into the backboard. A central stile is let into the top and nailed through the bottom front base rail. The top is glue blocked into place and the entirety of the visible case is mahogany veneered. A strip of wood is secured to the central drawer divide and the bottom rail. The two smaller drawers are half blind dovetailed to the front, dovetailed in the back and the base is dadoed in a glue blocked. The original locks survive mortised into the front of both drawers. The original two turned knobs survive on the front of both drawers. The two side rails on the base are mortised and tenoned into the front and back rails. The sides of the case are nailed to the front and back rails. The back is three panels; the two on either side of the back are dadoed into the sides of the case as well as the central panel and they rest on the bottom. The two panels are also glue blocked to the base. The top consists of a single piece of wood set on rails in the front and back that are joined to the side panels. The top is glue blocked with two glue blocks at the top and two on either rail secured to the top. The shelf supports consist of three rails. The two side rails are mortised and tenoned into the front rail. The assembled piece is inserted into sliding dovetail joints on either side of the case. Each side of the shelf supports has three wooden glue blocks on the base and one glue block on the top. Two thin pieces of mahogany are applied to either side of the rails and glue blocked. The case sits on two thick rails on the left and right of the case. The turned feet are likely bolted to the case. A single strip of wood is applied to the front of the two base rails along the front of the case to form a skirt. The fronts of the drawer supports are mahogany veneered and the drawers are mahogany veneered on the front and composed of tulip poplar. The drawers have original turned knobs. The drawers are blind dovetailed in the front, dovetailed in the back and the base is dadoed and glue blocked into the three rails. The base is nailed to the back board. Original locks are mortised into three of the four drawers and the mortise survives on the fourth. The bottom of the base and the back of the backboards are rough sawn with vertical mill saw marks while the sides of the drawers are planed smooth as are the interiors of the drawers.
Physical Location
Gulf Coast (U.S.)
Provenance
Descended in the family of Lewis Stirling (1786-1858) and his wife, Sarah Turnbull (1789-1875); thence to the current owners.
Ownership
Private Collection
Date Surveyed
2011-06-30
Source
Classical Institute of the South at The Historic New Orleans Collection
Repository
The Historic New Orleans Collection (http://www.hnoc.org)
Disclaimer
The information contained in the Gulf South Decorative and Fine Arts Database was collected in the year referenced under Date Captured". The Classical Institute of the South will update object records with new information to the best of its ability but does not guarantee that data contained within the records is current.
Digital Collection
Gulf South Decorative and Fine Arts Database
Contact Information
Contact the Historic New Orleans Collection for more information about use and reproduction. louisquery@hnoc.org
Credit
Gulf South Decorative and Fine Arts Database, Classical Institute of the South at The Historic New Orleans Collection.
Rights
Physical rights are retained by The Historic New Orleans Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with US copyright laws. The information and images in the Gulf South Decorative and Fine Arts Database may be used for non-commercial and educational purposes, but they must be accompanied by the “Credit” statement above.
Type of Resource
still image
Type of Resource
three dimensional object
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