Chest of Drawers

Object Name:

Chest of Drawers

Object ID:

1970.047.01

Place of Origin:

New Hampshire

Date:

1780-1800

Description:

High Chest of Drawers, attributed to the Dunlap school, Merrimack Valley, N.H. Maple, with white pine secondary wood. Straight front, flat top and eleven drawers. Cove-molded cornice. At top of upper case is a high central drawer with a pair of lower drawers at each side; four full-width drawers in lower part of upper case. Two drawers in lower case, the upper one full-width and the second one simulating a full-width drawer above a row of three narrow drawers. Drawers in each case graduated. Scotia molding at top of lower case, which is finished at bottom with a scalloped skirt having a pair of C-scrolls pendant at center. Carved fan on central top drawer, with a corresponding fan on simulated central bottom drawer. Four cabriole legs with sharp knees, pointed brackets and club feet on shoes of extremely small diameter. Each drawer has molded edges. Numerous holes visible on the backs of drawers indicating drawer pulls have been replaced. Drawers fitted with early 20th century replacement oval, stamped brass escutcheons, oriented horizontally, and brass handles, each composed of a stamped oval plate and a bail.
Maple partly of "curly" grain. Evidence of former dark brown paint. A steel lock on each full-width drawer in upper case; other escutcheons "blind". Hand-headed cut nails used in construction. Upper case has full bottom board and a dust-board below five narrow drawers at top. No top or bottom boards in lower case. Dovetails at backs of drawer sides extend slightly beyond drawer backs. All full-width drawer bottoms constructed with separate strip of wood at back. Ends of lower case each consist of two pieces of maple joined using splines. Many elements marked in chalk with an "X", usually at center. Four smallest drawers marked on back in chalk "UL", "LL", and "LR" respectively, indicating their position. "LS [?]" in chalk on underside of bottom board to upper section. Some of backboards in upper case numbered in chalk. Illegible pencil marks on right ends of two drawers. Has been refinished; finish extensively crazed. Handles and escutcheons replaced; evidence of two earlier sets of escutcheons. Knobs, formerly at centers of shells on top and bottom drawers, now missing. A stamped brass knob, stored inside, may once have been used in this position. Tip of left C-scroll on skirt replaced. Key present (stored separately).

Material:

Wood
Maple
Pine
Metal
Brass

Dimensions:

H-79.9 W-39.5 D-21 inches

Provenance:

In family of donor since c. 1905.

Credit Line:

Gift of Alexis Chapman Proctor

People:

Dunlap, Proctor, Alexis C. (1895-1979)