Southern Antiques/Chapter 16
XVI
CHESTS
SERVING many purposes and known by many names, the chest has always been an important piece of furniture. Its importance with the early settler has been stressed. Mentioned in the earliest inventories and in wills as early as 1647, with trunks, it must not be thought to have had to do with their origin. The less elaborate of the early chests were doubtless made here, but the finer "joyned chests," as they were known, were brought from England. Occasionally a locally-made chest of the finer type is found. The simpler ones were made of six boards, the side pieces forming the feet. Cedar, spruce, oak, pine, walnut, and swamp pine from the lowlands of the South, were employed.
The "joyned" or paneled chests were durably made, and presumably to hold valuables. They often had two locks, and were carved and stained. The 1650 type showed sides, back and front all paneled. Incised carving, known as scratch carving, in the shape of arches, containing conventionalized geometric or floral designs, was displayed on the front and sides. The tulip and sunflower were favorite motifs, and chests called by these names are found. Some examples had one long or two short drawers at the base; the stiles formed the feet.
Later examples show that the drawer became two long drawers, one above the other, both raised upon a frame. From this type comes the four-drawer chest, known variously as chest of drawers, nest of drawers, and case of drawers. Another type which came into existence with the chest of drawers was a chest upon frame; and from this type derived the highboy with the six legs and stretcher frame, the legs of which, following Queen Anne influence about 1710, took the cabriole shape. Many chests of drawers made of pine and of walnut, in the South in the middle of
Empire chest-of-drawers
the eighteenth century, are found. Advertisements, as presented in the old Charles Town newspapers, are interesting in this connection.
Under Chippendale the chest of drawers took the serpentine curve in the front, and was popular. It remained in favor until after 1800. During this period the chest-upon-chest came into use. This, however, was not so much used as the highboy. Very few examples of either type are found.
In the Hepplewhite period the chest of drawers with the bowed front likewise prevailed, and the inlaid types are numerous. Many chests of drawers are found with the straight front inlaid in simple fashion, with French feet of Hepplewhite design. They were made in this style until 1810.
The type for chests of drawers, accepted as the American Sheraton, with three-quarter reeded columns at the corners, are rarely found. The Empire period brought many large and finely veneered pieces. Many were carved with the pineapple and acanthus leaf for motifs, but all of these are exceptionally large.
PLATES
PLATE I. Top—Carved Chest—Oak. (Virginia—c. 1650). An oak chest with the conventional flower carving. The stiles, which are the upright pieces at the ends of the front, usually form the feet for such chests. This piece shows the early type of decoration and construction.
PLATE I. Bottom—Dated Chest—Walnut. (Virginia—c. 1796). A dated chest made for a member of the Wine family living in the Valley of Virginia. The date and the initials of the person it was made for are inlaid in the front. This type of chest was made from about 1730 to 1800. Earlier dated chests are found, but this is an example of a late period showing the overlapping drawer. (Property of William T. Sanger).
PLATE II. Top—Paneled Chest—Walnut. (Virginia—c. 1700-1730). A completely paneled chest of a very rare type. Stiles form the feet here, as in the early chests. Round pegs are used as a forerunner of the hinge. There was a hole at the rear of each of the wooden end pieces underneath the top of the chest to which these pegs were fitted. The pegs were also attached to the back of the chest itself to form the hinge. (Property of Charles Watkins).
PLATE II. Bottom—Cupboard with Chest Inside—Pine. (Virginia—c. 1710-1760). This piece, although of the cupboard type, has a chest with lifting lid inside. In the old inventories this type of cupboard was often designated as a chest instead of a cupboard. The iron H-hinges are visible in the illustration, and are of the type found on all types of earlier cupboards. (Property of Mrs. J. L. Brockwell).
PLATE III. Top—Chest with Slant Lid—Walnut. (North Carolina—c. 1760-1780). An unusually interesting type. It has a number of small drawers in the interior, one of which is made of metal enclosed with wood. The height of this piece and the slanting lid make it available for writing purposes. The chest is marked, "Made by John Hobson," together with other writing not distinguishable. Other pieces have been found marked with the same name. As this cabinetmaker cannot be located as working in any one section, he is believed to have been one of the many traveling craftsmen. (Property of Miss Willie P. Garland).
PLATE III. Bottom—Chest of Drawers—Pine. (North Carolina—c. 1700-1730). A chest made of Southern pine, with the paneled end of the earlier type. The overlapping drawers indicate the date as being in the first quarter of the eighteenth century. The handles, which are original, are exactly like those found on the drawers of gate-leg tables. (Property of W. S. Ahern).
PLATE IV. Top—Queen Anne Chest of Drawers on Frame—Walnut. (North Carolina—c. 1740-1760). Numerous chests of this type have been found in North Carolina, and it is a style that was popular in the South. Some found have about half the number of drawers as the one illustrated.
PLATE IV. Bottom—Queen Anne Low Chest on Frame—Walnut. (North Carolina—c. 1740-1760). A rare type of low chest of fine quality.
PLATE V. Highboy—Cherry. (Maryland—c. 1700). A type rarely found complete, due to the fragile construction of the legs and under-stretchers. The legs have what is known as the bowl or cup turnings and onion feet. It has poplar drawer linings, and the back is Southern pine. (Property of J. K. Beard).
PLATE VI. Queen Anne Highboy—Walnut. (Virginia—c. 1730-1750). A scroll-top highboy of the plainer type, with the scrolls added to the flat top. The fan or shell decoration is often found on highboys of this period. All types of highboys are rare in the South, and the finer made ones are rarely found showing Southern workmanship. These pieces are illustrated to show the different styles in various periods and not as a standard of excellence. (Property of Mrs. J. S. Archer).
PLATE VII. Highboy—Walnut. (North Carolina—c. 1760-1780). An inlaid highboy of a style peculiar to the outlying districts of the South. Not a finely executed piece, but one that presents certain interests, as it never has been finished. Part of the drawer fronts have not been pierced for the handles. (Property of Mrs. Paul Chatham).
PLATE VIII. Top—Chippendale Serpentine Chest of Drawers—Walnut. (South Carolina—c. 1770-1780). A type resembling the chests found with oxbow fronts. The date is indicated by the handles, although chests of this type were made earlier in the Chippendale period. (Property of Mrs. E. M. Crutchfield).
PLATE VIII. Bottom—Chippendale Serpentine Chest of Drawers—Mahogany. (Maryland—c. 1790). A fine veneered and inlaid chest with the inset fluted corners. It is Chippendale style, but the inlay indicates the Hepplewhite period. (Property of Mrs. Fred Sampson).
PLATE IX. Top—Hepplewhite Serpentine Chest of Drawers—Mahogany. (South Carolina—c. 1790). This finely inlaid mahogany chest of drawers shows the serpentine front with French feet. The matched veneered front is the work of a skilled craftsman. (Property of Mrs. J. G. Hayes).
PLATE IX. Bottom—Hepplewhite Serpentine Chest of Drawers—Walnut. (North Carolina—c. 1790). In this chest of drawers the local workman used native walnut, and cut the drawer fronts from the solid wood. The majority of four-drawer chests in walnut with straight front are found with solid drawer fronts. Walnut was rarely used as veneer, except on curved surfaces. The chest illustrated has only the inlay on the edge of the drawers instead of the bead, as in the chest at the top of the page. (Property of Carroll H. Fowlkes).
PLATE X. Top—Sheraton Swell-Front Chest of Drawers—Mahogany. (South Carolina—c. 1800). This chest of drawers in mahogany, with swell front, is of a type often designated as Hepplewhite, but Sheraton and Hepplewhite overlap so much in styles such as this, that it is best to refer to a piece of this type by the period in which it was made, as indicated by the handles, which are original. The inlaid fans in the French feet, and the center fan in the apron, are unusual. Chests of this shape are found in quantity throughout the Southern states. (Property of J. K. Beard).
PLATE X. Bottom—Sheraton Swell-Front Chest of Drawers—Mahogany. (Georgia—c. 1810). This type of the American Sheraton style is readily recognized. Chests of this type have a swell slightly flattened in the center. The reeded three-quarter columns at the corners are typical. Turned rosettes cover the posts at the top. This style of chest of drawers is often found with the front veneered with richly figured wood. (Property of J. K. Beard).
PLATE XI. Sheraton Chest of Drawers with Attached Mirror—Mahogany. (South Carolina—c. 1810-1820). This labeled piece is of a type rarely found, and is the first type of chest which appeared with mirror attached. William Rawsom is found listed in the 1819 directory of Charleston, one of the many operating as cabinetmakers when furniture making was coming under the Empire influence. He is supposed to be the son of the famous Joseph Rawsom, of Providence, Rhode Island. (Property of Francis D. Brinton).
PLATE I
PLATE II
PLATE III
PLATE IV
PLATE V
PLATE VI
PLATE VII
PLATE VIII
PLATE IX
PLATE X
PLATE XI