This chest is of robust size–which suggests that it should be considered a commode–and has a very warm and strong feeling due to the aged and ambered cherry wood along with the strong oxbow/serpentine drawerfronts. This chest belongs to a grouping, another of which is illustrated in Connecticut Valley Furniture, Thomas P. Kugelman, et al. Note the similarities: the feet are ogee brackets carved of the solid and the quarter columns are as fancy as they get in Connecticut. Chests with quarter columns were in style in Philadelphia at the time, and a school of Philadelphia-trained craftsmen developed this style of furniture in Connecticut. Of note is the top board, which is extremely thick, and beautifully and generously modeled at the edges. The cherry is quite nicely figured and special.

The chest is in magnificent condition, glueblocks, et al. The brasses are hand-cast from period molds.

A note on Provenance: “Bill Hubbard writes: ‘I found this chest in a corn house on the Montague House, third house above Library in Sunderland, Ma, on the same side. Acquired when Smith heirs came from somewhere to dispose of goods long stored in the building.’”

Height: 38 in.  Depth: 21 in.
Width: 41 1/2 in.  Case Width: 39 1/2 in.