Walnut Chest of Drawers
Original brass pulls and escutheons
Sussex, Surry or Southampton County, Virginia
Circa 1760 – 1790
Dimensions: 40 ½” tall, 21 ¼” deep, 38 ½” wide.
Commentary: This chest of drawers has the understated “neat and plain” style characteristic of colonial Tidewater. The graduated two- over- three drawer form, molded top and the base molding over robust ogee feet with massive blocking are characteristic features of a group of chests influenced by Norfolk area artisans who moved inland. Although only visible from the rear, the facings of the feet are secured with oversized dovetail joints that are particularly distinctive and may help connect this chest of drawers to a particular shop or artisan. The maker of this chest may have worked in the shop of cabinetmaker Richard Taylor, whose work impacted style and artisanry throughout eastern Virginia and North Carolina. Among his apprentices was Thomas Sharrock, who moved to North Carolina and, with 5 sons, produced closely related chests, adapting them to the rural economy by simplifying construction details, and relying upon walnut instead of imported mahogany. (see Bivins, Furniture of Coastal North Carolina on the Sharrock group.)
The Colonial Williamsburg Collection includes a desk and bookcase (Cat. 139, Southern Furniture) attributed to Surry County, Virginia circa 1760-1780 with feet whose profiles are virtually identical. MESDA research files document a larger group of chests attributed to surrounding counties that are clearly related in style and construction techniques. S-7691, attributed to Norfolk, has very similar base construction as well as ¾ dustboards and a molded top. S-6924, attributed to Surry County, has the same drawer configuration, ¾ dustboards, a molded top and similar diagonally cut boards in the base. S 5844, also with related base construction ¾ dustboard and and with histories . S-5162, S-3598, and S-6339 with very similar drawer formatting are among other MESDA recorded chests with very similar characteristics that can be placed within this group.
Condition: The chest is in fine condition with wear and minor repairs commensurate with age and use. It retains the exceptionally robust blocking system supporting the feet. The bottoms of each foot, approximately 1”, have been replaced but follow carefully the radius indicated. The base moldings, facings and blocking, including the unusual dovetail construction, are all original. There have been minor repairs to the drawer bottoms and runner. The principal secondary wood is yellow pine.
Price: Sold
