catalog text
GEORGE III BACHELORS CHEST OF DRAWERS
With writing slide; England, circa 1780
Item # C104044
An attractive chest of drawers from the last quarter of the eighteenth-century, it features a lovely bleached primary surface throughout that remains silky and soft from years of waxing. The top projects a bit over each side with thumb-molded edging over a facade lined with a thin writing slide over four graduated drawers. These are crafted in the typical manner with large tidy hand-cut dovetails in the corners, bottom boards set parallel to the front and cockbead-molding applied over a portion of the front dovetails to frame the mahogany veneered facade; both the drawers and the writing slide are hung with what appears to be their first brasses. The drawers are separated with drawer blades faced with mahogany and backed by full depth dustboards crafted of solid pine. The chest rests over original bracket feet with replaced corner blocking.
Measurements: 32 1/8" H x 20 1/2" D x 34" W
Condition Report:
Sturdy and strong with good function: drawers move in and out easily and chest presents very attractively. Surfaces refinished in the last fifty years with a nice overall surface patina; some minor scuffs and abrasions from use as expected, old discolorations throughout. Some wax fillings and recoloring of surface to the back edge of the left side, base molding on left side with a diagonal cut; replaced triangular support blocks in the back feet, replaced corner blocking in all feet; the top is a bit curious and is perhaps later, this with a smooth planed pine secondary wood under the relatively thick veneers; strip of wood added to back edge of top; some patching to cockbead moldings around drawers and some losses to cockbead moldings as well; brasses appear to be original; no key available for any locks; trapezoidal patch to the drawer blade between the bottom drawer and the drawer above it - this likely a repair to a lock breakout; right side of the case with a vertical shrinkage crack at the bottom. Original backboards with original rosehead nails.