Graduated, three-tiered, footed box in book form
Wood chest of drawers in the shape of three stacked books in graduating sizes. The drawer fronts represent the foredge of each book and are executed with small turned pulls. The book covers are painted brown with linear detailing in yellow, green, and red paint. All edges are painted to resemble marbled book edges in the same three colors. The drawer interiors are painted pink, the drawer sides and top of the drawer front are covered in high-gloss black paint. The chest is constructed as three separate book boxes, each consisting of a convex solid yellow poplar spine made with rabbets to receive the nailed-on side panels, using three steel brads for each). All remaining seams are joined with only animal glue. The four short Queen Anne legs are carved separately and were attached with the use of flat-head steel wood screws. The three drawers consist of concave solid yellow poplar fronts, also executed with rabbets to receive the sides and bottoms, also secured with three steel brads each. The remaining joints between the birch drawer sides, back, and bottom were only glued as well. Each drawer front is made with a different profile cut into the top surface. Only two of these have a chip carved design added - a diamond pattern on the top drawer, and triangles on the bottom drawer. -- description by Mindell Dubansky in consultation with Lynn Heckman
Artwork Details
- Title: Graduated, three-tiered, footed box in book form
- Date: between 1870 and 1879
- Geography: Maine (?)
- Dimensions: 1 chest of drawers : painted wood (yellow poplar and birch) ; Height: 7 1/16 × 9 1/16 in. (18 × 23 × 17 cm)
- Credit Line: Gift of Lynn and Bruce Heckman
- Object Number: N7433.3 .G73 1870
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