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What style is this?

Posts

What style is this?

#1

What style is this?

Joe in a Cleveland suburb

What style would this dresser be called? I've always thought Federal but Googling Federal style furniture I see pieces that are much fancier than this.

The background on this is that my parents have told me over the years that my dad's family brought it with them when they move from Indiana to Ohio which was in the latter part of the 1800's. We recently moved my folks from assisted living to a skilled nursing facility and it (finally) ended up with me. I've always liked this piece. It's exactly the kind of antique I like from its design/style to its roughness and patina. I have the missing knob and I believe the wood is cherry.

I wouldn't know exactly its age, but I was able to look at it a bit closer last night than I have before. It's really interesting to see all the hand plane and tool marks, the rough unseen surfaces, square nails here and there, not so perfect dovetails in the drawers and case work and so on. The panels are all raised towards the interior. It's interesting to see that the panels were raised with a hand plane and the maker wasn't too concerned with perfection, or was in a hurry to get it done and sold maybe.

I don't know what the material is surrounding the keyholes but it appears to be made out of some kind of shell .

Thanks for any insights anybody might share on this design of furniture and so on.

#1


#2


Re: What style is this?

#2

Empire?

Barry Irby

I don't know, but it appears it may be Empire. Google Empire chest of drawers and go to images. See if you see something that matches.

Could be Cherry. The inlay may be Mother of Pearl.

And you are correct. Our concern about interior construction and perfection are a modern contrivance.

I grew up in a house full of similar furniture.

Sadly, antiques are out of fashion. I talk to people planning to set the family heirlooms out on the curb when they have to clean out their parents house.

Re: What style is this?

#3

Re: What style is this?

Hank Knight

I agree with Barry, it's properly identified as an Empire piece. Often I see these classified as "Federal." The periods overlapped a bit with the Federal period generally thought of as running from about 1780 to 1820 and the Empire period from about 1800 to around 1840. Your piece is a very nice example of chests from Southern Indiana and Kentucky from this period. They are almost always cherry, but I have seen them in walnut and very occasionally in maple. The keyhole escutcheons are usually holly; but if yours appear to be shell, Barry is probably correct: mother of pearl or similar. I have never seen one with this inlay material used for the escutcheons.

Re: What style is this?

#4

Re: What style is this?

roger lance

It's sort of Shaker meets a guy with a lathe.

Re: What style is this?

#5

question

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I have always wondered about these things.....why the huge drawer on top? What was it used for and why on top?

Re: What style is this?

#6

Re: question

Hank Knight

I've wondered about that myself and I have no idea. I've been told that the large top drawer was intended for blankets and quilts, but I don't know if that's true. In my view, the large drawer should be on the bottom, but they are almost always on top in this style chest of drawers. I've seen examples of this style with a small drawer on top, supported by the columns, but they look strange, like the heavy columns are overkill for the small cantilevered drawer. My reaction may be simply because I'm used to seeing the large drawer on top.

Re: What style is this?

#7

Re: What style is this?

Gary Smyth

It is definitely Empire style. Because it is "Americanized" what follows may not apply, but some French examples have the large drawer front fold down to make a desk writing surface--much fancier of course.

I like the blanket idea though. If in a rush or not having the hardware, the style can be kept and the cabinet more practical for "country" living.

Re: What style is this?

#8

As always, thanks for the education.


Re: What style is this?

#9

Re: Empire?

Joe in a Cleveland suburb

"I grew up in a house full of similar furniture."

Same. My mother and her mother collected. My uncle was a dealer. My aunt has some authentic Shaker pieces. Wish I was in her will...

"Sadly, antiques are out of fashion."

So true. In my city all but one antique shop has closed. There used to be many of them.

It's a shame.

Re: What style is this?

#10

Re: What style is this?

Joe in a Cleveland suburb

Great insight. Thanks Hank.

Re: What style is this?

#11

Re: question

Joe in a Cleveland suburb

I've always been told blankets too. Who knows. I like the look/style though.

Re: What style is this?

#12

Re: What style is this?

Brad Chenoweth

Hi Joe,

We have a similar style chest in our family. Not as nice as yours, it's construction is more "rustic", but it has the exact same drawer layout. It's also made of cherry. I never understood the reason for the drawer layout, either. I like yours better.

Brad, in Elyria

Re: What style is this?

#13

Re: question

Barry Irby

My grand mother had a similar chest. She told me the top drawer was a hat drawer for big bulky hats like top hats from back in the day. I have always wondered if she made that up.

My step mother's mother had one of the ones that had the top drawer that would open and turn into a desk. She had a name for ti, but I have forgotten.

Re: What style is this?

#14

Re: question

Hank Knight

The name of the piece is "butler's desk." The form can also be a secretary with book shelves above the desk. Here are images of Empire style butler's desks:

https://www.google.com/search?rls=en&sxsrf=ACYBGNSekFUp49a0AgxB4MiaXRfPDhawgw:1571357495908&q=empire+style+butler%27s+desks+images&tbm=isch&source=univ&client=safari&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjagu_qwqTlAhVBmVkKHWdZCH4Q7Al6BAgHECQ&biw=1438&bih=746

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