Chest of drawers

Museum number

F13

Object

Chest of drawers

Description

Chest of drawers, decorated in marquetry of various woods on an oak carcase. English c. 1680A chest of drawers of standard form consisting of two short and three long drawers, the carcase made of oak decorated with veneers of various woods. The top surface arranged with a central oval panel of floral marquetry, arranged with a central urn containing sprays of flowers and leaves including tulips, peonies and three birds, with leaves, created with sycamore, boxwood and ivory stained green, below and on either side of the urn two sprays of flowers including tulips and carnations and small white flowers springing from scrolling acanthus leaves with some shading created by hot-sand technique, using similar woods and white ivory. The central panel enclosed by an oval band of "oyster" marquetry, consisting of slices of walnut cut straight across the grain to reveal annular rings, defined by narrow bands of boxwood stringing, and the oyster band connected by short straight sections to the outer border. In the quadrant corners, more sprays of flowers and birds in similar woods springing from acanthus scrolls. At the edge, a narrow band of walnut veneer defined by boxwood stringing joined to convex moulding also veneered in walnut. The drawer fronts also veneered in marquetry of similar woods, each drawer front arranged with a central oval of floral sprays of flowers springing from acanthus scrolls on an ebony or ebonised ground and enclosed by a narrow band of boxwood stringing, surrounded by figured walnut and enclosed by a rectangular border of paler wood, possibly sycamore and outer band of figured walnut, with cast brass escutcheons and drop handles on the larger drawer. The dividing shelves between the drawers of half-round moulding veneered in walnut. The side panels with large oval panels of marquetry of similar woods on ebony or ebonised ground containing vases with sprays of flowers and birds, enclosed by boxwood stringing and surrounded by walnut "oyster" veneers of similar pattern to the other sides. The piece mounted on squat circular feet of later date. The drawers lined with marbled paper.Some repair and replacement to outer veneered banding.No keys found.

Materials

Various woods

Inscription

None

On display?

No

Further description

Simple name

Furniture

Subject

Floral

Dimensions

64cm (d)
regular: 86.5cm (h) x 95.0cm (w)