Counter

Description

Chestnut counter of post and rail construction to support 3 1/2" thick marble slab estimated to weigh approximately 600 lbs. Counter has a single cupboard in center with frame and flat panel door (two panels divided by center stile). Frame rails and stiles joined by pinned through mortise and tenons. Cupboard has single pine shelf and pine bottom. Counter has bank of three drawers at each side of graduated depths (5 1/16" top, 5 7/8" middle, and 6 1/4" bottom) with drawer rails of chestnut and guides of pine. Drawer components have pine end panels and bottom and counter has pine back. Exposed counter ends are of beaded chestnut boards set horizontally into dados in front and rear posts. Drawers have chestnut fronts and pine sides, backs, and bottom. Drawer sides are set into rabbets in fronts and nailed. At rear, sides are butted to back ends and nailed. Each drawer has a single face-turned cherry knob centered in front. Cupboard walls and drawer sides have aligned holes allowing rods to be inserted from cupboard through drawers so that drawers were locked once lock on door was locked. Post and rail frame held by iron or steel nuts and bolts. Door has iron lock and no knob. Marble slab top 3 1/2" x 24 5/16" x 75 1/2".

Notes

Counter appears in a photo captioned "Interior of Syrup Shop, showing west side, with a day's worth of canning" (1954.6755.61), which is in Eldress Bertha Lindsay's photo album (1954.6755.1). Reference: Riedman, Timothy D. and Jean M. Burks. The Complete Book of Shaker Furniture. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1993. p. 233, fig. 176.