Chest of Drawers

Description

Chest with six drawers, originally built into a corner (proper right hidden), now encased; top, sides, and bottom, in a basswood box nailed to outsides of original case. Original case entirely of white pine with housed drawer rails, surface nailed drawer guides and facings on top, bottom, and built-in (proper right) end. Back consists of horizontally oriented pine boards joined by tongues and grooves. Basswood enclosure secured with cut finish nails so enclosure was added some time ago, perhaps by the Shakers themselves. Drawers have lipped fronts, top and sides with stopped roundovers molded on all edges. Knobs are between-centers turned maple, one per drawer. Ends are dovetailed to fronts and backs. Except for maple knobs, all drawer components are white pine. Bottom drawer and third drawer up from bottom were originally divided front to back. The bottom drawer had two partitions, the other drawer, one, held by cut finish nails. Drawers are now lined with blue paper glued to inside surfaces. Front of original chest painted red but drawer fronts have most of red paint scraped off. Basswood enclosure washed with yellow.