Cupboard
Three door cupboard signed by Orren Haskins, 1837, Mount Lebanon, NY
1837
Description
Three door cupboard of pine with lathe-turned (between-centers) knobs on doors. Single door on top opens into a cupboard with a single shelf. The double doors on base open into a cupboard with cubby holes (ten) over an open bottom. Doors are frame and panel (with molded frame edges) joined with pinned mortise and tenons (through) and hinged with iron butts. Top door catch is a wire loop of spring steel that catches on round headed tack; the two lower doors have iron plates set into undersides of inner stiles which are notched to slip over protrusions on the ends of two strips of iron or steel set into the bottom face-frame rail. Back is two vertical pine boards. Front outside arrises of face frame have quirk beads. Cupboard originally painted salmon but color has faded.
Notes
The exhibition catalogue for "Making His Mark: The Work of Shaker Craftsman Orren Haskins" notes, "The upper section of the piece has a single door with two shelves, and the lower portion has three vertical shelves subdivided into ten spacious pigeonholes. This arrangement suggests that the cupboard initially functioned as a top to a desk and was designed to house papers, ledgers, and other documents. It may have been used by a trustee, deacon, or member of the ministry."
References: Kassay, John. The Book of Shaker Furniture. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press, 1980. p. 42. Grant, Jerry V. and Douglas R. Allen. Shaker Furniture Makers. Hanover, NH: London: University Press of New England, 1989. p. 91. Rieman, Timothy D. and Jean M. Burks. The Complete Book of Shaker Furniture. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1993. p. 124.
New York Mount Lebanon
