DESCRIPTION
This is an unusual 17th century and later oak chest of drawers of architectural form. The rectangular plank top above an elaborately moulded frieze drawer with geometric inlay, over two deep drawers flanked by turned columns; the whole with applied moulded and dentil decoration and raised on shaped supports.The geometric decoration to the upper frieze incorporates contrasting pale and dark inlay and is a particularly distinctive feature of the piece.
The chest has clearly undergone alteration during its long history and appears to incorporate early timbers together with later work. Its unusual form, substantial construction and architectural detailing give it considerable character.
DIMENSIONS
Height: 72cm
Width: 114cm
Depth: 58cm
CONDITION
There are marks, knocks and scratches commensurate with age and use. There are some minor losses to the decorative mouldings, including a small section of dentil moulding to the front and shaped mouldings from the lower sides.
The upper drawer has a later, well-made removable lining. There is wear to the runners of the lower drawer, although all drawers run smoothly.
The piece has undergone significant alteration during its history and may incorporate re-used earlier timbers. This is particularly evident in the lower drawer, which appears to have been formed from two earlier shallow drawers. The limited wear to the runners associated with the former upper drawer suggests that this alteration itself was carried out a considerable time ago.
The chest is structurally sound and has a particularly attractive dark colour and character, with the historic alterations forming part of its long history.