Description:
High chest base that was part of the wedding outfit that Electa Gates (1789-1876) received when she married Deerfield resident Samuel Childs (1784-1828) in 1813. The top drawer bears the modern inscription: "This dressing table was a part of the/wedding outfit of/Electa Gates of Conway MA when she married/Samuel Childs of Deerfield Mass./Nov. 25, 1813/The original brass knobs were replaced/by 5 handles taken from the bureau/of the same set. Restored 1907." Historic Deerfield owns a chest on frame (91.073) that was part of this set (the set also included a tester bed and mirror). The high chest base was part of a high chest made for a member of the preceding generation, possibly Electa's parents, Peter Gates (1753-1821) and Experience Arms (1757-1824). The top consists of a re-used mahogany table leaf with reeded edges. The case appears to be grain-painted. The sides and back of the case are mortised and tenoned to the leg posts and secured with four pins in each joint. In the back, the lowest proper right pin intersects the rear knee, the lowest proper left pin is secured above the rear knee. The top and middle horizontal drawer dividers and the skirt are mortised and tenoned into the front legs; each joint is secured with a single pin; the skirt is pinned through the front knees. The fronts and backs of the drawers are dovetailed to the sides; the tops of the sides are finished with a bead on the inside and outside edges. The deeply chamfered drawer bottoms are fitted into grooves in the drawer sides and front and are butted and attached with a single nail to the back. The internal side drawer supports are fitted around the leg posts and nailed in place; the middle drawer supports are nailed through the back and glued to the front above small glue-blocks. The skirt on this base is similar to case pieces made in the Agawam/Suffield area.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2003.15 |
