A rare, late-17th century, oak & walnut chest of drawers with an exceptional, moulded, panelled front
10778
In two sections. The oak top faced with a solid moulded edge. The uppers section with a shallow, single drawer with a projecting, central tablet above a deep drawer with elaborate, raised, geometric moulding. The bottom section with two smaller drawers of the same size with simpler geometric moulding giving the illusion of one drawer and thus balancing the deep drawer above. The drawers are all decorated with the finest geometric, moulding of the period using walnut, snakewood, rosewood & fruitwood veeners. The sides panelled. Standing on bun feet. Second half of the 17th century.
This chest illustrates the final development of the chest with drawers in the late-17th century, when the lower cupboard drawers were discarded, and the front was embellished with striking, moulded decoration and exotic veneers which used form, colour, light and shade to maximum effect.
17th Century
1675
English
The Age of Oak (Macquoid), figure 212 illustrates a similar example
