Chest-on-chest
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1770
Materials
Mahogany, holly, deal, oak, gilt brass
Measurements
157.5 x 125 x 57 cm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire
NT 960202
Summary
A mahogany chest on chest, English, circa 1770. Topped by a dentil-moulded cornice above a blind fretwork frieze, and two short and three long drawers, all cockbeaded with holly and between fluted, canted corners. The lower section of three graduated long drawers. Raised on shaped bracket feet.
Full description
This chest on chest has been attributed to Thomas Chippendale (1718 - 1779) because of its quality and the pattern of its handles, which are a standard Chippendale design. Similar handles, and backplates with 'nurled' edges, are on the japanned clothes press by Chippendale in the State Dressing Room at Nostell [NT 959752]. The pattern to the blind fretwork to the frieze is comparable with examples which appear in Chippendale's 'Director (Gilbert). However, this piece does not appear in any surviving accounts and it should also be noted that this piece is not of the quality one would usually associate with pieces by Chippendale. The back, for instance, is made of deal boards, and is not paneled.
Provenance
Purchased by the National Trust by private treaty sale from Lord St Oswald in 2010.
References
Gilbert (1978): Christopher Gilbert, The Life & Work of Thomas Chippendale (1978), 2 volumes., Vol. I, p. 174; Vol. II, Figures 207 & 263