ITEM SW01232: A Mahogany Chippendale Block-Front Bureau with Original Brasses,
Boston, c. 1760-80

This is a 38 in. wide block front chest with a radiant mahogany red shining through its dark old surface (see detail) that only a period piece of mahogany from Cuba which hasn't been sanded down and refinished. The brasses are the original thin, pierced type which is very rare. Note that small portions of some of the brass are missing, but it is part of its history we prefer not to tamper with.

The top is clearly original and has a rather small overhang, given its 38 in. case size, so as not to make its scale unduly large. The feet exhibit the same surface and quality as the rest of the piece, however, the blocking has been changed, probably lost through the years, and replaced over time, so that there is always a question of "Are they original?". We believe so, as the surface, color, and age conform clearly to the rest of the piece. The feet are not reduced as the height is normal and the unfinished surfaces on the feet bottoms exhibit their age.

Two related chests are illustrated in The New Fine Points of Early American Furniture by Albert Sack

Height: 34 in. Case Width: 38 in. Depth: 20 in.
Overall Width: 39 1/2 in.

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