Chest of drawers

Description

Federal-style chest of drawers with dressing glass made of mahogany, figured birch, and mahogany veneer with white pine secondary wood. Dressing glass: The dressing glass consists of a framed looking glass mounted above a small case of three side-by-side drawers. The rectangular looking glass is surmounted with a crest rail of stepped double-ogee curves rising to a center arch. Two poles, mounted to the top of the small case so they tip back slightly, flank the sides of the looking glass. Gilt-outlined ogee and c-scroll brass supports sit on the top of the case and flank the poles. Brass keys extend through the brass supports and poles to the sides of the looking glass frame, enabling the glass to pivot. The frame is gilded on the innermost edge. The case is curved along the front. The case top has overhanging edges and conforms to the profile of the case. The three drawers each have two knobs, which were replaced after 1966. The drawer fronts are figured birch veneer panel within mahogany veneer border and bead molding along the edges. The case has round molding around the base. Inside bottom of upper right drawer of case has printed, paper label reading: [LEVI RUGGLES, / CABINET MAKER. / No. 2 / WINTER STREET - BOSTON] within a fret pattern border. Chest of drawers: The case has projecting ovolo corners topping reeded and ring-turned pilasters. The case holds four drawers with beaded edges; the top two drawers are side-by-side. Each drawer has two silver-plated copper knobs; they may be replacements. As with the upper set of drawers, these feature figured birch veneer panels within mahogany veneer borders. The drawers are cut for keyholes and have brass locks. The pilasters are reeded in three sections separated by plain bands. Round molding trims the bottom of the case. Scrolled brackets applied to the corners of the case and legs are attached to short, fluted segments of the pilasters and compressed ring-and-ball turnings above reeded legs which terminate in tapered, cylindrical feet on metal disks.