High Chest of Drawers

between 1755 and 1765

Henry Clifton and Thomas Carteret American, 1755 - 1765

On View

American: Whitby Hall, Drawing Room, Level 2, West Wing

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About the Artwork

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Markings

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Provenance

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Exhibition History

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisonné

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Credit Line for Reproduction

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About the Artwork

The classic high chest of drawers, with broken-scroll pedimented top and curved cabriole legs, was introduced in 1730 and remained popular in New England for sixty years. The high chest of drawers became popular in Philadelphia in the 1750s. Its basic form is consistent with that of New England, but its treatment is influenced by pieces from London in the Chippendale or English rococo style. The juxtaposition of strongly architectural motifs, fluted quarter columns supporting a broken-scroll pediment, and the naturalistic foliate carving are derived from the English rococo style. With its softly modeled, richly carved design and monumental form, this High Chest of Drawers is an outstanding example of the Philadelphia Chippendale style.

Title High Chest of Drawers

Artwork Date between 1755 and 1765

Artist Henry Clifton and Thomas Carteret

Life Dates 1755 - 1765

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. American

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. Unknown

Medium Mahogany and brass

Dimensions Overall: 96 3/4 × 45 × 22 1/4 inches (245.7 × 114.3 × 56.5 cm)

Classification Furniture

Department American Art before 1950

Credit Founders Society Purchase, Robert H. Tannahill Foundation Fund and Henry Ford II Fund

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 73.3

Markings

Inscriptions Inscribed, in chalk under the top: Join [or possibly Joiner]

Provenance

Brixey family (New York, New York or Philadephia, Pennsylvania, USA)

by 1972, Charles H. Gershenson (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

1973-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

For more information on provenance and its important function in the museum, please visit:

Provenance page

Exhibition History

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Published References

The Burlington Magazine CXV, 843 (June 1973): p. 393 (ill.).

Bulleting of the DIA 52, 1 (1973): p. 19.

Bulletin of the DIA 55, 2 (1977): p. 117 (ill.).

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Henry Clifton and Thomas Carteret, High Chest of Drawers, between 1755 and 1765, mahogany and brass. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, Robert H. Tannahill Foundation Fund and Henry Ford II Fund, 73.3.