Colonial Homes and Their Furnishings

and as a result ancient hiding places have been forced to give up their treasures, and

omes the best that could be afforded, he has seen fit to revert to early types for inspiration; and with the revival i

, which then grew so plentifully, and are rude and simple in construction, in striking contrast to the rich, hand-carved, mahogany chests, which many of the colonists brought from the motherland, packed with their clothing, and which, later on, were shipped here in large numbers. Old inventories frequently mention both these types of chests, those manufactured here generally being

ly spun at her old clock wheel, drawing the skeins from the chest at her side, while the little ones, seated on rude benches before the open fire, carefully filled the quills for the next day's supply. Mayhap the el

s said to have performed in the early days of its history, such as walking up and down stairs, and dancing a merry jig when a deacon sat upon its lid. It stands to-d

esk, owned by Dr. Ernest H. Noyes, Newburyport, Mass.

carved specimens were brought from foreign countries. Many of these show exquisite coloring, any number of examples being

lass with Petticoat le

eristic was a lid on top which lifted off, allowing for the packing of large articles, while the drawers at the front were used for storing smaller things. Sometimes chests are found constructed on frames, but not often. This type was probably fashioned to hold linen, being the forerunner of the high chest of drawers

rs, 1710; Six-legged High C

ss of build. Many specimens of both types are found throughout New England, one very fine example of the early type showing the drop handle, which is a characteristic of the early chest, being included in the Nathaniel B.

able with Brass feet; Bu

as "lowboys" in distinction from the chests mounted upon high legs, which were known as "highboys." Examples of both were found in the old General Abbot house at Sa

lish manufacture, being found in the Warner house at Portsmouth, whi

rm of a double chest, showing drawers extending almost to the floor, and mounted on varied-style feet, frequently of the claw-and-ball type. These, as well as lowboys, continued to be regularly used until well into the last

Nathan C. Osgood, Esq. One of the best specimen

f furniture. It varied in size and design according to the period of its manufacture, the earliest type being little more than a box that locked, with flat or

feet, and showing secret drawers and many cupboards, is found in the Ropes house in Salem, being an inheritance from the original owner, General Israel Putnam. Another of equal interest is in the home of Mrs. Guerdon Howe at H

n; Highboy with shell ornamentation and ball and

ugh occasionally one is found constructed of walnut. After the first quarter of the eighteenth century, American manufacturers improved their output, and made some very handsome specimens of the type known a

such as mahogany, cherry, apple, and black walnut, sometimes solid, and sometimes veneered. The following thirty years saw the advent of many new styles, two of

In 1790 Hepplewhite followed with his designs, many of which were severe in contour, being wholly straight in front and arranged with two glass doors above, sometimes fancifully framed. Then Sheraton's desks and secretari

1760; Mahogany Commode, colle

m the very plain to the very elaborate, but after 1800, when some few French Empire desks found their way here, serving as model

in the Noyes house at Newburyport. This belongs to a period antedating the Revolutionary War, and shows the

st half of the eighteenth century, and in form are a combination of the serving table and its accompanying pieces. At first they were little more than unwieldy, unattractive chests of drawers, gradually developing to their best form, with carved front, slender legs, and other details. In their construction, mahogany was c

his designs pieces with curved and serpentine fronts, a style which was later perfected by Hepplewhite. There is no doubt that Hepplewhite made sideboards, for in his book of designs he shows a sideboard model, with a deep drawer at each end and a shallow one in the center, as well as four different designs in the table form, without the drawers, which are simil

s they are superior. They were equipped with any number of devices, such as cellarets, closets for wine bottles, slides for the

form of Sheraton Sideboard, with line i

entworth, being in the possession of a Salem family. Another, of Sheraton make, is preserved in the Stark home, having been brought here from the Governor Pierce house at Hillsboro. Another

arving and the grain of the wood were still depended upon for ornament, rather than the French features. The best examples of this type are to-day found in the South; 1820-1830 saw the advent of a plainer model, being in reality an ada

are, oval, or round in contour, evolved the butterfly table popular about 1700, many examples of which are found throughout Connecticut. These followed in form the outline of a butterfly,

and placed at one side of the room after meals. This showed different forms, and was known by different names, one called the chair tab

as the "Kidney" based table, being used either for writing or as a lady's worktable. Another model of Sheraton's was a worktable known as the Pouc

ived the support of the English people for many years, and Sheraton tables of this make had four claws to each pillar, and castors of brass. So mu

c table, showing extensions fitted thr

e Dutch style of make, and the table with scalloped moldings carved from solid pieces of wood, with legs terminating in claw-and

es, small and of ornamental design, with inlaid tops and brackets to supply