Antique Federal Bird's Eye Maple Chest of Drawers / Dresser on Cannonball Feet

With our highest compliments Bay Colony Antiques takes the utmost pleasure in presenting for sale this magnificent and bold early American gentleman's chest of drawers. This chest was constructed in upper New England, likely Vermont or New Hampshire, sometime at the turn of 19th century circa 1800 - 1820. The patron who had commissioned this chest would have had some means in this era to afford to have a cabinetmaker construct such a commanding piece of furniture with only the finest native hardwoods as well as the boldest bird's eye maple solid wood stock and veneers available anywhere at the time. This old growth maple is significant to the treasury of early American design as the larger cities where the finest craftsman trained were dominated by exotic hardwoods such as mahogany with which the finest federal furniture was made. It is only in rare pockets of rural America at this time where bold and brilliant federal furniture constructed from centuries old maple trees have existed, and throughout two centuries have become among the rarest and most sought furniture of the federal era. This particular chest is among the finest ever produced from the upper New England region through the federal era. The cabinetmaker displays superiority in proportion and execution of design as the large form of the case is well presented through fine lines and a graduated case construction. The two upper drawers rest above the three increasing larger lower drawers which appear to flow evenly from one confluent design. The width and depth of the cabinet are exactly as proportional as they should be and the overhung top and turned feet and all masterfully crafted to size and scale. We take the time to note this as most chests made in rural communities are generally blocky and disproportional as most rural cabinetmakers lacked the refinement that master level furniture makers possessed. Each drawer has a fine cockbead molding which accents the edges and an original brass escutcheon. The chest features a frame and panel constructed side which allows the body of the chest to float throughout the centuries which gives the wood the ability to adapt to changes in humidity throughout seasons where woods expand and contract. The hand of a masterful wood turner was utilized to construct the fabulous twin pilaster columns as well as the exceptional cannonball formed feet. The cannonball feet are prized among fine federal furniture collectors and regular collectors alike for both the uniqueness of the design and the functionality of the heavy foot as the chest will be slid around from time to time without worry of damaging the legs. The chest measures 43 1/3" wide x 25" deep x 46 1/2" tall.