Miniature Chest of Drawers

Artist/Maker
Alexander, Amos __Possibly by
Place Made
Mecklenburg County North Carolina United States of America
Date Made
1780-1790
Medium
walnut and yellow pine
Dimensions
HOA: 14 1/2″; WOA: 11″ (at foot and top); DOA: 8 5/16″
Accession Number
5594.2
Description
DESCRIPTION: Miniature chest of drawers: Four graduated drawers decorated with heavy inlay creating a rectangle with lunetted corners; molded base and top; ogee bracket feet with exposed dovetails on the sides; fluted quarter columns on front corners.

GROUP: This group was formerly called the Heavy Band Inlay Group. Construction, ornament, and inlay technique indicate that this chest was made by the same maker as MESDA’s larger pedimented chest of drawers (Acc. 5594.1)

MAKER: This miniature chest of drawers was possibly made in Mecklenburg County. It is part of the same group as MESDA Acc. 5594.1, a chest of drawers with what appers to be the name “John McCay” scrawled on the back of a drawer. Living nearby a John McCay listed in the Mecklenburg County 1810 census was cabinetmaker Amos Alexander (son of well known Mecklenburg County resident Hezekiah Alexander), a potential maker of this piece. Characteristic of this maker’s work are the inlaid stringing with lunetted corners outlining the drawer fronts, and the ogee bracket feet with exposed dovetails on the side. Research is ongoing concerning the maker of this piece and others related to it. It is also possible that a member of the Stikeleather family of Cabarrus County (part of Mecklenburg County until 1792) was responsible for this group rather than Amos Alexander. The SS inlaid on the front might refer to Susanna Stikeleather. Stay tuned.

Credit Line
Gift of Charlotte & Philip Hanes In honor of Tom Gray and his multiple contributions to MESDA & Old Salem.