This American vernacular chest over drawer was inspired by a small-scale piece that Skinner sold for $22,000 back in 2011. I worked from one photo and the auction description of that piece to build this one. 

My goal with this piece was to see how quickly I could make a practical and attractive piece of period furniture. I have only 12 hours in this chest, which includes the design time. A similar chest which I painted green only took 6 hours. That one was much faster because I had made story sticks with the first one.

Entirely hand-made and period correct, no power tools of any kind used. The case joinery is rabbet-and-nail like the original, with a single dovetailed drawer. Moldings were cut with my c. 1770 Gabriel molding planes. The bracket feet were cut with a coping saw and then cleaned up with a rasp.

White pine was used throughout. Authentic shop-made linseed oil and carbon black pigment were used to make the paint. Snipes bill hinges attach the top to the case. Floral pulls are from Horton Brasses.

23″ tall, 24″ wide, 12″ deep. 

Launch Gallery