Chest with drawers
John Pease, Jr.
(American, 1654–1734)
about 1714
Object PlaceEnfield, Connecticut
Medium/TechniqueOak, southern yellow pine
DimensionsOverall: 105.4 x 114 x 52.1 cm (41 1/2 x 44 7/8 x 20 1/2 in.)
Credit LineBequest of Charles Hitchcock Tyler
Accession number32.216
On View
On viewClassificationsFurniture
Collections
Made in western Connecticut by joiners from generations of woodworking families who immigrated to that rural area, this and related chests share abstracted vine motifs that spread across the fronts. A rare feature of this chest-likely made as a dower chest and given for a marriage-is that it bears the name of its recipient, Mary Pease, of Enfield, who married Thomas Abbe in 1714. Her father was a carpenter and joiner, to whom this chest is attributed; her grandfather, John Pease, Sr., emigrated from England and was also a woodworker.
InscriptionsCarved on rail above the top drawer: "MARY PEASE"ProvenanceBy tradition, and as the carved name implies, made for Mary Pease (1688-1724) of Enfield, Connecticut, at or near the time of her marriage to Thomas Abbe in 1714. Later history unknown; lent by Charles Hitchcock Tyler, October 3, 1928; included in his 1932 bequest to the Museum (Accession Date September 1, 1932)1750–1850
1660–1700
