Empire Chest of Drawers Circa 1835-1845

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Empire period chest of drawers, circa 1835-1845, showcasing many characteristic features of American Empire furniture from this period.
The flame … Read more Empire period chest of drawers, circa 1835-1845, showcasing many characteristic features of American Empire furniture from this period.
The flame mahogany veneer, arranged in a book-matched pattern that creates dramatic "flame" or feather-like figures across each drawer front. This type of dramatic veneer work was highly prized during the Empire period and demonstrates sophisticated craftsmanship.

The case piece has four graduated drawers, with the top drawer being the shallowest and the bottom drawer the deepest - a classic arrangement for the period. Each drawer features a pair of brass drawer pulls in a round rosette design, which appears original to the piece and is typical of the 1830s-1840s.

The chest has fluted quarter columns (pilasters) on each side, a substantial marble top, and distinctive Empire-style bracket feet with a scroll design. The choice of mahogany and the quality of the veneering suggest this was a high-end piece, likely made in a major East Coast furniture-making center such as Boston, New York, or Philadelphia. The presence of keyholes in the middle drawers is typical of better-quality pieces from this era. See less