"Chest-on-stand" chest of drawers. England, ca. 1720.

"Chest-on-stand" chest of drawers. England, circa 1720.
Walnut, with brass hardware.
It shows signs of use and wear consistent with its age.
Measurements: 151.5 x 116 x 53 cm.

Early 18th-century English piece of furniture, designed in the style known as a “chest-on-stand,” a direct predecessor of the tallboy. The upper section features two short drawers and three full-length drawers, while the base incorporates three more drawers and rests on an open stand with turned legs, joined by wavy crossbars.

The architectural simplicity of the front is enhanced by the natural grain of the walnut veneers, arranged to highlight their grain patterns and tonal hallmarks. The stepped cornice, the scalloped aprons, and the bulbous turning of the legs reflect English transitional furniture from the period between the reign of William III and the early Georgian style. The hanging handles and brass keyholes complete the decorative and functional character of a piece originally intended for a well-to-do domestic setting.