Linen press

Object/Artifact

-

Historic Hudson Valley

Name/Title

Linen press

Entry/Object ID

VC.2006.1

Description

Chippendale linen press with butler's desk component in two sections: the upper section with applied cornice molding on front and two sides over a double door cabinet with figured crotch mahogany flat panel doors; the doors joined to case with brass hinges on outer edges and inset brass escutcheons with an interior iron lock on viewer's right hand door; brass latches on the top and bottom interior edges of left door; interior of upper case with two removable pine and tulip poplar drawers with scalloped sides and pierced side handles; a single removable pine shelf below drawers; upper section rests on a lower section with applied waist molding on front and two sides over a straight-sided mahogany case with three large drawers, all with brass hardware, a central inset escutcheon and cockbeaded edges; the upper drawer, a fall-front drawer facade, opens to a butler's desk; the brass-hinged drawer front extends to a writing surface covered with green wool baize (replacement); the interior with a central compartment with door with key hole on left side and key containing a horizontal drawer; the compartment flanked by two vertical drawers with brass drop pulls; the two vertical drawers flanked by sections comprising a long narrow drawer with two brass drop pulls, two open compartments with scrolled valences and three drawers at center with hinged brass pulls; the lower case with applied base molding on front and two sides over four straight bracket feet with scrolled inner edge and return; secondary woods of eastern white pine and tulip poplar; illegible inscription in white chalk on bottom of top board of bottom section; remnants of original baize in bottom drawer; two keys in bottom of three drawers on viewer's left side.

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Unknown

Attribution

Maker

Date made

1780 - 1800

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

85-1/4 in

Width

52-1/4 in

Depth

23-7/8 in

Dimension Notes

Display Dimensions: 85 1/4 x 52 1/4 x 23 7/8 in. (216.5 x 132.7 x 60.6 cm)

Material

Mahogany, eastern white pine, Tulip poplar, Wool, brass, Iron

Condition

Notes

Remarks: All locations from the viewer's perspective: Per Nathan Liverant and Son, LLC., the butler's desk arched hinge has been replaced. The green baize is a replacement as well. Top section molding abraded, right side near back corner; inside edge of butler's desk fall front door abraded, right side; inside edge of bottom section's second drawer gouged; original baize soiled and folded inside plastic bag in bottom section's bottom drawer; large crack bottom section left side running from top to bottom moldings; overall old dents and abrasions; repairs near top section key hole and top section left side 3/4" from top molding and 1/2" from back corner; old crack bottom section right side 21 1/4" from bottom molding and 2" from front corner; cracks in figured doors; pine drawers show wear and tear. Two small wood fragments with adhesive in butler's desk right drawer.

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Miss Catherine Van Cortlandt Mathews

Notes

Former owner

Person or Organization

Mrs. William V. Mason Jr.

Notes

Former owner

Person or Organization

Ethel Ely Pattison

Notes

Former owner

Person or Organization

Leander Duer

Notes

Former owner

Related Entries

Notes

MP.88.224 - Linen press - Similar item VC.58.120 - Linen press - Similar item

General Notes

Note Type

Curatorial Remarks

Note

On February 23, 1956, John M. Graham 2nd of Van Cortlandt Manor Restoration wrote to Mrs. Ethel Ely Pattison, the then current owner of the linen press to encourage her to return the press to the manor by way of gift, loan, or purchase. The letter indicates that the press was purchased from the Parke-Bernet auction by Mr. Leander Duer who subsequently gave it to Mrs. Pattison. The original letter is housed in the object file. The catalog for the 1942 Parke-Bernet Galleries sale states: "The linen press was originally owned by Lieut. Gov. Pierre van Cortlandt."

Note Type

StorageNote

Note

Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Van Cortlandt Manor, Northeast Chamber/Catherine's

Note Type

Department

Note

Curatorial