Dressing table

Object/Artifact

-

Saco Museum

Name/Title

Dressing table

Entry/Object ID

1950.1.66

Description

Two-drawer mahogany dressing table. The top overhangs slightly at the front and sides and the front edge has a wide band of "double stripe and bar" patterned inlay. The drawer fronts have rectangular bird's-eye maple veneer panels surrounded by inlaid stringing and cock beaded edges. The brass keyhole escutcheons appear to be original; the current knobs are modern reproductions. The shallow arched skirt has inlaid stringing in a diagonal stripe pattern along the lower edge. The double tapered legs have light colored stringing, inlaid bell flowers, and diagonal stripe patterned inlay on the cuffs.

Made/Created

Date made

1809 - 1816

Dimensions

Height

33-1/4 in

Width

36 in

Depth

19 in

Dimension Notes

Legs 19.00 H

Material

mahogany, pine, mahogany and bird's-eye maple veneers

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Object Label

Label

Dressing or Chamber Table, 1809-1816 Saco, attributed to the shop of Joshua Cumston and David Buckminster mahogany, mahogany and birds-eye maple veneers, pine John S. Locke Collection, gift of the estate of Almira Locke McArthur

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

By the early 20th century, this type of case furniture was often called a “serving table,” as people moved them downstairs to their dining rooms. However, it is much more likely that this form is what cabinetmakers often referred to in their price books as “chamber tables,” which served as dressing tables. Found in bedchambers, dressing tables were used primarily by women. The large drawers in this table would have provided ample storage for combs, brushes, pincushions, perfumes and cosmetics, jewelry, and small articles of clothing like caps and gloves. It would have had either a dressing glass perched on top or a looking glass hanging above. This table descended in the family of Jonathan and Hannah Scamman Tucker of Saco, who married in 1803.