Label Type
Object LabelLabel
Commode, 1800-1810
possibly York County or Northeastern Massachusetts
mahogany, mahogany veneer, pine
John S. Locke Collection, gift of the estate of Almira Locke McArthur
Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
According to George Hepplewhite, commodes were both elegant and practical. "Adapted for a drawing room," they also provided storage space that would "answer the use of a closet or cupboard." Because there is no room in the half round case for the side drawers to slide into, they are hinged at the back and swing out to the side. These small triangular-shaped drawers
actually provide very little useable storage space, which means that his commode did not do a very good job of fulfilling its purpose as a "closet or cupboard" since it has relatively little storage space given its overall size. The unusual side drawer construction, and the fact that all of the drawers are curved as well as veneered with expensive crotch mahogany, made this piece of furniture more complicated to construct and thus more costly than the average "case of drawers." According to notes from the donor, this commode originally belonged to Samuel and Eunice Nye. Samuel Nye's 1826 probate inventory listed a mahogany bureau in his bedchamber with a value of $8. Of the furniture listed in the inventory only a clock valued at $25 and a looking glass worth $12 had higher values.