Chest of four drawers

1810-1820

Maker

Attributed to Thomas Janvier (1772–1852)

Measurements

39-3/4 in x 42 in x 23 in

Materials

Mahogany; tulip poplar (drawer sides and backs and laminated fronts, side rails of case), white pine (drawer bottoms, drawer blades, backboard)

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation

Accession Number

1975.35

Inscription

“This bureau made by Thomas / Janvier of New Castle Del / in his 18th year. Never to be sold / kept always in the Janvier / family / Mary E. Janvier.” is written in ink on an early twentieth-century paper tag tacked to the uppermost backboard. An illegible chalk inscription remains on the inside bottom of the top drawer.

Condition Notes

The bottoms of the legs have been shortened to accommodate later casters. Plugged holes along the back edge of the top indicate removal of later standards or uprights installed to support a mirror.

Provenance

According to a 1975 written statement of the last owner, Margaret Janvier Hort, the chest was owned by Henry Archer Janvier (1861–1952), at which time a modern mirror was attached to back of the top. After his death, the mirror was removed, and Miss Hort assumed ownership of the chest. The Hort invoice attributes the chest to Thomas Janvier

Comments

Attribution of this chest of four graduated drawers to furniture-maker Thomas Janvier derives from a statement written by his granddaughter.  The chest remained in the Janvier family until its purchase in 1975.  Except for the assigned date of 1790, the statement is believable.  The bowed front, reeded legs, recessed side panels, paneled backboards, and monochromatic coloring (lacking contrasting stringing, inlays, and veneers) indicate dating in the 1810s.  Drawer bottoms use white pine instead of white cedar.

Of particular interest, little incised lines or “through cuts” mark the tops and bottoms of the reeds in the stile panels (see accomanying image).  These same marks occur on a dining table with Corbit associations (acc. no. 1982.295) and create the possibility that it too was made by Thomas Janvier.

Bibliography

Zimmerman, A Storied Past, 102-103.