High Chest of Drawers

Description

With its vertical lift and elegant form, this highboy is a fine example of Massachusetts Queen Anne style. The cabriole legs, carved shells, and elegant proportions are characteristic of the Queen Anne period, though the claw-and-ball feet are more associated with the Chippendale style. Eighteenth-century American cabinetmakers frequently altered English or Continental designs to be distinctive; with its scrolling pediment and carved finials at the crown, this chest varied from earlier English prototypes with flat tops. The use of these elements on the highboy form is considered unique to the United States. This style of highboy was particularly popular in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Philadelphia.