This imposing cabinet, used to display and store prized possessions such as textiles and documents, signified the wealth and status of its owner. The intricately carved moldings and applied spindles, stained to look as if they are made of the more expensive and exotic wood ebony, create a play of light and dark over the highly articulated surface. Originally from Devonshire, England, the cabinetmaker Thomas Dennis settled in Massachusetts in 1663, bringing with him not only superlative joinery skills but also the most current fashions in English furniture design. As large trees were plentiful in the new Colonies, woodworkers took advantage of large boards and the beauty of the wood grain in their works.
Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust