Object Record
Images
Additional Images [1]
Metadata
Title |
Chest of Drawers |
Place of Origin |
New Jersey, Delaware River Valley, probably Burlington County |
Artist or Maker |
Beakes, William III |
Date |
1721 |
Materials |
Black Walnut, Atlantic White Cedar, Hard Pine, Brass, Iron |
Dimension Details |
Height: 36 1/2" Width: 40 1/4" (top and bottom mouldings) Depth: 23" Drawer Opening Heights: 9", 8", 7", 4 1/2" |
Description |
This chest of drawers was constructed with an overhanging top, a cove moulded cornice and base, and two short drawers over three long drawers. It was designed with frame and panel sides with flat panels and bolection mouldings, and the frame stiles continue to the floor to support the chest. The bottoms of the front stiles were shaped round to fit holes bored in turned ball feet. The lower half of the four original ball feet are missing. The inscription"Sarah Thorn her Draws/made by Wm Beakes this 14 of 12 mo 1720" is written on the bottom of the top left drawer in graphite, which was later reinforced with ink. "Ex: Dono (by gift of) Thomas Foulke" and "Townsend/1857" are written in graphite without reinforcement on the same drawer bottom. The following graphite inscriptions appear on the bottom of the top right drawer: "Isaac Thorne Jun 1826," "Summer of 1869," "… of Isaac Thorne Jun 1869," and, in large, partially worn script, "Foulke." A series of vertical chalk marks run nearly the entire width of the interior side of this drawer. There are graphite shop markings on all the drawer sides and backs. Sarah (Foulke) Thorne (1702-1774) was born in Crosswicks, New Jersey and died in Chesterfield, New Jersey, both in Burlington County. She was the daughter of Thomas Foulke (1665-1739), who was born in Derbyshire, England and died in Chesterfield, New Jersey. The joiner William Beakes III (1691-1761) was born in Makefield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and died in Upper Freehold, New Jersey. He apprenticed in Philadelphia with the joiner William Till until Till’s death in 1711. Two extant, nearly identical, chests of drawers are also signed by Beakes. |
Provenance |
Thomas Foulke (1665, North Wingfield, Holmgate, Derbyshire, England – 1739 Chesterfield, Burlington County, New Jersey) To Sarah Foulke Thorne (1702, Crosswicks, Burlington County, New Jersey –1774, Chesterfield, New Jersey) Possibly to John Thorne (1729, Crosswicks, Burlington County, New Jersey--1807); or possibly to Rachel Glover (1764–1842), daughter of Sarah’s sister-in-law Mary Thorne and Mary’s husband, John Glover. Other members of the Thorne family who may have owned the chest: Isaac Thorne (1759, Bordentown Twp, Burlington County, New Jersey--1837) Isaac Thorne, Jr. (1786 – 1844) H & R Sandor Antiques, Lambertville, New Jersey, 1965 Sold to H. Richard Dietrich, Jr. (1938-2007), Chester Springs, Pennsylvania (Elinor Gordon, Villanova, Pennsylvania, agent), 1965 Bequest to The Dietrich American Foundation, 2007 |
Object Name |
Chest of Drawers |
Object ID |
8.2.3.HRD.1811 |
Search Terms |
furniture |