This Federal lift-top chest with lower drawer reminds of southern American sugar chests. With proportions being comparable, this low-height chest is more formal with mahogany, on the small side and without a divided top compartment. With yellow pine secondary wood, the frame is raised on french feet. Sourced from Middleburg, Virginia. The line of inlay across the front of the lift-top is old but not original (old hinge marks showing that the top was reversed back to front at some point). The other inlay was replaced by us to fill routing where inlay (probably also added later) was missing. The front pulls were added to replace cheap Chippendale style brasses which weren’t appropriate. We’ve used it as a cellarette. Wine bottles fit perfectly in the drawer (as you can see from one of our pictures). Other practical uses may have been as a silver chest or a campaign chest. The top compartment with lift top is likewise well proportioned to take accessories, wine bottles on their side and other, smaller bottles standing upright. Good, restored condition. Height, 27 7/8 inches. Width, 23 3/16 inches. Depth, 17 1/16 inches.

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