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Because my wife and I recently moved, everything in our old place had to be packed, including the contents of most drawers, etc. While I was at it, I took a closer look at a Victorian-era serpentine chest we inherited years ago. Although I’m not a fan of this furniture style, I’ve always found this to be a beautiful chest of drawers. It was obviously made by highly skilled hands and I assume it was, even in it’s day, a “high-end piece.”
As I checked it out, I took some photos that I thought others might find interesting. This chest has many similarities to the chest we recently featured on the February 2012 cover of Popular Woodworking Magazine, another beautiful piece built by contributing editor Glen Huey.
The one thing I didn’t find was a maker’s mark, I’m sorry to say. There are some chalk markings you’ll see in the photos. If anyone has thoughts on what these might mean, please share. Some I figure are dimensions, or the order of pieces to be assembled. You can take a closer look by clicking on the image to enlarge it. You can even check out the lint, cobwebs and more than a century of dust.
The serpentine chest features a marble top, is highly carved and has a spectacular grain-painted faux rosewood finish that's original to the piece.
The upper drawer is divided and features a birds-eye maple drawer bottom.
Here are some drawers on edge and one stacked on top. What about those chalk markings?
Look at those delicate dovetails. The color change is from the drawer sides rubbing on the drawer runners.
Check out the carving and grain-painted faux rosewood finish.
A view of the full case interior looking through the case bottom. More chalk markings on the bottom of the serpentine base.
Again, from the bottom, the case side with drawer runners and drawer blades. A bit more chalk on the case side. I'm certain the casters are not original. Oh, yeah, lots of cob webs and spider egg sacs.
Hope you enjoyed the tour! And let me know your thoughts on those markings.
