Clothespress

Date1800-1815

OriginAmerica, North Carolina, Durham County (probably)

MediumBlack walnut and yellow pine

DimensionsOH: 54 11/16"; OW: 42 1/8"; OD: 20 3/8"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1985-184

DescriptionAppearance: flat top with molded edges; molding beneath top on front and sides (now missing); straight sides; two full length doors with one recessed panel, each enclosed with straight stiles and rails with inner molded edges mitered at corners; left edge of right door molded giving appearance of one central, vertical beaded strip when doors are closed; cove and quarter round base molding; straight bracket feet.

Construction: all elements black walnut except as noted; two-board outer top nailed to yellow pine interior top; interior top dovetailed to case sides (dovetails hidden) and rabbeted on front edge to receive doors; one small block glued to each side of protruding rabbeted edge of interior top, flush with case sides; molding glued to small blocks, case tops, and sides (now missing); three vertical yellow pine back boards nailed to case sides and yellow pine case bottom; two bottom boards rest in dodoes in case sides, front board protrudes around edges of case sides and is flush with doors; top and bottom rails of door tenoned through stiles; rails and stiles dadoed to receive floating panels; doors originally secured to case sides with two butt hinges each; small rotating, shaped block screwed to inside of left door and fits into groove in case bottom; three evenly placed yellow pine double-board shelves dadoed to case sides; case sides extend to serve as feet with central cut out section separating front and rear feet; two outer back boards cut out to serve as rear feet; outer bracket feet and base molding cut from single board, mitered at corners, and glued and nailed to case sides and bottom; one vertical block glued in between bottom front edge of each case side and inside of front outer feet and molding board.Label TextThis clothespress has a well established history at Fairntosh Plantation in Durham County, North Carolina. In form and size it is similar to examples produced in southeastern Virginia during the last third of the eighteenth century (such CWF accession 1984-222). However, the object's coarse construction and simple detailing strongly suggest somewhat later production by a carpenter in rural Durham County.Inscription(s)"Kiss my ass" written in white chalk on inside of right door.ProvenanceDescended in Cameron family of Fairntosh Plantation in Durham County, North Carolina. The clothespress remained in the family and at Fairntosh from the turn of the nineteenth century until 1973 when the last Cameron descendent left. The family descended from Duncan Cameron, originally of Lunenburg County, Virginia, and later a judge, and from Rebecca Bennehan, who married Duncan in 1799. She was the daughter of Richard Bennehan of North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, who moved to Stagville Plantation in Orange County, North Carolina, late in the eighteenth century. Duncan and Rebecca built Fairntosh next door to Stagville, and completed their home in 1804. Family records indicate that furniture for Fairntosh was made locally and also in Norfolk.