Images(5)

Case and Bottles

Date1760-1780

OriginEngland

MediumMahogany, deal, and lead

DimensionsOH: 28 5/8"; OW: 11 7/8"; OD: 11 7/8"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1936-106

DescriptionAppearance: Case & bottles. Flat, square lid with molded edge and chamfered corners, hinged at rear; hole for small catch at front; lid opens to reveal compartmented interior lined with lead; deep, square body with chamfered corners terminating in lambs tongue at base; pair of large brass bail handles, one on each side; molded base above four straight legs, square in section; C-scroll brackets form transition between legs and base.

Construction:
The case legs form the corner posts of the case. The outside and inside corners of the corner posts have been heavily chamfered. The exterior chamfered areas of the corner posts terminate in a lambs tongue at the base of the case. Below that the legs are square. The case sides are tongue and groove joined to the corner posts.

The single board case bottom is relieved at the corners for the legs and nailed to the underside edges of the case sides. A mitered single bead mahogany molding (a possible replacement) is nailed to the exposed edges and extends around the legs. C-scroll brackets (one probably original and seven replaced) are glued between the legs and bottom.

The sides of the lid are probably tongue and groove joined to corner blocks that are shaped to match the chamfered case corner posts. A mahogany veneer strip with a bead edge is glued to the underside edges of the lid’s sides. The top of the lid has integral beading on the edge and is glued to the upper edge of the sides.
Inside the case, the bottle dividers are set in mortices in the sides. The dividers, as well as the bottom and sides below the top edges of the dividers, are lined with lead.

The top and sides of the lid, the sides of the case, the legs/corner posts, and the “C” scroll brackets are mahogany. Case bottom is deal. The under edge of the lid sides and top facing edge of the case sides are mahogany veneered as are the inside surfaces of the sides above the applied lead. Relieved exterior areas on the corner posts are cross-grained mahogany veneered to match the case sides.Mark(s)None found