June Lucas
The Early Furniture of North Carolina’s Cane Creek Settlement

American Furniture 2016

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    First Actual Survey of the State of North Carolina, Jonathan Price and John Strother (surveyors), W. H. Harrison (engraver), C. P. Harrison (printer), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1807. Ink on paper; 28 3/8" x 59 7/8". (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Washington, DC, G3900 1808 .P7 Vault.)

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    John and Rachel Allen House, Alamance County, North Carolina, 1782. (Courtesy, North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.)

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Table, Alamance County, North Carolina, 1770–1780. Walnut with yellow pine. H. 27 7/8", W. 36 1/2", D. 30". (Private collection; photo, Wes Stewart.)

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    Armchair, Alamance or Chatham County, North Carolina, 1770–1780. Maple, hickory with split oak. H. 43 3/4", W. 24", D. 19". (Courtesy, Greensboro Historical Museum; photo, Gary Albert)

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Armchair, Alamance or Chatham County, North Carolina, 1770–1780. Hickory with split oak. H. 43 3/4", W. 22", D.18 1/4". (Courtesy, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Ats; photo, Dan Routh.)

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Tall case clock, Alamance County, North Carolina, 1790. Walnut, sulfur inlay, and light-wood inlay with tulip poplar and yellow pine. H. 98", W. 17", D. 12". (Private collection; photo, Wes Stewart.)

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    Detail of the scrolled pediment and fluted plinth block on the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 6. 

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Detail of the applied half columns on the door and hood of the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 6. 

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Detail of the wood and sulfur inlay on the door of the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 6. 

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Tall case clock, Alamance County, North Carolina, 1799. Walnut, sulfur inlay, and light-wood with tulip poplar. H. 93 1/8", W. 18 1/2", D. 18 1/2". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Detail of the sulfur inlay on the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 10. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Detail showing the hood decoration on the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 10. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Detail of the left front foot of the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 10. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Detail of the left back foot of the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 10. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Tall case clock, Alamance County, North Carolina, 1790-1805. Walnut and  light-wood inlay with yellow pine. H. 99", W. 19", D. 12". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth).

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Detail of the scalloped base panel on the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 15. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    Detail showing the hood decoration on the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 15. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    Detail of a freestanding column on the hood of the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 15. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

    Detail of the brass clock face on the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 15. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 20
    Figure 20

    High chest, London Grove Township area, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 1746. Walnut and holly with white oak, white cedar, white pine, and sumac. H. 52 3/8", W. 40 3/4", D. 22 1/4". (Courtesy, The Dietrich American Foundation.) 

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    High chest, Alamance County, North Carolina, 1796. Walnut and sulfur inlay with tulip poplar. H. 56", W. 41 1/2", D. 20 3/8". (Courtesy, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts; photo, Wes Stewart.)

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

    Detail of the sulfur inlay on the high chest illustrated in fig. 21. 

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    Detail of the sulfur inlay on the high chest illustrated in fig. 21. 

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    Detail of the cornice molding on the high chest illustrated in fig. 21. 

  • Figure 25
    Figure 25

    Detail of the front left ogee foot and integral protruding base molding of the high chest illustrated in fig. 21. 

  • Figure 26
    Figure 26

    Detail of the underside of the high chest illustrated in fig. 21. The bottom board is dovetailed to the case sides, and the back edges of the feet are slightly chamfered.

  • Figure 27
    Figure 27

    Detail of a pinned drawer bottom from the high chest illustrated in fig. 21.

  • Figure 28
    Figure 28

    High chest, Alamance County, North Carolina, 1790–1805. Walnut and sulfur inlay with tulip poplar. H. 58 1/2", W. 42 1/2", D. 20 1/2". (Private collection; photo, Wes Stewart.)

  • Figure 29
    Figure 29

    Detail of the sulfur inlay on the high chest illustrated in fig. 28.

  • Figure 30
    Figure 30

    Detail of the left front foot of the high chest illustrated in fig. 28. The bottom of the foot retains its beaded edge, a feature that is sometimes either worn or cut off.

  • Figure 31
    Figure 31

    High chest, Alamance County, North Carolina, 1802. Walnut, sulfur inlay, and light-wood inlay with tulip poplar. H. 58 3/4", W. 43", D. 20". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth).

  • Figure 32
    Figure 32

    Detail of the sulfur inlay on the high chest illustrated in fig. 31. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 33
    Figure 33

    High chest, Alamance County, North Carolina, 1790–1805. Walnut with tulip poplar. H. 55", W. 37 1/2", D. 20 5/8". (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.) One atypical construction technique used here is side boards that are splined together and pinned once on each side of the spline.

  • Figure 34
    Figure 34

    Detail of the cornice molding on the high chest illustrated in fig. 33. 

  • Figure 35
    Figure 35

    High chest, Alamance County, North Carolina, 1790–1805. Walnut with tulip poplar. H. 56 3/4", W. 42 1/4", D. 21 1/22". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) This high chest has a small hidden drawer above the upper left small drawer.

  • Figure 36
    Figure 36

    Detail of the cornice molding on the high chest illustrated in fig. 35. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 37
    Figure 37

    Chest of drawers, Alamance County, North Carolina, 1790–1805. Walnut with yellow pine. H. 18 1/8", W. 15 7/8", D. 11 1/4". (Private collection; photo, Wes Stewart).

  • Figure 38
    Figure 38

    Chest, Alamance County, North Carolina, 1790–1805. Walnut, sulfur inlay, and light-wood inlay with tulip poplar. H. 25 7/8", W. 47 7/8", D. 20 5/8". (Private collection; photo, Gary Albert.)

  • Figure 39
    Figure 39

    Detail of the sulfur and wood inlay on the chest illustrated in fig. 38. 

  • Figure 40
    Figure 40

    Detail showing the pinned battens on the lid of the chest illustrated in fig. 38. 

  • Figure 41
    Figure 41

    Chest, Alamance County, North ­Carolina, 1790–1805. Walnut and sulfur inlay with tulip poplar. H. 27", W. 50", D. 21". (Courtesy, North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; photo, Gavin Ashworth).

  • Figure 42
    Figure 42

    Detail of the sulfur inlay on the chest illustrated in fig. 41. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 43
    Figure 43

    Detail of the pinned molding on the lid of the chest illustrated in fig. 41. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 44
    Figure 44

    Detail of the bead on the back of the lid on the chest illustrated in fig. 41. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 45
    Figure 45

    Chest, Alamance County, North Carolina, 1790–1805. Walnut and sulfur inlay with tulip poplar. H. 28", W. 50", D 21 1/2". (Private collection; photo, Wes Stewart).

  • Figure 46
    Figure 46

    Detail of the sulfur inlay on the chest illustrated in fig. 45. 

  • Figure 47
    Figure 47

    Chest, Alamance County, North Carolina, 1800. Walnut and sulfur inlay with tulip poplar. H. 25 1/2", W. 48 1/2", D. 20". (Private collection; photo, Wes Stewart.)

  • Figure 48
    Figure 48

    Detail of the sulfur inlay on the chest illustrated in fig. 47. 

  • Figure 49
    Figure 49

    High chest, Alamance or Chatham County, North Carolina, 1800–1815. Walnut with tulip poplar. H. 59 1/2", W. 40", D. 21 3/4". (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.) The sides extend to form foot supports, but the sides are dovetailed to the bottom in between the extensions; this same construction technique was used on the high chests illustrated in figs. 21, 28, 31, 33, and 35.

  • Figure 50
    Figure 50

    Detail of the cornice molding with a drilled dot and dentil band on the high chest illustrated in fig. 49.

  • Figure 51
    Figure 51

    Detail of the left front foot of the high chest illustrated in fig. 49. 

  • Figure 52
    Figure 52

    High chest, Alamance or Chatham County, North Carolina, 1800–1815. Walnut and light-wood inlay with tulip poplar. H. 70 1/2", W. 43 1/2", D. 22 1/2". (Private collection; photo, Wes Stewart.) Drawer bottoms on this example are nailed rather than pinned.

  • Figure 53
    Figure 53

    Detail of the cornice molding and upper left drawer of the high chest illustrated in fig. 52. All drawers have light-wood stringing.

  • Figure 54
    Figure 54

    Detail of the left front foot of the high chest illustrated in fig. 52. Instead of a beaded bottom edge, this example has a bottom edge decorated with string inlay.

  • Figure 55
    Figure 55

    Dish dresser, Alamance or Chatham County, North Carolina, 1800–1815. Walnut and light-wood inlay with tulip poplar and cherry. H. 85 1/4", W. 61 1/4", D. 19 1/2". (Courtesy, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.) The doors have raised panels which, along with the drawer fronts, are decorated with string inlay like that found on the high chests illustrated in figs. 31 and 52.

  • Figure 56
    Figure 56

    Detail of the frieze on the dish dresser illustrated in fig. 55. )

  • Figure 57
    Figure 57

    Detail of the cornice molding and frieze on the dish dresser illustrated in fig. 55. 

  • Figure 58
    Figure 58

    Detail of the right front foot of the dish dresser illustrated in fig. 55. 

  • Figure 59
    Figure 59

    Chest by Jeremiah Piggott and Joseph Cloud, Chatham County, North Carolina, 1800. Walnut with tulip poplar. H. 28 3/4", W. 51 1/2", D 22 1/2". (Private collection; photo, Wes Stewart.)

  • Figure 60
    Figure 60

    Detail of the right front foot of the chest illustrated in fig. 59. 

  • Figure 61
    Figure 61

    Detail showing the through tenons securing the side molding on the chest lid of the chest illustrated in fig. 59. 

  • Figure 62
    Figure 62

    Details showing the removable board above the two drawers of the chest illustrated in fig. 59. 

  • Figure 63
    Figure 63

    High chest by John Piggott, Chatham County, North Carolina, 1810–1835. Walnut with tulip poplar. H. 59 3/8", W. 40 3/16", D. 22 5/16". (Courtesy, Greensboro Historical Museum; photo, Gary Albert.) The drawer bottoms, cornice molding, and backboards are attached with small wooden pins. The sides extend to support the case, but the bottom boards are nailed to the sides instead of being dovetailed.

  • Figure 64
    Figure 64

    Detail of the cornice molding on the high chest illustrated in fig. 63. 

  • Figure 65
    Figure 65

    Detail of the left front foot of the high chest illustrated in fig. 63. 

  • Figure 66
    Figure 66

    High chest, Chatham County, North Carolina, 1810–1835. Walnut with tulip poplar. H. 59 5/8", W. 39 3/4", D. 19 1/2". (Private collection; photo, Wes Stewart.)

  • Figure 67
    Figure 67

    High chest, Chatham County, North Carolina, 1810–1835. Walnut with yellow pine. H. 60", W. 42", D. 22". (Private collection; photo, Wes Stewart.)

  • Figure 68
    Figure 68

    Detail of the left front foot of the high chest illustrated in fig. 67. 

  • Figure 69
    Figure 69

    Tall case clock, Chatham County, North Carolina, 1800–1820. Walnut with yellow pine. H. 96 1/2", W. 20 1/2", D. 12 1/2". (Private collection; photo, Wes Stewart.)

  • Figure 70
    Figure 70

    Detail of the pediment of the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 69. 

  • Figure 71
    Figure 71

    Detail of the left front foot of the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 69. 

  • Figure 72
    Figure 72

    Tall case clock, Chatham County, North Carolina, 1800–1820. Walnut with tulip poplar. H. 96", W. 19 1/2 D. 12". (Courtesy, North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 73
    Figure 73

    Chest, probably Randolph County, North Carolina, 1794. Walnut and sulfur with tulip poplar and yellow pine. H. 24", W. 45 1/4", D. 18 1/2". (Private collection; photo, Wes Stewart.) 

  • Figure 74
    Figure 74

    Detail of the sulfur inlay on the chest illustrated in fig. 73. 

  • Figure 75
    Figure 75

    Detail of the left front foot of the chest illustrated in fig. 73.

  • Figure 76
    Figure 76

    Detail of a foot support block on the chest illustrated in fig. 73. 

  • Figure 77
    Figure 77

    Detail showing a support block extending through the bottom of the chest illustrated in fig. 73. 

  • Figure 78
    Figure 78

    Detail showing the lid construction of the chest illustrated in fig. 73. 

  • Figure 79
    Figure 79

    Chest, probably Randolph County, North Carolina, 1802. Walnut and sulfur inlay with tulip poplar. H. 23 1/2", W. 41 3/4", D. 18 7/8". (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.)

  • Figure 80
    Figure 80

    Detail of the sulfur inlay on the chest illustrated in fig. 79. 

  • Figure 81
    Figure 81

    Detail of the left front foot of the chest illustrated in fig. 79. This foot is attached to a coved glue block that extends through the chest bottom, a construction detail identical to that on the chest illustrated in fig. 73.

  • Figure 82
    Figure 82

    Chest, attributed to Moses Pyle, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 1746. Walnut and mixed wood inlay with yellow pine. H. 11 3/4", W. 21", D. 13". (Courtesy, Philadelphia Museum of Art.)

  • Figure 83
    Figure 83

    Chest, attributed to Moses Pyle, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 1747. Walnut; sumac, maple, and holly inlay with white oak, white cedar, and tulip poplar. H. 14 1/2", W. 21 1/8", D. 131/2". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum.)