Such was the normal development of the six-legged high-boy. Had cabinetmakers discarded their old moulding-planes as the styles changed, one could date such a piece of furniture from the mouldings alone, but the tools were expensive and the cabinet-makers in country places continued to use their old tools long after they had become old-fashioned; consequently we find every possible variation of the pure style above described. For instance, turned legs in cup style appeared with double-arch moulding and the simple early form of the upper moulding will occasionally appear on late pieces; consequently one must date these pieces by the latest feature they contain. The handles on the earlier pieces were of the drop style, and on the later pieces - those having the double-arch mouldings about the drawers - the handles were composed of the engraved plate with wire bales holding the handles. This rule is also subject to exception, depending upon whether the piece was country or city made. Occasionally these high-boys are found with a chest at the top concealed by blind drawers.

These pieces were made of pine or whitewood, or with drawer fronts veneered in straight-grain or burl walnut, with a herring-bone border or with a vener of maple, either straight-grain or bird's-eye, with a herring-bone border, and rarely they were decorated with marquetry and japanning. The later pieces were sometimes painted in Bora] detjgnt.

Figure 51. Oak-Panelled High Chest of Drawers, 1675-1700.

Figure 51 shows a high cheat of drawers of oak in the Bolles Collection, owned In the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is of English make and the mouldings do not follow the usual order of the American ones above described. The upper section, it will be seen, suggests the chest of drawers (Figure 49). The moulding at the top consists of a small quarter-round, a large quarter-round, a cyma reversa, and another quarter-round. The top drawer is divided into two rectangular panels with blocks inserted at top and bottom; the second drawer is divided into four panels with blocks at the four corners of each; the third drawer is divided into two panels with blocks inserted at the centre of each side, and the fourth drawer is divided into eight rectangular panels with a block inserted at the centre of each group of four panels. On the frame and about the drawers is planted a single-arch moulding. The ends are panelled. The mouldings fastened to the base of the upper part consist of a quarter-round, a cyma recta, and a fillet, while those attached to the frame are a quarter-round and a thumb moulding. In the frame are two plain panelled drawers, and the skirt is cut in front in three segments of a circle and at the ends in two round arches. The piece stands on six cup-turned legs and the stretchers follow the curves of the skirt.

Figure 52. High Chest of Drawers, 1680-1700.

Figure 52 shows the earliest form of the six-legged high-boy that we have found in this country. The upper section is constructed in much the same way as the early chests of drawers. The stiles and rails are mortised and tenoned and the ends are panelled. The five drawers are on side runners, and on the frame about the drawers are heavy single-arch mouldings. The moulding at the top is a quarter-round, a fillet, a cyma recta, and an astragal. The frame is quite low, standing on four elaborately turned cup legs in front and two slender turned legs at the hack. There are two drawers, the fronts panelled in the manner of the earlier pieces. These drawers have one runner on the side and one at the bottom. The stretchers on the front and sides are slightly curved. The back stretcher, however, is very unusual and is placed on edge and cut in a scries of inverted arches. This best of drawers when found showed traces of black and red paint on the drawer fronts and mouldings and has now been restored. It is in the Bolles Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Figure 53. Marquetry High Chest of Drawers, 1680-1700.

As the high chest of drawers developed it gradually lost its points of resemblance to the chest. The mouldings, while retaining the general form, were made narrower, the drawers did not run on side runners, and the ends were not panelled. The transition piece above described is the only one of its kind which is known to the writer, and practically the oldest form of high chests of drawers is shown in Figure 53, an exceedingly interesting specimen from the Erving Collection of a chest of drawers decorated with fine Dutch marquetry, which was found at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The framework of this piece is oak, except the legs and stretchers, which are maple; and this, coupled with the fact that the marquetry is of a very high order, makes sure its Holland origin, Holland during the last half of the seventeenth century having been specially noted for fine marquetry of this kind. The beautifully executed designs of birds and flowers in colours extend not only around the sides but on the top. About the drawers are single-arch mouldings which, as has been said, are like those found on panelled chests, except that they are somewhat narrower. The cornice, consisting of a quarter-round, a fillet, and a yma recta, the single drawer in the table or frame part, the simple arch between the legs and the drop braetea, arc all characteristic of the earliest high chests of drawere. The stretchers are new and incorrect; they should follow the curve with which the skirt is finished. The brasses on this piece, though not the original, were taken from a very early high chest of drawers. The dimensions of this piece are as follows: Total height 59 inches, upper part 31 inches, lower part 28 inches, width of upper part 38 inches, width of lower part 40 inches, depth 23 inches.