Connecticut chests, pt. 2

carving layout, geometry 101

A quick follow-up on the so-called “sunflower” chests. Not about the who and where/when, but about geometry. I got to make a few copies of two chests that relate to the sunflower chests, except this time no applied turnings and very few applied moldings. Carving all-over the framing instead. Here’s one of them, from the Connecticut Historical Society. A chest with two drawers, top has been chopped down a bit, but what’s there is all original. Same format at the chests with the applied turnings and flower carvings - large horizontal panel on the sides, over two vertical panels.

CT Historical Society

The vine that scrolls across all the framing members is what I’m looking at - this carving is laid out on the test-assembled frame. That’s the easiest way to make the vine connect at each junction of rail/stile/muntin.

CHS detail