Chippendale chest of drawers, primary wood is cherry, three thumb-molded and aligned drawers over two aligned drawers and four graduated drawers, each with brass bat pulls and keyhole escutcheons, flanked by rounded quarter columns over a molded edge base. Ogee bracket feet.
Lancaster, PA c. 1770
Provenance:
Owned by Mathias Gish, Penryn, PA
-Abraham Gish
-Jacob Gish of Bainbridge (built a mill on Conoy Creek)
-John S. Gish of Bainbridge
-Henry B. Gish " "
-H. John Gish " "
Provenance
Owned by immigrant Mathias Gish of Penryn, PA, then to son Abraham Gish (1745 - 1789) who relocated to Bainbridge, W. Donegal Twp. Then to eldest son Jacob Gish (1767 - 1845) who built a mill, to son John S. Gish ( ? - 1889), to son Henry B. Gish (1834 - 1896/7), to son H. John Gish ( ? - 1942). Donor is granddaughter of H. John Gish.
Two of the top three aligned drawers have patches to corners. One of the two sligned drawers has patches to left thumbmolding. The top graduated drawer has center and left corner thumbmolding patched and restored. The second graduated drawer has restorations to thumbmolding and bottom graduated drawer has center and center left thumbmolding restored. Replaced feet. Brasses appear to be original (appraisal)
Object ID
2011.012
Notes
Mill was built by Jacob Gish (1767-1845) on the Conoy Creek near Bainbridge in West Donegal Township. He operated the mill from 1790 until his death in 1845. Jacob also served in the state legislature from 1805-1809 and again in 1824.
Each generation operated the mill on down to H. John Gish, until the early 1940s. The Gish mill was in continuous operation for over 150 years.
Credit
Gift of Barbara Goudarzi in memory of Nancy Hershey Gish.
Bowfront mahogany veneer chest of drawers in the Hepplewhite style. Four drawers have progressing depths from the top to the bottom, each with overpressed drawer pulls two per drawer. At the top center of each drawer is a brass escutcheon keyhole. The top of the chest and each drawer are decorated with satin wood inlay. Chest is supported at its base by four french feet which feature a slightly outswept bracket foot combined with a valence skirt.
Provenance
Dr. Alexander Speer (James Buchanan maternal cousin)
