Peter Follansbee Details 17th-Century Side-Hung Drawer Construction in New Essex County Cupboard Book
In "17th-century Essex County Cupboard," Peter Follansbee outlines his technique for constructing side-hung drawers. The drawer components are radially split and pre-planed for moisture control, utilizing clear material for the sides. Once the case is assembled, Follansbee adjusts the drawer fronts to fit the openings. Three of the drawers include applied moldings and turnings added after assembly, while the carved front of the second drawer is pre-assembled. Half-blind dovetails connect the sides and fronts of three drawers, with rabbeted and nailed backs; the deepest drawer features through-dovetails. This deep drawer is 7-1/4 inches and has two tails on each side, while the others have one. The drawer bottoms, made of riven oak and under 1/2 inch thick, are installed from the outer boards inward and secured to the sides, back, and front rabbet.
Key facts
- Peter Follansbee authored "17th-century Essex County Cupboard," from which the excerpt is drawn
- Drawer stock is radially riven and planed ahead of time so it is dry, with clear sides
- Three drawers use half-blind dovetails joining sides to fronts; the deepest drawer uses through-dovetails front and back
- The deep drawer measures 7-1/4 inches and has two tails per side; the shallower drawers have one
- Drawer backs are rabbeted and nailed except on the deepest drawer
- Grooves are plowed in drawer sides before dovetail layout and must align with notches in the stiles for the runners
- Drawer bottoms are riven oak just under 1/2 inch thick, with boards 6 to 9 inches wide and five or six per drawer
- Bottom boards butt together with the same V-shaped joint used in the cupboard's floorboards and soffit
Entities
Artists
- Peter Follansbee
- Gavin Ashworth
Institutions
- Lost Art Press
Locations
- Essex County