Cupboard
Unknown Artist
1670–1700
Medium
Red oak, white pine, white cedar, red cedar, black walnut, soft maple
Dimensions
56 x 49 3/4 x 23 in. (142.2 x 126.4 x 58.4 cm)
Classification
Cupboard
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. J. Insley Blair, 1950
Accession Number
50.20.3
Art Historical Context
This stately cupboard, crafted between 1670 and 1700 by an unknown American artisan, exemplifies the robust furniture-making traditions of early colonial households. Standing at an impressive 56 x 49¾ x 23 inches, it was constructed from a harmonious blend of native woods—red oak for strength, white pine and cedar for lighter panels, black walnut for rich contrast, and soft maple for details. Such multi-wood construction highlights the practical ingenuity of 17th-century woodworkers, who sourced local timbers to balance durability, workability, and aesthetics in pressed construction techniques...