Key Cupboard
Unknown Artist
ca. 1800
Medium
Pine
Dimensions
15 x 8 1/4 x 5 1/2 in. (38.1 x 21 x 14 cm)
Classification
Key cupboard
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Robert W. de Forest, 1933
Accession Number
34.100.52
Art Historical Context
Nestled in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Wing, this charming *Key Cupboard* (ca. 1800) exemplifies everyday American craftsmanship from the early Federal period. Crafted pine—a lightweight, readily available softwood—this diminutive piece measures just 15 x 8¼ x 5½ inches, suggesting it was designed for wall mounting in a household setting. Its modest scale and practical purpose highlight the ingenuity of anonymous artisans who created functional furniture for the growing middle-class homes of post-Revolutionary America. Dating to around 1800, the cupboard reflects the transition from Colo...