Lady’s Dressing Chest with Mirror

Dressing chests were important in the ceremony of dressing. The surfaces of this exceptional one feature the choicest cuts of imported hardwoods. The crescent-shaped pattern around the mirror is called “lunette-patterned stringing” and was a favorite Seymour ornament. English émigré Thomas Wightman likely had a hand in the chest’s carvings. Another specialist, perhaps Robert Hurd, would have made the bag that hung here originally and was used to store laundry or needlework. This bag furthers distinguishes this chest.