Introduction
Winchester, Virgina History2
Winchester Virginia was on the main thruway for those traveling up and down the Shenandoah Valley (fig. i). Winchester was also a stepping off place for people heading west during most of the 18th Century. Germans, English, Irish, Scots and many others settled in the area Winchester forming a diverse population. This diversity along with extensive trade between Winchester and other areas, Philadelphia being the largest, influenced architectural and furniture styles as well as construction techniques used in Winchester.
Winchester's population was very affluent and therefore demanded the finest in furnishing. As a result of this demand a large number of cabinetmaker worked in the area. Some cabinetmakers stayed for longer periods of time than others. As a result of this long term residency and the diverse backgrounds of the cabinetmakers a unique Winchester style of furniture and construction techniques evolved.
The chest in this interview is typical of that style and is one of four chests, which have similar characteristics. One chest is in the Dewitt Wallace Museum in Williamsburg (fig.ii), two are owned locally. Of the two owned locally one of them could have been made by the same cabinetmaker the other seems much cruder and therefore is most probably made by another cabinetmaker. The forth chest is from the tidewater area of North Carolina this piece and most of the furniture in the area was not signed. Because the pieces were not signed identifying a piece as being Winchester is largely done by examining the construction techniques used and the secondary woods chosen (table i).