Gouverneur Morris, author of the preamble and signer of the United States Constitution, fourth U.S. minister to France, U.S. Senator for New York and called “The Rake Who Wrote The Constitution” in the title of his most recent biography, was the original owner of this cabinet.
It is a unique, very specialized, and exceptionally well crafted piece of American furniture made in New York ca 1800. The primary wood is mahogany and the secondary wood is white pine. All of the brass hardware is original. There are a total of 27 graduated drawers.
It remained in the family until given to The National Portrait Gallery in 1973 where it was labeled “The Gouverneur Morris Chest” and put in storage until being sold at auction in 2020.
Entirely original with the exceptions of casters added in the mid-19th century and one replaced lock.