Chest-on-chest 1770 - 1775

This chest-on-chest was made by Thomas Affleck, a Scottish-born cabinetmaker working in Philadelphia. The piece is typical of the late 18th century, when furniture-making was becoming increasingly specialized and commercialized. The elaborate carving and imported mahogany speak to the wealth and status of the patron who commissioned it, someone who could afford such a luxury item. But this chest-on-chest also tells a story about the labor that produced it. Affleck ran a large workshop with many employees, including indentured servants and enslaved Africans, whose skills were essential to his success. By examining census records, tax lists, and other historical documents, we can begin to understand the complex social and economic forces that shaped the production of this beautiful, yet troubling, object. Art history reminds us to investigate not just the aesthetic qualities of an artwork, but also its relationship to the broader world in which it was created.