Early Knox County, Tennessee walnut corner cupboard attributed to Tennessee's earliest cabinetmaker, Moses Crawford (Knox County, 1743-1819). One piece cupboard form with a stepped, five-part cornice transitioning into a carved astragal/scalloped molding flush to the frieze over sixteen glazed pane doors opening to three interior shelves. Lower section with two paneled doors opening to one one interior shelf over a large stepped ogee molding resting on large ogee bracket feet with "fish tail" spur returns. Inset stop fluted quarter columns with lower section of capitals having a carved drape design. Large wooden pins protrude from the backside of ogee feet. Secondary wood poplar throughout. 89 1/2" H x 60" W (cornice tip to tip) x 37" D. Late 18th century. Note: C. Tracey ParkÕs 2013 MESDA article "Moses Crawford: Tennessee's Earliest Cabinetmaker Revealed" established Moses Crawford in Tennessee before 1780. Crawford was originally from Augusta County, Virginia. Parks further notes in his article the probate inventory of Moses Crawford's estate itemized cabinetmaking tools, a workbench, a glue pot, various planes, chisels, punches, and gouges, as well as walnut plank. A 1775 deed signed by five Overhill Cherokee leaders and witnessed by Moses and Samuel Crawford provides the earliest documentation for any cabinetmaker within the political boundaries now recognized as the state of Tennessee. Histories of CrawfordÕs surviving furniture represent ownership traceable to Scots-Irish families who established themselves in Knox and Blount counties between the years 1787 and 1801 (courtesy C. Tracey Parks).

Older refinish with hinge replacements. Lower panel doors appears to be a second quarter of the 19th century restoration replacing an earlier drawer midsection configuration with smaller panel doors.