Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/321

 FIXTURES FOR COTTAGE DWELLINGS. '2^1 615. Dressers in the Grecian Sit/le. Fi>. 557, on a scale of three eighths of an inch to a foot, represents a dresser in a plain Grecian style, the characteristic features being the square columns which support the drawers, and the board or table which covers them : under the drawers is seen the potboard, or place for setting pots, saucepans, &c., when not in use. There are tliree shelves, and two large drawers. Rails are fixed a few inches under eacli shelf, on which to rest the edges of the plates and dishes, in order that they may lean forward, so as to protect their faces from the dust, which, when they are in this position, can only fall on their backs. There are hooks fixed in the edges of the bhelves, on which jugs and any small articles having handles may be hung. Fig. 558 is 557 553 tr a cross section of this Design, on a somewhat larger scale, on which are shown the ends of the shelves, e; of the plate rails,y; of the hooks, g ; and of the potboard, /;. Fig. 559, p. 295, is another dresser in the Grecian style, but difl'ering from the other, in having beads fixed along the upper surface of the shelves, near the edge, to support the plates and dishes in a reclining position against the back. In this position they are liable to receive the dust on the face ; but it is nevertheless preferred by some housewives, as showing better whether or not the plates are clean. Instead of an open potboard, there are two side-closets, and, in the middle, shelves. There are three drawers above: the centre one for tablecloths, towels, &c. ; and the two side ones, one for knives, forks, and spoons, and the other for dusters, brushes, &c. In one of the cupboards below may be kept what wines or spirits are in daily use, glasses, &-c. ; and, in the other, bread, biscuits, groceries, or any other articles of food. The tea-tray and teacups may be put on the upper middle shelf, and the smaller saucepans, &c., on the bottom one. Fig. 560 is an end view of this dresser, on a somewhat larger scale, in which the ends of the beads, i, the hooks, k, and supporting brackets, /, are more distinctly delineated. The top of this dresser, being somewhat heavy, should be fixed to the wall by two holdfasts driven in above so as to be concealed by the cornice, or by screw nails to wooden bricks. Fig. 56' 1, also to a scale of three eighths of an inch to a foot, is a very convenient dresser, used in the better description of cottage dwellings in Cambridgeshire. The middle drawer, which is shown drawn out, has a lift-out box or tray, which is divided in the centre for the knives and forks, and spoons, in daily use ; and underneath, in the bottom of the drawer, is a space in which are kept those not generally in use. There are two other drawers, one on each side, for clean tablecloths and towels, and for dusters, &c. The cupboard in front is made, in order to look uniform, with three panels like doors, but the centre one is fixed, and behind it, in the middle, is a division forming the whole into only two cupboards, in one of which may be kept glasses, teacups, &c. ; and in the other, the liquors, fruits, sweetmeats, &c., in daily use. Fig. 562 shows a section of this