Butternut Wood Chest of Drawers c. 1938

Lon Cronk made this Butternut Wood Chest of Drawers, and while we don't know the exact date, we can be sure it was made with the touch of a skilled artisan. The choice of butternut wood speaks to the availability of local materials. Cronk carefully selected and skillfully worked this wood, celebrating its inherent warmth and grain. The drawers showcase Cronk's attention to detail. The lines are clean, but softened by their rounded corners and delicate inlay. This would have required careful labor, shaping each piece and jointing them with precision. Notice the pulls, likely brass, completing the chest's elegant design. This chest isn't merely functional; it's an expression of craftsmanship. It embodies an era where the value of handmade objects was deeply appreciated, a contrast to our current world of mass production. Hopefully you will think of the artist's labor and the value of craft when looking at it.