Lot Essay
The kast was one of the most important furniture forms in Dutch homes in seventeenth century New York. The kas maintained its status within the Dutch community and was also adopted as an important, popular and functional form within English New York households.
Originally settled by the English, Queens county, Long Island, where Oyster Bay and Hempstead are located, was an intermingling f English and Dutch cultures with the presence of Dutch settlers from the neighboring Kings County in the early 18th century. This blending of cultures created a new style which is seen directly in the variation of construction and stylistic characteristics of the kas.
Similar in construction to other kasten from Queens county, but unlike the traditional Dutch examples, this kas has separate platform feet, tongue-and-groove backboards and was originally constructed in one piece. Stylistically, this kas exhibits such fundamentally Dutch inspired characteristics as the use of applied moldings and geometric panels.
According to tradition, this kas was made for Henderick Onderdonk (1724-1809) Hempstead, Long Island. In 1773 Henderick, the proprietor of a stor, grist mill, and bakehouse, opened the first paper mill on Long Island.
In addition to the kas illustrated here two closely related examples, one in Raynham hall in Oyster Bay, the other in a private collection in Long Island are illustrated and discussed in Kenny, et al American Kasten: The Dutch-Style Cupboards of New York and New Jersey 1650-1800 (New York, 1991) p. 62-63. As well as in Dean Failey's Long Island Is My Nation (New York, 1976) p. 109-115. A third kas is privately owned in Long Island. Further discussion on kasten from Queens Ccounty see Kenny, p. 21-23.
Originally settled by the English, Queens county, Long Island, where Oyster Bay and Hempstead are located, was an intermingling f English and Dutch cultures with the presence of Dutch settlers from the neighboring Kings County in the early 18th century. This blending of cultures created a new style which is seen directly in the variation of construction and stylistic characteristics of the kas.
Similar in construction to other kasten from Queens county, but unlike the traditional Dutch examples, this kas has separate platform feet, tongue-and-groove backboards and was originally constructed in one piece. Stylistically, this kas exhibits such fundamentally Dutch inspired characteristics as the use of applied moldings and geometric panels.
According to tradition, this kas was made for Henderick Onderdonk (1724-1809) Hempstead, Long Island. In 1773 Henderick, the proprietor of a stor, grist mill, and bakehouse, opened the first paper mill on Long Island.
In addition to the kas illustrated here two closely related examples, one in Raynham hall in Oyster Bay, the other in a private collection in Long Island are illustrated and discussed in Kenny, et al American Kasten: The Dutch-Style Cupboards of New York and New Jersey 1650-1800 (New York, 1991) p. 62-63. As well as in Dean Failey's Long Island Is My Nation (New York, 1976) p. 109-115. A third kas is privately owned in Long Island. Further discussion on kasten from Queens Ccounty see Kenny, p. 21-23.