Double Chest

This double chest is the only known example of the artistry of free Black cabinetmaker Thomas Gross. Gross learned the carpenter’s trade from his father and advanced his technical skills to become a cabinetmaker. He established his cabinetmaking business in Philadelphia, crafting and showcasing his wares in one of the furniture-making centers of the country. Gross supplemented his cabinetmaking business with his work as an undertaker, likely crafting coffins for Black Philadelphians. Gross signed this double chest “Thomas Gross /Maker” on the bottom of the lowermost drawer. By placing the inscription where it was never to be seen, Gross covertly claimed ownership and recognition of his work at a time when the works of many Black artisans went unrecognized and unrecorded.