Definition: a type of case furniture, consisting of a chest-on-stand: two stacked pieces, with the top being a chest of drawers (typically two small ones at the top, then several of uniform or graduated depth below) that rests on a shorter, wider base that contains several smaller or shallower drawers; developed in England in the late 17th century, it became highly popular in the American colonies, especially the northeastern and mid-Atlantic ones, by 1730; early varieties were typical of William and Mary style, with flat tops, long ring-turned or trumpet legs with stretchers that rested on ball or bun feet; as the 18th century wore on, became typical of Queen Anne and Chippendale styles, resting on shorter cabriole legs with pad, paw or claw-and-ball feet; tops became more ornate, with scroll top pediments and finials
Also Known As: tallboy (English variation)
Example: Highboys were often paired with a matching lowboy, a shorter piece that resembled the highboy's lower half.
18th-Century Furniture Styles
More 18th-Century Antiques