The two sideboards shown in this room are extremely similar, but not identical. They share gently undulating serpentine fronts, locking cabinets and drawers, and contrasting inlaid quatre foils on the doors and drawers, and typically Rhode Island bell flower inlays on their slender legs. The six-legged form is typical of the Hepplewhite style popular after 1789.
Both are supposed to have belonged to John Brown and to have been made for this house, where they would very likely have been used in this room. Paintings from this time period depict sideboards laden with expensive Chinese export porcelain like the sets John Brown ordered from Canton. They were used for serving food, and for storing items in their locking cabinets and drawers. The sideboard closest to the windows has diamond-shaped ivory inlay around the key holes of the center door locks. This decorative element also served to protect the wood.
