Federal Secretary

Name/Title

Federal Secretary

Description

Federal period secretary with turned legs and a scalloped apron. Is in two parts--an upper case with wooden veneered shutters and a lower part with three drawers extending virtually the entire width of the case. The case is made of solid mahogany. The drawer fronts are veneered in bird's eye birch on a white pine secondary wood as is the rest of each drawer. All three drawers are cock beaded. The top two drawers retain their original locks. The brass handles and key hold escutcheons appear to be original. In the upper case the shutters reveal drawers above cubbyholes. Keyholes of upper case shutters set off by ivory insets. Stylistically this piece represents a hybrid blend of Hepplewhite and Sheraton motifs.

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

American, unknown

Role

Cabinetmaker

Date made

1790 - 1815

Time Period

late 18th-early 19th centuries

Place

State/Province

Massachusetts

Country

United States

Continent

North America

Notes

Possibly or even probably made in Essex County, Massachusetts

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

None

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Upper Case

Height

49.7 cm

Width

103.5 cm

Depth

31.2 cm

Dimension Notes

The two end shutters have matching figured mahogany veneers.

Dimension Description

Lower Case

Height

84.7 cm

Width

103.1 cm

Depth

51 cm

Material

Wood (mahogany), White Pine, Brass

Condition

Overall Condition

Very Good

Notes

Moulding missing on left side of the lower case.