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. This piece was refinished in 1980. The brass pulls are modern replacements.
Research Notes
Notes
Some research was done on this during an inventory done by the Maine Fine and Decorative Arts Catalogue in 1985.
