Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers

An interesting and somewhat unusual secretary desk constructed in two parts with an upper case that lifts free of the lower base for safe transport. It is designed with a series of e...

An exceptional specimen, this well preserved work was likely crafted as a salesman's sample to assist in selling larger forms of the same chest. It was crafted with utmost care and attention to detail, allowing potential customers to see exactly what level of craftsmanship they could expect in a full size chest of drawers. The top is a beautiful show of straight grains framed in a double-bead of stringer inlay in the New York manner (see Montgomery, p. 31), this affixed to the case with screws through cross braces both fore and aft of the case, these presumably sliding into the sides with small dovetails. The interior is simple and clean, each drawer blade backed by white pine core and a pair of flanking runners resting in grooves on either side. Each drawer of this American Federal miniature chest of drawers is perfectly cut with neat and clean dovetailing, the bottom boards very lightly chamfered along the edges and set in the sides above the thin runner, the backs tacked with two to three iron brads. The little brass knobs on each drawer are period but are not original, the light impressions of early brass knobs still evident on the facade, though the replacement was very respectful of the case and utilized the original holes. Each drawer is edged in a bright stringer inlay. The back is a single plank of white pine that has split from shrinkage over the years, the edges nailed with large square forged iron nails in even rows, each untouched. The whole of the form rests over refined and boldly splayed French feet flanking the hollowed-serpentine skirt. This skirt is very distinctive, most often identified with works of the Allison brothers in New York, though it is impossible to suggest an attribution off of this detail. Several interesting examples of identical skirt and foot design are noted below, all with New York (two with possible New Jersey) origin. The feet are untouched and fully original. For serious and discerning collectors of American Federal antiques and arts, this is a very fine quite rare investment grade selection. Notes: American furniture: The Federal Period, 1788-1825, Charles F. Montgomery; p. 440-43 (wardrobe c. 1800-1815, New York, Michael Allison...

Late federal chest of drawers in the Sheraton Taste Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, about 1810-1815 Mahogany (secondary woods: tulip poplar), with gilt brass drawer pulls 41 1/8 in. h...

An American federal period solid walnut high chest, the moulded edge top above five short and four long drawers all raised on bracket feet. The...

An incredibly powerful piece of craftsmanship, the timbers chosen for this angular chest are simply exceptional. The rare and highly desirable flamed birch has been cut into matchbooked veneers on the drawer fronts to create a remarkably dramatic facade. Ebony and light wood stringer inlays separate these veneers from the crossbanded mahogany border finished in applied cockbead molding. The edge of the rectangular top matches the banding around the base, a simple vertical inlay framed between two light wood stringers. The sides and top of the case are cut from single planks of beautifully figured mahogany and the chest rests over splayed feet with an unusually dramatic lift, the toes terminating with a steep taper and slight outward kick, the soft curvature of the inner edge broken in a gentle spur flanking the bow of the apron on the front and sides. The form is closely related to works in Massachusetts, particularly Salem and Boston. It’s brasses are original and are stamped peace over a morning dove...

American Federal Walnut Tall Chest Of Drawers With Fluted Columns Pennsylvania, circa 1810-1820 A distinct transition into the Federal Period, this fine Pennsylvania Tall Chest...

While the Hepplewhite form employing splayed french feet in case pieces is well developed, even common, this fine chest of drawers exudes a certain strength that is uncommon in Federal period works of the Hepplewhite style. The solid walnut and solid poplar construction gives it inordinate weight, but the intense lift of the feet, raising the apron sharply in the corners, eliminates the heaviness of the look. The projecting top is crafted of two boards, the last 3/4" along the front actually a continuation of the front of the chest up through the top, a somewhat unusual and perhaps unique construction method. Surrounding this is a dropped and applied molding over four graduated drawers, these with molded lips of the solid, each framed with hand dovetailed poplar boards with a deeply chamfered poplar bottom sliding into rabbets in the frame and tacked at the back with square nails. The dovetailing method is somewhat original, using very large dovetails at the front, smaller dovetails at the back, the lowest back dovetail squared on it's lower edge to receive the drawer bottom in the rabbet cut. Flanking these drawers are chamfered columns on either side. Both sides of the case are single solid planks of walnut, incredibly large boards with wonderful grain appearance. Five vertical poplar boards line the back of the case, these entirely undisturbed and nailed in neat rows, the boards on the far left and right sides continuing all the way to the ground. As a result of this construction method, the feet are in simply outstanding stable condition, despite the incredible weight being supported. The feet are entirely original, the interior blocking of each a complex and almost puzzle-like formation. The most interesting and visually striking aspect of this chest is the apron: an inlaid patera flanked by round inlaid pinwheels beneath a thin stringer-inlaid border that wraps around all three sides of the case. The apron is active and has great motion to it, the sides of the case with a deep scalloping that matures as it reaches the front of the chest where two sharper swells flank the half-moon patera inlay. We have not had the woods micro-analyzed, but the darker wood appears to be a cherry, while the lighter wood is a bit more elusive - perhaps being maple. The inlay on the chest is almost unquestionably of rural origin, probably completed in the same shop as the chest, with a certain roughness found in inlays that were not produced by specialists. The edges of the inlaid designs are filled with a black pitch, helping to finish the less than perfect fit. It is a fine work of high precision and showing a command of the materials that is admirable; we haven't found a highly similar example, but the distinct elements are quite quickly identified in furniture from Lancaster County and some examples from Chester County. Particularly the pinwheel, which is found with identical feet to the chest on several documented tall case clocks of the period (Wood & Kramer, f. 2-46, 2-44, 2-36, 2-31) in Lancaster County; an interesting Classical Walnut Inlaid Clothes Press with identical feet and the similar half-patera inlaid apron is preserved in the collection of the Chester County Historical Society (Schiffer, f. 113). This is a fine piece that exceeds expectations in every regard. Entirely untouched, the finish and removal of drawer dividers being the only change over the course of two hundred years, still retaining it's original hardware and locks while remaining in outstanding condition, this is a Pennsylvania chest of drawers...

FINE AMERICAN FEDERAL MAHOGANY BOWFRONT CHEST OF DRAWERS Mid-Atlantic States, probably Maryland, c. 1790-1810 Item # 120101KVP05 A harmonious and exceptionally well proportioned...