Several of the pencil inscriptions on the chest of drawers made by William Beakes III are faint and have wear associated with drawer bottoms running over drawer dividers. A question about a latin phrase in the last post prompted me to post images of that phrase and one other made with infrared photography. Wood is … Continue reading William Beakes/Inscriptions
Woodworking
William Beakes, Joyner
My article about a chest of drawers made by the joiner William Beakes in 1720 has just been published in the 21st Anniversary/Spring 2021 issue of the magazine Antiques & Fine Art. The chest is owned by the Dietrich American Foundation. In 2013 during the survey of the Foundation's furniture collection, I performed a detailed examination of the … Continue reading William Beakes, Joyner
Sweetgum/Liquidambar Styraciflua
Questions about the use of the wood species sweetgum in eighteenth century Delaware River Valley furniture from the last post reminded me of a high chest that sold at Sotheby’s a decade ago this month. High chest, Delaware River Valley, probably made in Philadelphia 1740-1750. Mahogany, mahogany veneer, sweetgum, Atlantic white cedar, hard pine, brass. … Continue reading Sweetgum/Liquidambar Styraciflua
John Folwell Chest-on-Chest
A chest-on-chest that will sell on January 21, 2021 at Sotheby's has been attributed to the Philadelphia cabinetmaker John Folwell (w. 1762-1780) based on the large conjoined initials “JF” inscribed on the top board of the lower case. Top board of the lower section of the chest-on-chest. Photo Sotheby's. The chest may very well be … Continue reading John Folwell Chest-on-Chest
“To a Square walnut Table”
Table. Made in the Delaware River Valley, probably Philadelphia, c. 1735. Brunk Auction Jay’s comment in the previous post described a unique debit entry in James Steele’s account with the joiner John Head on 12/13/1735, “To a Square walnut Table - £1-0-0.” Jay suggested that if Head made the Brunk Auction table it may be this … Continue reading “To a Square walnut Table”
In Proportion to the Trouble 