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”
To A Table
Earlier this month, a table that was part of the exhibition “Worldly Goods, the Arts of Early Pennsylvania, 1680-1758” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (October 1999 to January 2000), resurfaced at Brunk Auctions in Ashville, North Carolina. It was published in the catalogue of the “Worldly Goods” exhibition on page 144, figure 49. The … Continue reading To A Table
