Very Fine and Rare William and Mary Burl Maple-Veneered and Walnut High Chest of Drawers, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1720

retains a dark rich historic surface, bears accession number L61.293; central demilune section of front stretcher and proper right side stretcher replaced.

Kathryn M. Weil;
Christie's, New York, Fine American Furniture, Silver, Folk Art and Decorative Arts, January 25, 1986, sale 6074, lot 336;
Honorable J. William Middendorf II, Tiverton, Rhode Island;
Christie's, New York, Important American Furniture, Silver, Folk Art and Historical Prints, January 26, 1991, sale 7214, lot 352;
Alan Miller, Quakertown, Pennsylvania.

George Parker, “Early American Furniture in Wisconsin,” Wisconsin Academy Review,  43: 2 (Spring 1997), 5.

Upper backboards replaced, proper right stretcher replaced, hardware replaced. Minor veneer patches throughout.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This high chest of drawers supported by tall, turned-leg frames offered a sharp departure from the ground-oriented joined chests made by the previous generation of colonial craftsmen. According to Thomas Michie, “the inspiration for their design probably derived from Carolean chests-on-stands, which in turn had been inspired by elaborate Continental lacquer cabinets-on-stands that became popular in England after restoration of the monarchy.”¹ This example reflects the Baroque concern for verticality and the contrast between thick and thin components. For example, the six trumpet turned legs are remarkable for the dome quality of their cups, which in turn plays off the sharp narrowing of the trumpet turnings. The cabinetmaker’s decision to pierce the leg turnings at their narrowest visual point with a series of flat, horizontal stretchers further adds to the overall scheme. Like other chests of drawers, these pieces were typically used for the storage of fabrics and textiles. The flat top offered an ideal surface for the display of decorative objects such as china, glass and silver.

The present chest is representative of a type of William and Mary high chests made in Colonial Boston, with an elaborate veneered surface, a dovetailed board case, trumpet turned legs and flat serpentine stretchers. It displays striking book-matched panels of burl walnut with herringbone borders of walnut.  The delicately turned legs and stretchers are made of maple. The stretchers follow the outline of the apron, which retains its beaded borders.

A high chest of drawers with a history in the Pickering family of Salem has a related form and turned legs with small feet.² It features crotch walnut veneers and has been attributed to Theophilus Pickering of Salem. A related Boston high chest also with crotch walnut veneers and formerly in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. William Coburn of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts is at the Milwaukee Art Museum.³ Similar burl walnut veneering is found on a William and Mary high chest at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.⁴

¹ Christopher Monkhouse and Thomas Michie, American Furniture in Pendleton House (Providence, 1986), p. 77.
² See Israel Sack Inc., American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, Volume III, no. 1417, pp. 628-9.
³ See Brock Jobe, et al, American Furniture with Related Decorative Arts, 1660-1830 (New York, 1991), no. 26, pp. 78-80.
⁴ See Richard Randall, American Furniture in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Boston, 1965), no. 50, pp. 62-4.