Images(6)

Bureau Table

Date1760-1780

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts, Boston (probably)

MediumCedrela odorata (by microscopic ID), mahogany, and white pine

DimensionsOH: 31”; OW: 33 1/2"; OD: 23 1/4

Credit LineBequest of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Hennage

Object number2020-169

DescriptionAppearance: Bombe kneehole bureau table. Rectangular top with bead on edge of front and sides is flush with the case front and sides. One full width drawer with fitted interior over one central shallow valence drawer within the kneehole area with a double serpentine apron flanked by two tiers of three graduated drawers whose veneered facades follow the bombe shape of the front of the chest (chest only swollen on front not sides). Top and small drawers cockbeaded, possibly in mahogany; valance drawer scribed on side and top edges to create bead. Top drawer divided into three sections, with central section wider than side sections, and double bead on top of main dividers; interior faces of center section dividers have rabbet, suggesting that a writing surface or looking glass (now missing) may originally have rested in this location; proper left side section divided into eight unequal sections, four with mahogany lids with single brass pulls, three without covers, and one with seven short, tightly spaced, vertical partitions; proper right side of drawer divided into three sections, center section with large mahogany lid and single brass pull, rear section subdivided into two, and front section with six long, tightly spaced, vertical partitions. Five of the small drawers have locks, all of which are original. All drawers have brass pulls (replaced) and cockbeaded edges. The recessed prospect section below the central drawer is fronted by a door with an applied double ogival inner borders and mitered corners. It has a brass escutcheon and is held by brass H hinges. Below the shaped base molding are ogee bracket feet.

Construction: Top blind dovetailed to sides; bottom board dovetailed to sides; vertical backboards nailed in rabbets in top and sides and to rear edge of bottom board; drawer blades and full depth dust board for top drawer and half depth dust boards for small drawers in dados and possibly sliding dovetails (at front) in case sides and kneehole sides; front edge of sides covered in a thin mahogany facing with beaded edge; sides of kneehole section likely dovetailed to bottom board at front half and in dado or sliding dovetail in underside of full depth top drawer dust board; small drawer dust boards thinner than drawer blade and supported in dado of same depth as that for drawer blade with full length block; drawer supports glued in dado in case sides behind dust boards; vertical glue blocks in rear corners of case as drawer stops; thin, half depth valance drawer support board in dado in kneehole section sides, vertical glue blocks at rear of case; pospect door surround (top and sides) joined to case with large, triangular glue blocks; inner section of prospect has red wash; prospect door, bookmatched, butt joined boards, with applied mitered, ogee moldings, hinged to proper left side of surround, square door stop glued to top of bottom board by proper right side; base molding attached to sides and front edge of bottom board and backed by large segmented glue blocks; ogee bracket feet screwed to underside of base molding and backed by vertical and two horizontal glue blocks; vertical glue blocks has inner corner chamfered; rear angled bracket butt joined to side rear ogee bracket; drawers have standard dovetail construction, front to back oriented bottom boards (except valance drawer with side to side oriented bottom board) in rabbet in drawer sides and front, nailed to underside of backboard, with additional runners glued along sides and front. Bottom two drawers have extra piece of mahogany glued inside top edge of drawer front to add material for mortising drawer lock into drawer front.
Label TextThe coastal Massachusetts cities of Boston, Marblehead, and Salem were known for making bombé furniture with swollen sides and or fronts during the mid to late-18th century. This example is likely from that region as well, but its design and construction appear more closely aligned to British than other Massachusetts examples. Perhaps the maker was a newly arrived immigrant cabinetmaker making a form he was familiar with from England but using a local American wood (white pine) for the structural components. An inscription under a drawer suggests the maker or owner was Jacob Waite. Yet who Waite was and where he lived remains a mystery as multiple men of that name lived in New England in the late 18th century.
InscribedIn pencil on underside of valence drawer: series of numbers "21 30/ 36 37/ 44" and "Jacob Waite" over another word that is indeciperable, possibly a location.

Backs of drawers marked in center with inverted V and either R or L depending on whether they were intended for the right or left side.

Modern blue pencil numbers 1-6 on the small drawer backs.
ProvenanceDonor pruchased from Israel Sack, Inc. in 1990