Secretary and bookcase

Date1805-1810

Attributed to Thomas Seymour (1771 - 1848)

Possibly by John Seymour

Possibly by John Ritto Penniman

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts, Boston

MediumMahogany with mahogany, satinwood, and curly maple or birch veneer, white pine, and basswood

DimensionsOH: 74 1/4"; OW: 37 1/2"; OD: 21 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1971-374

DescriptionAppearance: Secretary and bookcase in two sections: upper section has flat top with applied cornice around front and sides, with a shaped gallery between two square finial plinths; the gallery is shallow and straight across except at center where it rises up in a semi-circular projection. The front of this center section is inlaid with an oval of satinwood and bordered by a semi-circular molding terminating in small wood volutes/knobs at either side, cornice is topped by three wood urn-shaped finials. Below crest the top of the upper section has a molded cornice, the sides are straight and plain. The front is composed of two doors, each door with two glazed panels with Gothic arch tops separated by reeded columns. The lower portion of each glass panel is painted in reverse with leaves and gothic arches in black and gold. Below these panels are rectangular mahogany veneered panels separated at the base of each column by rectangular maple or birch veneered panels. The interior of the upper section is composed of two shelves, the upper one of which is adjustable. Below the lower shelf is a row of seven pigeonholes with arched valances at top, below which are three small drawers, the right-hand one fitted with compartments. Lower section of desk has a flat recessed top at rear surrounded by a molded edge on front and sides to accommodate upper section; front half of lower section is slanted toward front with a lid which opens on two brass bound hinges which reveal a baized writing surface interior; edge of lid when closed inlaid with dart-patterned stringing. The lid is supported when open on two rectangular slides or lopers faced with mahogany, each with a single brass knob. The sides of the lower section are plain, the front composed of three full-length graduated mahogany-veneered drawers which are surrounded by a cockbead molding and crossbanded veneer; each drawer has a central inset brass keyhole escutcheon and two brass round drawer pulls (replaced). The drawers are flanked on each side by a series of vertical flutes; applied double bead molding above four slightly bulbous tapering legs terminating in peg feet. The upper section of each leg is faced with a series of circular rings on the outside edges and bordered by C scrolled brackets, the center section of each leg is fluted.

Lower case
White pine one-board back and mahogany veneered white pine sides tenoned into or in dados in legs; top front rail possibly dovetailed to top of legs (joint not visible); front lower rail probably tenoned or in dado in legs; molding around skirt glued into dado in lower front rail and bottom edge of sides; mahogany drawer blades with mahogany veneered fronts tenoned or in dados in legs; lower front rail formed by mahogany drawer blade glued to top of same dimension white pine rail; drawers supported by drawer supports extending from rear of drawer blade to backboard nailed to boards attached in manner unknown (glue?) to side of case between legs; mahogany veneered mahogany vertical dividers double tenoned into top of top drawer blade and underside of top rail, white pine ¾ height vertical divider extends from mahogany divider to backboard and sits atop drawer support, method of attachment unknown; angled pair of white pine block glued to underside of fixed writing surface top prevents loper from tipping and a second pair prevent top drawer from tipping; lopers formed by mahogany boards probably tenoned into mahogany end with mahogany veneered face; rectangular stop nailed to face of loper sides; loper supported by drawer support; thin rectangular glue blocks or stops glued to backboards behind drawers at legs; unknown attachment of fixed writing surface/top board; Bookcase section attached to lower case by screws through lower case top board into bookase bottom board; molded mahogany edge of top board along sides tongue and groove joined to sides of top board at bookcase section; waist molding glued to top around front and sides of bookcase. Knee blocks glued to legs and underside of rails and sides with little rectangular glue blocks.

Writing surface hinges open created angled writing surface with mahogany veneered edge, with mitered corners, and green baize (replaced) writing surface. Molded mahogany edge probably constructed similarly to rear top board with molded edge tongue and groove joined to front and sides of top board.

Drawers: Standard dovetail construction; sides and back are basswood; side to side white pine bottom board chamfered around front and side, in dados in same; segmented, spaced glue blocks along edge of front; segmented drawer runner with cuts but no spaces along sides; with mitered rear end of runner; bottom board nailed to underside of back; drawer front has applied cock bead in rabbet around sides and bottom, and full depth cock bead along top; white pine drawer front with mahogany veneer; brasses replaced (extra set of holes); inset brass keyhole escutcheons. Original steel locks. Drawer bottom almost full depth of case with thin strip at rear.

Bookcase
Solid mahogany sides are half blind dovetailed to the top and bottom boards which are of white pine with mahogany front edges; either an additional piece of mahogany was glued to the front edge of the bottom board slightly below the top edge of the same, or the mahogany front edge of the bottom board extends forward past the front edges of the sides and is rabbeted to create a stop for the doors; mahogany front edge of top board (or a separate piece) extends below top and supports cornice molding frieze from rear; rear inner corner of mahogany board is chamfered; case back formed by two vertical fielded panels in mortise and tenoned, pegged, rails and stiles; back panel assembly nailed into rabbet in case sides and to back edge of top and bottom boards.

Cornice: white pine board with molded mahogany edge screwed to top of case at sides and front. Proper left cornice molding replaced – mahogany throughout and nailed to top. Beads of cornice section glued in dado around front and sides; façade between bead and lower edge of cornice molding veneered; front gallery between square end plinths supported by glue blocks with chamfered inner corner on top of front cornice molding; attachment of plinths to top of cornice molding unknown; central plinth formed by shaped block rabbeted to sit on top and behind gallery; molding on front of arched gallery glued on façade; end plinth blocks veneered on front and outer sides; plinth caps nailed to top of plinths; replaced finials in round mortises in plinths.

Doors: Lower rail is tenoned and double pegged into stiles; thin top rail in dovetail or exposed tenon in top of rail; muntins are tenoned into rails and stiles with exposed tenons on rear face; attachment of veneered arches to rails, stiles, and muntins unknown; reeded, tapered columns, bases, capitals, arches glued to face of door elements.
Interior: six dados cut into inside of case sides for moveable shelves; moveable white pine shelf with molded mahogany edge; fixed shelves between drawer and pigeon holes and above pigeon holes in dadoes in the case sides and are white pine with molded mahogany edges; vertical white pine dividers faced with mahogany are in V notches in the shelves and bookcase bottom board; mahogany valances glued in pigeon holes with rectangular glue blocks, two vertical at ends and one horizontal at center of each; proper left drawer divided across front into two square and one rectangular sections for writing equipment, with one side to side divider and two front to back dividers; dividers in dados with V shape at top in sides and front; standard dovetail drawer construction with drawer bottom rabbeted around front and sides and in dado in same, nailed across bottom edge of back; small drawers have white pine sides, back and bottom, and mahogany fronts with satinwood(?) veneered facades.

Label TextThe secretary and bookcase form appeared in America at the end of the eighteenth century as adaptations of English designs for lady's cabinets and writing tables. The form typified the early classical style with its straight lines, use of contrasting colored inlays and veneers, and urn-shaped finials. A number of craftsmen probably participated in making this piece. Cabinetmaker Thomas Seymour of Boston subcontracted gilded glass panels, like those on this bookcase, to decorative painters and gilders who rented space in his Furniture Warehouse. Turned legs, inlaid geometric stringing, and reverse painted and gilded glass panels could be obtained from urban artisans who specialized in producing those elements.
Inscribed"M. M" inscribed into top of proper left loper.
MarkingsSticker on rear of right finial block reads: "M.../39617/Mrs. Lovell (?)"

Exhibition(s)