Images(9)

Bureau table

Date1760-1780

OriginAmerica, Rhode Island, Providence

MediumMahogany, white pine, and chestnut

DimensionsOH: 34 1/4"; OW: 39"; OD: 20 1/4"

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

Object number1991-61

DescriptionAppearance:
Blockfront bureau dressing table with rectangular top with molded edge and cove molding below over one long drawer carved on both ends with applied convex shells and in center with concave shell terminating in incised volutes; all drawers beaded around drawer openings; below convex shells are two tiers of three drawers each with blocked fronts; below concave shell is a shaped valance behind which is a recessed arched door carved with concave blocking and a concave shell; base molding over blocked ogee bracket feet at each corner of the two tiers of drawers; drawers have pierced brass backplate and bail drawer pulls.

Construction:
The rectangular oblong top is molded at its front and side edges, where it is supported by a single piece ogee molding. The top and molding do not overhang at the back. The top is secured directly to the case sides with dovetail keys on the top of the case sides. There is no sub-top. The case back consists of two horizontal half-lapped boards fixed to rabbets in the case top and sides, and to interior partitions with rosehead nails. Within the case are full-depth strips below the top, nailed to the case with brads, which prevent the upper drawer from tipping forward when opened. The small drawers have full-depth supports nailed with brads to the case sides. The upper drawer has transverse supports butt-jointed to a full-width drawer support across the back that likely was originally a full depth dust board (now with a ragged front edge). The top and bottom rails join the case sides in blind joints. The intervening drawer dividers, which are entirely of mahogany with integral cockbeading, join the case sides and partitions in half-blind dovetail joints. The divider below the frieze drawer is cockbeaded across the bottom of its center portion. The shell-carved, convex and concave-blocked frieze-drawer front meets its drawer sides in dovetail joints, having large, finely cut, narrow-necked pins with half-pins above and half-pins with rabbets below. The convex carved shells are applied to the drawer front. The tops of the drawer sides are nearly flush with the drawer-front top. The drawer-back top is chamfered at the back. The frieze-drawer bottom (replaced) consists of three boards, parallel to the front, with applied runners. The drawer is fitted with later upright, transverse partitions. The small drawers in the two banks below have convex-blocked fronts, fixed to their sides with dovetail joints, having thicker-necked pins of varying configurations, with half-pins above and half-pins with rabbets below. The drawer side tops are chamfered, and shy of the drawer-front tops. The drawer bottoms are single-board, perpendicular to the fronts, and have no runners. In the central, recessed section are a shallow, concave-blocked small drawer with an incised and scallop-skirted front, and a recessed, arched, hinged, concave-blocked and shell-carved door, apparently carved from the solid. Behind the door is a pair of supports for a shelf, now missing. The multi-board case bottom is dovetailed to the case sides and nailed with brads to the bottom rail. At the front and sides are solid ogee bracket feet, with small, rectilinear glue blocks, one full height in each corner, flanked by two horizontals (some replaced). The bracket feet are fixed with screws to the bottom rail and base molding above. The fronts are convex-blocked and carved with prominent scrolls, portions of which are missing. Between the bracket feet are separate quarter-round moldings, flush with the upper portions of the brackets, nailed with brads to the bottom rail and molding above. The outside faces of the rear feet are constructed similarly to those in front. The backs are simple curved brackets set into vertical grooves in the outside faces.
Label TextBlocked facades and carved shells such as those found on this bureau table were typical of the most elegant furniture produced in Rhode Island during the second half of the 18th century. The undulating facade, which may be what cabinetmaker John Goddard described as a "sweld front," was "costly as well as ornamental." While primarily associated with Newport production today, cabinetmakers in Providece produced versions as well. This bureau table, which has some construction details associated with Massachusetts crafts traditions including the valence drawer above the kneehole section, may indicate a Providence origin for this piece. Due to familial ties and migration, Massachusetts traditions were more strongly felt in Providence than Newport. While the maker is currently unknown, an inscription that appears to read "[Jo]nathan" may provide a clue.
InscribedA truncated inscription on the back of one of the small drawers that appears to read "[Jo]nathan" and another name that could be "John" or "JM".
ProvenanceC. S. Shumway, New Rochelle, New York;
sold to Israel Sack, Inc., New York; \sold to Wallace Nutting, Framingham, Massachusetts;
consigned by his estate to Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, October 4, 1941, lot 97.
Donors purchased from Joe Kindig III in 1989.

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