Lot Essay
With the ratification of the Federal constitution in 1788 guaranteeing Federal restrictions and protection to commerce and trade, New Hampshire coastal towns experienced an economic and cultural boom. The federal constitution encouraged entrepreneurial risks, thereby inspiring the development of local cabinetmakers. The inlaid broken pilasters, oval inlaid drop panels, and exuberently veneered panels of this secretary epitomize the fashionable inlaid designs produced in Concord, Portsmouth, and Newburyport, New Hampshire and North Shore, Massachusetts.
This secretary is distinguished not only by its exuberant veneered friezes and drawer fronts but also more importantly by its oval inlaid drop panel and broken inlaid pilasters. The veneered drop panel, eagerly employed by cabinetmakers of the Piscataqua region, was adopted from the formerly used fan or shell-carved drop pendant. Rococo naturalistic carved embellishments had given way to linear geometric designs created by inlay. The style of the case with its height warranted a drop panel by equalizing the void created by the height. Visually, as well, this oval inlay panel balances the top and bottom sections. Found throughout New Hampshire case pieces, this drop-panel centering an oval inlay rather than the more common rectangular inlay is similar to a small group of Portsmouth chest-of-drawers. One in a private collection is illustrated in Broke Jobe's Portsmouth Furniture: Masterworks from the New Hampshire Seacoast, (Hanover, New Hampshire, 1993) p. 116, fig. 12. Another at Winterthur is illustated in Charles Montgomery, American Furniture: the Federal Period (New York, 1966), p. 183, fig. 138.
The broken inlay pilasters were popular in Boston and Newburyport, Massachusetts, and Concord and Coastal areas of New Hampshire. Inlaid or applied carved broken pilasters are seen on Newburyport shelf clocks made by Daniel Balch Jr. (1761-1835) and David Wood (working 1790) (see lot 209). A labeled George W. Rogers desk and bookcase with similar pilasters is illustrated in New Hampshire Historical Society, Plain & Elegant Rich & Common: Documented New Hampshire Furniture, 1750-1850 (Concord, New Hampshire, 1979) pp.58-59,fig. 19. Although Rogers worked in Concord, New Hampshire he was trained in Newburyport. Another Concord piece, a card table, labeled Levi Bartlett (1784-1864) with similar pilasters is illustrated in John H. Page, "Documented New Hampshire Furniture, 1750-1850" The Magazine Antiques vol. CXV, no. 5 (May, 1979) p. 1004, pl. VI. Two candlestands associated with Concord and employing the similar inlaid pilasters are illustrated in an advertisement for Leigh Keno, Inc. in the The Magazine Antiques vol. CXLVII,no. 1 (January 1995), pp.22. The motif in slimmer fashion was widely employed by John and Thomas Seymour of Boston. For two secretaries with varying simulated pilasters, see Vernon C. Stoneman, John and Thomas Seymour: Cabinetmakers in Boston, 1794-1816 (Boston 1959) pp. 140-143, figs. 68 and 70. A sideboard associated with Seymour also with similar embellishments was sold at Northeast Auctions, Hampton, New Hampshire, November 2 & 3, 1996, lot 457. A desk and bookcase from Salem, Massachusetts referred to as "Best" is illustrated in Albert Sack, Fine Points of Furniture: Early America (New York, 1979) pp.167. And two desks and bookcases, both with similar inlaid pilasters were sold in these Rooms; the first, January 23, 1988, lot 353; the second, January 27, 1996, lot 294.
This secretary is distinguished not only by its exuberant veneered friezes and drawer fronts but also more importantly by its oval inlaid drop panel and broken inlaid pilasters. The veneered drop panel, eagerly employed by cabinetmakers of the Piscataqua region, was adopted from the formerly used fan or shell-carved drop pendant. Rococo naturalistic carved embellishments had given way to linear geometric designs created by inlay. The style of the case with its height warranted a drop panel by equalizing the void created by the height. Visually, as well, this oval inlay panel balances the top and bottom sections. Found throughout New Hampshire case pieces, this drop-panel centering an oval inlay rather than the more common rectangular inlay is similar to a small group of Portsmouth chest-of-drawers. One in a private collection is illustrated in Broke Jobe's Portsmouth Furniture: Masterworks from the New Hampshire Seacoast, (Hanover, New Hampshire, 1993) p. 116, fig. 12. Another at Winterthur is illustated in Charles Montgomery, American Furniture: the Federal Period (New York, 1966), p. 183, fig. 138.
The broken inlay pilasters were popular in Boston and Newburyport, Massachusetts, and Concord and Coastal areas of New Hampshire. Inlaid or applied carved broken pilasters are seen on Newburyport shelf clocks made by Daniel Balch Jr. (1761-1835) and David Wood (working 1790) (see lot 209). A labeled George W. Rogers desk and bookcase with similar pilasters is illustrated in New Hampshire Historical Society, Plain & Elegant Rich & Common: Documented New Hampshire Furniture, 1750-1850 (Concord, New Hampshire, 1979) pp.58-59,fig. 19. Although Rogers worked in Concord, New Hampshire he was trained in Newburyport. Another Concord piece, a card table, labeled Levi Bartlett (1784-1864) with similar pilasters is illustrated in John H. Page, "Documented New Hampshire Furniture, 1750-1850" The Magazine Antiques vol. CXV, no. 5 (May, 1979) p. 1004, pl. VI. Two candlestands associated with Concord and employing the similar inlaid pilasters are illustrated in an advertisement for Leigh Keno, Inc. in the The Magazine Antiques vol. CXLVII,no. 1 (January 1995), pp.22. The motif in slimmer fashion was widely employed by John and Thomas Seymour of Boston. For two secretaries with varying simulated pilasters, see Vernon C. Stoneman, John and Thomas Seymour: Cabinetmakers in Boston, 1794-1816 (Boston 1959) pp. 140-143, figs. 68 and 70. A sideboard associated with Seymour also with similar embellishments was sold at Northeast Auctions, Hampton, New Hampshire, November 2 & 3, 1996, lot 457. A desk and bookcase from Salem, Massachusetts referred to as "Best" is illustrated in Albert Sack, Fine Points of Furniture: Early America (New York, 1979) pp.167. And two desks and bookcases, both with similar inlaid pilasters were sold in these Rooms; the first, January 23, 1988, lot 353; the second, January 27, 1996, lot 294.