Property from the Collection of MR. AND MRS. EDDY G. NICHOLSON
THE BISPHAM FAMILY CHIPPENDALE CARVED WALNUT DRESSING-TABLE

Details
THE BISPHAM FAMILY CHIPPENDALE CARVED WALNUT DRESSING-TABLE
PHILADELPHIA, 1755-1760

The rectangular top with molded edge and cupid's-bow front corners above a cavetto molding over a thumbmolded long drawer above three thumbmolded short drawers, the center drawer carved with a stop-fluted concave shell flanked by trailing tendrils all flanked by fluted quarter columns, the shaped apron centering an asymmetrical cabochon motif flanked by trailing foliate carving, on cabriole legs with acanthus-carved knees and ball-and-claw feet, all five openwork brass appear to be original--30 1/2in. high, 33in. wide, 20 1/2in. deep

Provenance
Susanna Pearson Bispham (d. 1831), Moorestown, New Jersey
Susan Bispham Dunlap (1794-1880), daughter
Susan Bispham Dunlap Newell (b. 1824), daughter
Susan Bispham Dunlap Newell Lloyd (1853-1949), daughter
Mariam Lloyd (1880-1951), daughter
Lucretia Lloyd Bentley, niece
Alexander Gallery, New York

Lot Essay

Approximately fifteen pieces are known to have been created by this unnamed carver, including a matching high chest-of-drawers (sold Sotheby's, New York, February 2, 1980, Lot 1654), another high chest-of-drawers now in the collection of the de Young Museum, San Francisco, and a dressing table sold in these Rooms on May 28, 1987, Lot 198; this table has nearly identical acanthus carved knees and a similar shell carved drawer, but differs in the treatment of the skirt embellishment using a scallop shell rather than the trailing tendrils and cabochon motif seen on the present example.