ATTRIBUTED TO DUNCAN PHYFE, NEW YORK, 1815-1825

The clean lines and rich veneers of this rare small secretary are in keeping with the finest examples of American interpretations of the French Empire style. This example may be from the shop of Duncan Phyfe, as it relates to other documented and attributed Phyfe objects. Most notably, the form relates to a secretary with Hirschl & Adler Gallery (see Of the Newest Fashion: Masterpieces of American Neo-Classical Decorative Arts (New York, 2001) p. 47.) Both secretaries employ an upper case with glazed doors flanked by veneered columns with gilt brass capitals and bases and a single long drawer in the lower case. While the Hirschl and Adler example has turned columns below as well, the example offered here has scrolled supports that relate to a pier table made in 1834 and documented to the shop of Phyfe (see Monkman, The White House (New York, 2000) p. 266). Also in keeping with the Hirschl & Adler example, the drawer of this secretary originally did not have brass pulls; the hollowed hand slots under the edge of the drawer instead maintained the exquisite clean lines and highlighted the rosewood veneer. The lower doors of the case are also a later addition, and are removable.