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Lot Essay
With characteristics emblematic of the Concord, Massachusetts area, this chest-on-chest demonstrates the region's distinctive style in the late 18th century. These regional preferences include the carved fan in the center top drawer, the pulvinated capitals on the fluted pilasters, the central plinth with its flared top as well as the notch on either side under the molded broken swan's-neck pediment and the shaped returns of the feet.
There are a number of chest-on-chests with pilasters and scrolled pediments surviving from eastern Massachusetts. This sturdy form proved to be popular among households in the late 18th century and with local cabinetmakers producing these chests similar regional traits are evident on many pieces. With its close proximity to Boston, there are many shared characteristics between the two towns. However, the distinctive features of Concord area furniture remain unto themselves. Compared to the semi-circular stylized carved Boston fan, the Concord area three-quarter fan is a more realistic depiction of an actual fan with folding leaf and sticks. The Concord broken swan's-neck pediment is notched on either side under the molding at the central opening and the center plinth has a flared top which is not found on the Boston chests.
Several examples of chest-on-chests displaying Concord area features are now in the collections of Winterthur Museum and the Concord Museum as well as two private collections. For further information see Richards and Evans, New England Furniture at Winterthur: Queen Anne and Chippendale Periods (Winterthur, Delaware, 1997), fig. 194; Wood, The Concord Museum: Decorative Arts from a New England Collection (Concord, Massachusetts, 1996), fig. 10A; Sack, The New Fine Points of Furniture (New York, 1993), p. 116. One was sold in these Rooms, The Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Eddy Nicholson, 27 and 28 January 1995, lot 1096. The provenance listed above was found on a note in one of the drawers.
There are a number of chest-on-chests with pilasters and scrolled pediments surviving from eastern Massachusetts. This sturdy form proved to be popular among households in the late 18th century and with local cabinetmakers producing these chests similar regional traits are evident on many pieces. With its close proximity to Boston, there are many shared characteristics between the two towns. However, the distinctive features of Concord area furniture remain unto themselves. Compared to the semi-circular stylized carved Boston fan, the Concord area three-quarter fan is a more realistic depiction of an actual fan with folding leaf and sticks. The Concord broken swan's-neck pediment is notched on either side under the molding at the central opening and the center plinth has a flared top which is not found on the Boston chests.
Several examples of chest-on-chests displaying Concord area features are now in the collections of Winterthur Museum and the Concord Museum as well as two private collections. For further information see Richards and Evans, New England Furniture at Winterthur: Queen Anne and Chippendale Periods (Winterthur, Delaware, 1997), fig. 194; Wood, The Concord Museum: Decorative Arts from a New England Collection (Concord, Massachusetts, 1996), fig. 10A; Sack, The New Fine Points of Furniture (New York, 1993), p. 116. One was sold in these Rooms, The Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Eddy Nicholson, 27 and 28 January 1995, lot 1096. The provenance listed above was found on a note in one of the drawers.