IMPORTANT AMERICAN FURNITURE, FOLK ART AND DECORATIVE ARTS SESSION II JANUARY 18, 1997 at 2:00 PM Lots 190-300 VARIOUS PROPERTIES

A CHIPPENDALE CARVED MAHOGANY REVERSE SERPENTINE SLANT-FRONT DESK

MASSACHUSETTS, 1770-1790

Details

A CHIPPENDALE CARVED MAHOGANY REVERSE SERPENTINE SLANT-FRONT DESK
massachusetts, 1770-1790
The rectangular thumbmolded slant-lid opening to a fitted stepped interior with central concave shell-carved short drawer above a conforming short drawer flanked by split-baluster document drawers flanked by valanced pigeonholes with shaped brackets flanked by stacked concave shell carved short drawers over three short drawers, all above a reverse-serpentine case fitted with four graduated thumbmolded long drawers over a conforming molded base centering a shaped pendant, on short cabriole legs with ball-and-claw feet with shaped knee returns, appears to retain original brasses
44¼in. high, 41½in. wide, 22½in. deep

Lot Essay

While slant front desks were produced throughout New England, this desk possesses distinct characteristics of the eastern Massachusetts region: the exposed raking talons, sharp cornered knees, the shaped knee return, pendant drop, and stepped back interior with concave and fan- carved short drawers. Related examples sold in these Rooms, January 26, 1991, lot 341, January 18, 1992, lot 464, October 21, 1994, lot 139 and June 21, 1995, lot 240. A block-front slant lid desk with similar interior at Yale is illustrated in Gerald Ward, American Case Furniture in the Mabel Brady Garvan and Other Collections at Yale University, (New Haven, 1988) p.303, no. 158.