Lot Essay
Block front furniture, utilized by cabinetmakers throughout New England, was favored by wealthy prominent clientele from 1730 until 1800. Little documentation exists regarding the price difference between a straight front and block front desk; however, it can be assumed by the time-consuming and difficulty in creating a blocked front that this additional device would cost a client up to three times more than a plain front desk. (Lovell, "Boston Blockfront Furniture" Boston Furniture of Eighteenth Century, (Boston, 1974) pp.79-80). With its stepped interior, blocked and fan-carved interior, blocked case, fan-carved drop pendant, exposed racking talons, squared knees and shaped knee returns, this desk exhibits the most exceptional characteristics associated with the coastal region of Massachusetts. As a final complement to the piece, imported ormolu brasses embellish the drawers.
These brasses, the most expensive available at the time, are based on a pattern found in an early eighteenth century brass catalogue and illustrated in Peter, Nancy, and Herbert Schiffer, The Brass Book, (Exton, Pennsylvania, 1978), pp.428, fig. 545. As Schiffer explains these brass catalogues are not dated, signed nor is there any identification of foundries. This was done on purpose since dealers, who not wanting to reveal their sources, would use the catalogues to sell brasses to retailers and cabinetmakers. Although not signed or dated, a watermark left on a catalogue dates these to approximately 1770 (Schiffer, p.413). Two bombe chest of drawers with original fire-gilt brasses, one located in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State the other in the Dietich American Foundation are illustrated in Robert Mussey and Anne Haley, "John Cogswell and Boston Bombe Furniture: Thirty-five Years of Revolution in Politics and Design" American Furniture 1994 (Hanover, New Hampshire, 1994) pp.94-95, fig. 34 and 37.
A closely related desk with flame and baluster-turned document drawers, and fan-carved and blocked short drawers which descended in the Winthrop family of Boston is located in the Yale collection and illustrated in Lovell, p.116, fig. 80. Another closely related desk is illustrated in Sack, American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, vol.2 brochure 13 p. 301, no. 735. A desk described as "Best" is illustrated in Albert Sack, Fine Points of Furniture: Early Americana, (New York, 1979) p.149 and was sold by Sotheby's New York, June 27 and 28, 1990, lot 560. Another sold in these Rooms, January 27, 1996, lot 292. A related desk with mirrored prospect door, but with bracket feet in the Mabel Brady Garvan Collection at Yale is illustrated in Gerald Ward, American Case Furniture in the Mabel Brady Garvan Collections at Yale University, (New Haven, 1988) p. 305, no.159.
These brasses, the most expensive available at the time, are based on a pattern found in an early eighteenth century brass catalogue and illustrated in Peter, Nancy, and Herbert Schiffer, The Brass Book, (Exton, Pennsylvania, 1978), pp.428, fig. 545. As Schiffer explains these brass catalogues are not dated, signed nor is there any identification of foundries. This was done on purpose since dealers, who not wanting to reveal their sources, would use the catalogues to sell brasses to retailers and cabinetmakers. Although not signed or dated, a watermark left on a catalogue dates these to approximately 1770 (Schiffer, p.413). Two bombe chest of drawers with original fire-gilt brasses, one located in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State the other in the Dietich American Foundation are illustrated in Robert Mussey and Anne Haley, "John Cogswell and Boston Bombe Furniture: Thirty-five Years of Revolution in Politics and Design" American Furniture 1994 (Hanover, New Hampshire, 1994) pp.94-95, fig. 34 and 37.
A closely related desk with flame and baluster-turned document drawers, and fan-carved and blocked short drawers which descended in the Winthrop family of Boston is located in the Yale collection and illustrated in Lovell, p.116, fig. 80. Another closely related desk is illustrated in Sack, American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, vol.2 brochure 13 p. 301, no. 735. A desk described as "Best" is illustrated in Albert Sack, Fine Points of Furniture: Early Americana, (New York, 1979) p.149 and was sold by Sotheby's New York, June 27 and 28, 1990, lot 560. Another sold in these Rooms, January 27, 1996, lot 292. A related desk with mirrored prospect door, but with bracket feet in the Mabel Brady Garvan Collection at Yale is illustrated in Gerald Ward, American Case Furniture in the Mabel Brady Garvan Collections at Yale University, (New Haven, 1988) p. 305, no.159.