Lot Essay
Stylistically and structurally this sideboard relates to a small group of furniture attributed to Levin Tarr on the basis of similarities to a signed pier table recorded by MESDA, photo no. 5-9406. This group which includes sideboard tables, cabriole sofas, card tables, chairs and cellarettes and the sideboard here all exhibit similar inlaid designs. The legs are each embellished with a string of four or five inlaid husks comprised of three shaded petals, the center petal being the longest, and the whole hung from a rope-pattern inlay. The husks are connected by inlaid dots. The legs are headed by banded oval or, as with this sideboard, banded rectangular panels. The skirts, as with this piece, have horizontal grained mahogany veneer framed by pattern inlaid edging. The edge of the tops are either crossbanded and edged in satinwood, employ a hallow cove-molded edge or are scratch-beaded along the top and bottom edge. The evidence of several small glue blocks securing the top to the case, the bottom board to the sides, the bottom board of the inner drawer to the drawer sides is characteristic of construction elements found in the group associated with Tarr. (J. Michael Flannigan, American Furniture from the Kaufman Collection (New York, 1986) p.158).
Levin Tarr (1772-1821), who married Rosetta Duplesis in Baltimore in 1794, advertised in June 1800 and was working with Thomas Sherwood (Flannigan, p.160). In 1802, Tarr opened his own shop in Dutch Alley, then a year later at 28 Light Street. At this time he advertised as selling not only "Cabinet Furniture" but also venetian blinds (Gregory Weidman, Furniture in Maryland 1740-1940 (Baltimore, 1984) p.75). He consistently advertised in the local papers until 1815.
For a complete account of furniture attributed to Levin Tarr see Flannigan, pp.146, 158, 160 and 190. A related pembroke table sold at Sotheby's New York, January 23-25, 1992, lot 1185. A related unidentified sideboard sold at Sotheby's New York, October 19, 1996, lot 257.
Levin Tarr (1772-1821), who married Rosetta Duplesis in Baltimore in 1794, advertised in June 1800 and was working with Thomas Sherwood (Flannigan, p.160). In 1802, Tarr opened his own shop in Dutch Alley, then a year later at 28 Light Street. At this time he advertised as selling not only "Cabinet Furniture" but also venetian blinds (Gregory Weidman, Furniture in Maryland 1740-1940 (Baltimore, 1984) p.75). He consistently advertised in the local papers until 1815.
For a complete account of furniture attributed to Levin Tarr see Flannigan, pp.146, 158, 160 and 190. A related pembroke table sold at Sotheby's New York, January 23-25, 1992, lot 1185. A related unidentified sideboard sold at Sotheby's New York, October 19, 1996, lot 257.