拍品專文
On march 13, 1797, while still residing in Philadelphia, President George Washington received from cabinetmaker Johhn Aitken an identical secretary bookcase, now owned by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. Charged $145.00, the leader of the new nation purchased a piece of furniture that was in the fashionable Federal style outfitted, as is this one, with thirteen panes of glass, perhaps illustrative of the original thirteen states. A Lady's writing desk signed by Aitken and a bookcase attributed to him share the same muntin pattern, with the addition of inlaid eagles and thirteen stars on the lower bookcase doors (Beatrice B. Garven, Federal Philadelphia, 1785-1825 , (Philadelphia, 1987, pp. 48-49).
John Aitken was born in Dulheath, Scotland. He was active in the Philadelphia cabinet trade by 1790 when he advertised that he had for sale "chairs of various patterns...desks, bureaus, bookcases, bedsteads, tea tables, card ditto...." (Federal Gazette, June 9, 1970). A year later he was listed in the City Directory which cites his changments in address until 1814. (Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia: Three Centuries of American Art, April - October, 1976, (exhib. cat.), pp. 175-176). One of his shops was recorded by William R. Birch who included the building in "A View of Congress Hall" in 1800 (Hornor, Blue Book, (Washington, D.C., 1935), pl. 377).
Trained in the British manner of cabinetry, in 1797, Aitkin and his partner, William Cocks advertised that "they have had long experience in London, in the above [cabinet] business" (Hornor, p. 241). Aitken's familiarity with English cabinetry is reflected in his apparent use of design and price books. He was undoubtedly acquainted with plate 66 of the 1788 Cabinetmakers' London Book of Prices, which depicts a design for a rolltop bureau bookcase, the possible inspiration for the thirteen paned bookcase doors, altered only slightly to a rounded arch rather than a point at the apex. Originally the glass doors would have been backed by a silk curtain, usually in the shade of green.
This secretary bookcase is important in its close stylistic similarities to the Washington example made by Aitkens. Besides the unquestionable relationship in overall form, it is identical in detail to the documented piece, down to the inlaid panels on the legs and arrangement of the interior desk section.
For an illustration of the Washington secretary bookcase, see Washington Furniture at Mount Vernon, pp. 65-67; for a related example, see Sotheby's, New York, October 25, 1992, lot 284.
John Aitken was born in Dulheath, Scotland. He was active in the Philadelphia cabinet trade by 1790 when he advertised that he had for sale "chairs of various patterns...desks, bureaus, bookcases, bedsteads, tea tables, card ditto...." (Federal Gazette, June 9, 1970). A year later he was listed in the City Directory which cites his changments in address until 1814. (Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia: Three Centuries of American Art, April - October, 1976, (exhib. cat.), pp. 175-176). One of his shops was recorded by William R. Birch who included the building in "A View of Congress Hall" in 1800 (Hornor, Blue Book, (Washington, D.C., 1935), pl. 377).
Trained in the British manner of cabinetry, in 1797, Aitkin and his partner, William Cocks advertised that "they have had long experience in London, in the above [cabinet] business" (Hornor, p. 241). Aitken's familiarity with English cabinetry is reflected in his apparent use of design and price books. He was undoubtedly acquainted with plate 66 of the 1788 Cabinetmakers' London Book of Prices, which depicts a design for a rolltop bureau bookcase, the possible inspiration for the thirteen paned bookcase doors, altered only slightly to a rounded arch rather than a point at the apex. Originally the glass doors would have been backed by a silk curtain, usually in the shade of green.
This secretary bookcase is important in its close stylistic similarities to the Washington example made by Aitkens. Besides the unquestionable relationship in overall form, it is identical in detail to the documented piece, down to the inlaid panels on the legs and arrangement of the interior desk section.
For an illustration of the Washington secretary bookcase, see Washington Furniture at Mount Vernon, pp. 65-67; for a related example, see Sotheby's, New York, October 25, 1992, lot 284.