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Lot Essay
A classic example of Massachusetts Chippendale furniture, this chest-on-chest survives with a history in the Chandler Family of Worcester, Massachusetts. According to a note accompanying its sale, it remained in the family for which it was made until 1970 and was always known as "Mary Church's chest." She was born in Bristol, Rhode Island and was the second wife of John Chandler. They were one of the wealthiest families in Worcester and until 1774, prospered with income from his civic positions, several farms and shop. In that year, John Chandler declared his Loyalism to the British monarchy and fled to Halifax, then London and never returned to America. An act of 1778 prevented his return and in the same year his real estate and personal property were seized and all but the homestead and a portion of the furnishings were sold at auction. Unlikely to have been purchased by Mary (Church) Chandler after her husband's departure, it is possible that this chest-on-chest was part of the portion allocated to the family and thereafter remembered as "Mary Church's chest." For more on the Chandler family, see "Descendants of William Chandler," (https://freepages.misc.rootsweb.com)