- Home
- Furniture
- Tables
- Desks
- Secretary Desks
- Early 19th Century Vermont Federal Butler's Desk …
Or save it to favorites and we'll tell you if this item goes on sale!
- Get the Chairish App
- to view in your space
Early 19th Century Vermont Federal Butler's Desk in Bird's Eye Maple & Mahogany
- Get the Chairish App
- to view in your space
Details
Description
With our absolute highest compliments Bay Colony Antiques takes the utmost pleasure in offering one of the finest early American …
more
With our absolute highest compliments Bay Colony Antiques takes the utmost pleasure in offering one of the finest early American butler's desks available anywhere. For the last three generations our firm has pursued quality antiques produced in the early American period particularly focused on the treasured history of New England. We have watched markets rise and fall with respect to all aspects of antiques and historical design and with that insight we have made our focus regional early American furniture and decorative arts as they have proven to be the best way to stage a home while also making a secure investment that will appreciate as time goes on. American heirloom antiques are perhaps the best way to provide the next generation with valuable assets while also culturally enriching your family with beautiful and historic treasures. Antiques that have a strong regional influence in an area where homes and land remain in high demand are among the very best investments that can be made as future demand is all but assured as scarcity increases over time.
It is with that background we introduced this absolute treasure from the storied history of the state of Vermont. The earliest craftsmen settled the state towards the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century as population centers grew and demand for their trades were in higher demand. Many brought influences from Western Massachusetts up through the Connecticut River Valley region ultimately settling Eastern Vermont and Western New Hampshire along the newly established communities adjacent to the Connecticut River. This particular butler's desk most likely originated in Western Vermont where at the turn of the 19th century talented cabinetmakers trained in New York City sought patrons for their work as competition in the city was high and demand for their skills was spreading all throughout the newly established states. We see the influence of famed cabinet shops such as The Allison Brothers and other noted masters of the trade spread into the Western Vermont communities at the dawn of the early 19th century. While the influence of New York City in elements of the case construction and overall proportions and design are unquestionable this butlers desk exhibits the unique and wonderous design appeal that emerged from this region of Vermont during this era. The absolute finest examples of the craftsmanship of this region are exhibited at The Shelburne Museum, The Hood Museum of Art, and throughout many smaller state and independent museums scattered throughout the region. It is our modest opinion that this particular example is worthy of any of these collections and in all honesty superior to some of the case furniture currently showcased at these marvelous institutions.
The desk is constructed primarily of cherry with brilliant bird's eye maple and mahogany veneers utilized to provide a mix of vibrancy and contrast. The case is constructed with a frame and panel technique made popular towards the end of the 18th century as it allows the large wooden sides and backs to float in a framework ensuring a limitation to age and moisture related changes over time. The gallery is well formed and contoured with octagonal geometric inlaid panels to either side which help to provide such a stately presence. The case consists of an arrangement of nine drawers with the central drawer designed to function as a butlers desk drawer which drops down to reveal a full interior. When the butlers drawer is hinged downward by the original tracking brass hardware seven compartmented pigeonhole cubbies and eight smaller interior drawers are revealed each fitted with the original brass turned pulls. The desk retains the original hardware including the two tombstone shaped inset locks which allow the fall front drawer to function when the center actuating button is depressed. Three graduated drawers are cased below the smaller upper drawers and writing interior each of which functions smoothly and is well suited for every day use. The most striking attributes of this desk are the carved half columns and acanthus carved legs which really elevate the piece to an institutional quality example. The discussion and scholarship around regional Vermont furniture is still evolving with all collectors generally referring to "The Rich and Tasty" publication on Vermont furnishings published in 2015 as the definitive reference guide to this field of study. While we would love to place an attribution towards the craftsman of this desk we are at present without any known counterpart to compare this to. What is beyond reproach is that the carving work is that of a master of the tradition with tightly executed acanthus leaves adorning the capitals of each half column and three dimensional banded pineapple influenced pattern with variated carved diamond points throughout the entirety of the carved embellishment. The chest measures 51 3/4" wide x 21 1/2" deep x 56 1/4" tall.
less
- Dimensions
- 51.75ʺW × 21.5ʺD × 56.25ʺH
- Styles
- Early American
- Federal
- Table Shape
- Rectangle
- Period
- Early 19th Century
- Country of Origin
- United States
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Brass
- Mahogany
- Maple
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Orange
- Condition Notes
- Great Condition - Minor surface wear Great Condition - Minor surface wear less
Need more product details?
Shipping Options
Standard Returns & Cancellations
Return Policy - All sales are final 48 hours after delivery, unless otherwise specified in the description of the product.
Extended Return for Trade
- Expands return window for trade members to 14 days (12 days more than our standard return policy)
- Trade member to notify Chairish of intent to return within 14 days of item delivery
- Buyer refunded item cost. Buyer pays return shipping cost
- Does not apply to damages that occur post-delivery
Questions about the item?
Related Collections
- Paper Secretary Desks
- Drexel Secretary Desks
- Statton Furniture Secretary Desks
- Jacobean Secretary Desks
- Secretary Desks in Wichita
- Drexel Heritage Secretary Desks
- Cees Braakman Secretary Desks
- Pastoe Secretary Desks
- Wrought Iron Secretary Desks
- Chippendale Secretary Desks
- Queen Anne Secretary Desks
- Chinoiserie Secretary Desks
- Federal Secretary Desks
- Secretary Desks in New York
- Mid-Century Modern Secretary Desks
- Cherry Wood Secretary Desks
- Asian Secretary Desks
- Mahogany Secretary Desks
- Secretary Desks in Philadelphia
- Victorian Secretary Desks
- Oak Secretary Desks
- Traditional Secretary Desks
- French Secretary Desks
- Empire Secretary Desks
- Black Secretary Desks
Returns
- Does not arrive
- Is broken during transit
- Is entirely different than what you purchased
- Some made-to-order items and a limited selection of other items (noted as non-refundable in the returns and cancellations section of the product description)
-
Orders where Free Local Pickup or Seller Managed Local Delivery were selected:
- Upon inspection, If you decide not to move forward with the purchase, you or your agent must refuse the item at the time of pickup/delivery from the seller
- Once you have taken possession of the item, all sales are final
- International, cross-border returns may require different processes depending on the countries between which the item is shipping to/from, and the buyer is responsible and duties (if applicable, on cross-border orders).
- On approved returns, the buyer is responsible for the full cost of return packing and shipping.
Cancellations
- Prior to shipping or local pickup, buyers may cancel an order for any reason, with the exception of some Made-to-Order items, where supplies have been purchased or work begun on the item.
- Please notify us within 24 hours of purchase if you would like to cancel an order, as prompt cancellation will reduce the likelihood that you will incur return shipping charges.
- Once shipping or pickup has been initiated, the cancellation will be considered a return and you will be responsible for the cost of shipping.
Shipping
Note: Made-to-Order items typically include a lead time or custom delivery window that is added to the delivery time.
- Chairish Express In-Home Delivery
- Chairish Express In-Home deliveries are currently only offered for international cross-border shipments.
- The item will be delivered to your home and placed in the desired room. The delivery service includes unpacking, inspecting, and removing packaging materials; and does not include installation or setting up the item.
- Shipping charges start at $999 and vary based on the size, weight, packaging, and/or the value of the item.
- Deliveries can take anywhere from 6 to 9 weeks to be delivered.
- Chairish Freight Delivery
- Delivered in a crate, to your front door.
- You will need tools and/or equipment to open the crate.
- Shipping charges start at $799 and vary based on the size, weight, packaging, and/or the value of the item.
- Chairish Freight deliveries can take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks.
- Only available in selected markets.
- Chairish In-Home Delivery
- The item will be delivered to your home and placed in the desired room. The delivery service includes unpacking, inspecting, and removing packaging materials; and does not include installation or setting up the item.
-
Shipping charges start at $149 and based on the size and the distance between pickup and delivery
(for approximate values see table):
Delivery Type Within 50 miles radius Within 1,500 miles radius Over 1,500 miles radius International Cross-Border Shipping Price $149 - $299 $199 - $799 $449 - $899 Over $899 Transit Time 2 to 4 weeks 3 to 6 weeks 4 to 8 weeks 12 to 17 weeks - For some items, the shipping price may vary depending on the size, weight, material and/or value of the item.
- Free Local Pickup
- Local pickup allows customers to inspect an item at the time of pickup and avoid shipping costs.
- Following purchase, a confirmation email is sent to the email address associated with the order, and includes: Pickup Verification & Seller's contact information
- Please contact the seller within 5 days to coordinate pickup
- Once the item has been picked up (by you or your representative) it cannot be returned or refunded.
- Free Shipping
- Free shipping may be offered on select listings.
- Smaller items are typically delivered within 2 weeks of the purchase date, while larger items and furniture may take up to 6 weeks for delivery.
- When an item with Free Shipping is returned, the cost of return shipping fees will be charged to the buyer.
- Parcel Delivery
- Shipment is arranged through recognized carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL.
- Only pieces that can be safely packed in a box or envelope may be shipped via parcel.
- Shipping charges start at $9 — and vary based on the size, weight, packaging and the value of the item.
Delivery Type US Domestic International Cross-Border Shipping Price $9 - $99 $39 - $499 Transit Time 1 to 2 weeks 2 to 4 weeks - Seller Managed Delivery
- Shipping is offered and managed by the seller, through a shipper of the seller’s choice.
- Available on items at the seller’s discretion.
- Seller Managed Local Delivery
- Local curbside delivery is offered and managed by the seller, within a limited geography.
- Following purchase, a confirmation email is sent to the confirmation email address associated with the order, and includes: Pickup Verification Code & Seller’s contact information
- Please contact the seller within 5 days to coordinate delivery.
The Chairish Buyer Guarantee
Make an Offer
Fees and shipping costs will be calculated in the next step
Have questions about how offers work? Learn more or .
Flag this comment for moderation?