Antique Massachusetts Federal Mahogany Chest of Drawers / Dresser

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Description

With our absolute highest compliments Bay Colony Antiques proudly offers this spectacular and rare Early American chest of drawers. We … Read more With our absolute highest compliments Bay Colony Antiques proudly offers this spectacular and rare Early American chest of drawers. We have a deep admiration and appreciation for the cabinet shops based in Central and Western Massachusetts working through the height of the American Federal period. In the past three decades we have been privileged to have owned and represented important examples from these regions and we are constantly in search of that next unidentified gem waiting to be discovered.

Our current offering is a remarkable heirloom from that legacy of master craftsmanship and is unquestionably associated with one of the most significant furniture builders from the earliest part of the 19th century. The cabinet-shops belonging to William Lloyd, Nathaniel Lombard, and Peletiah Bliss are all potential candidates for having made this chest, however, we feel most confident that this example was made by the firm of Spooner & Fitts circa 1815. We note strong similarities in previous known chests with exaggerated french feet and scrolled sides with higher arching curvature including a signed example which sold recently at auction in New York. The firm worked in both the Sheraton and Hepplewhite manners with a unique regional interpretation of the American Federal style. It is more common to find their works with turned legs after the designs of Thomas Sheraton, however many examples attributed or signed by members of the firm with french feet are well documented and known to the historical furniture community.

The chest has four drawers with absolutely superb grain matched Mahogany boards that create an illustrious effect. This is among the best quality Mahogany to have ever existed with a very lively grain. Each drawer is framed with a contrasting lighter wood, possibly holly or sycamore, and fitted with exceptioal Hepplewhite brass pulls. The interior of each drawer reveals old growth New England pine secondary wood dovetailed at every corner and rough hewed chamfered panels with centuries old saw markings. The chest once had wooden knobs which were upgraded sometime ago with fancier embossed brass pulls. This was a common occurrence at this point in history based on the cost and supply of brass. The apron and sides of the chest are finely scrolled with elaborate curved sweeping lines and arches. The chest features a Mahogany top and baseboard along with Cherry sides and old growth pine backboards. The underside of the chest reveals beautiful oxidation and centuries old glue blocks designed to reinforce the more delicate parts of the base. The chest measures 40 3/4” wide x 21” deep 39 1/4” tall. See less