PROPERTY FROM THE DIRECT DESCENDANTS OF THE ADAMS FAMILY
The Adams Family Chippendale Blocked-End Reverse Serpentine Chest of Drawers, Boston, Massachusetts, Circa 1770
Lot Closed
January 20, 07:40 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Carved and figured mahogany
Appears to retain its original surface.
Height 33 1/4 in. by Width 36 1/2 in. by Depth 21 in.
Please note that this lot will not be on view during the sale exhibition. It is located at our Long Island City, New York storage facility. If you would like to examine it in person before the sale please make an appointment with the Americana department at 212-606-7130.
This chest has descended through the Adams family of Boston, Massachusetts. Henry Adams (1583–1646) is the progenitor of the family and arrived in Boston in 1632.
In untouched condition, this chest represents a case form made in Boston from about 1770 to 1810 with a reverse-serpentine as an alternative design option to the block-front form. Capped with an overhanging top of conforming shape, the four drawers of the case below are enriched with swelled figured mahogany fronts and brass hardware. The handsome base is comprised of bold claw feet and scrolled knee brackets. Following Boston-area practice, it has drawers with a beaded edge, and claw feet with creased knees and retracted side talons. Wallace Nutting illustrates a very similar chest of this form as the property of Israel Sack.1
1 Wallace Nutting, Furniture Treasury, vol. 1, (New York, 1948), no. 261.
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