Ignorant Owner

I have a few pieces that have been inherited and I have some family history, but very little knowledge about where or why the pieces were crafted the way the were. I know general time frames and that they are definitely antiques, but that's about all I have in the way of when.

Any help is appreciated. I am happy to offer more information.

 

Can we see the drawer joints? Also flip it over and show us the underside especially nails or other ways it was put together. I can't help you, but these are clues that the knowledgeable members can use.

 

Pleas tell us what you do know, but be prepared, family history can often be not very accurate!

It wold also be helpful to know where you are, this is a multi national board. No need to get too specific but country and area/state would help

 

@Ghopper1924
@verybrad
@anundverkaufen
@James Conrad
@kyratango

 

Walnut writing desk circa 1870.

 

Yes, or a work table. Maybe even a bit earlier.

 

Such a sweet thing. Lucky you.

Debora

 

The spool turning of the legs brings to mind the very popular Jenny Lind furniture of the mid-19thC. This style was revived in the USA in 1930s and '40s and factory made. The Victorian pieces can still be found, usually made of walnut or cherry, as rope bedsteads, washstands, lamp tables/night stands, cribs...Some pieces were country made and simple while the better pieces were fancy with beautiful spool turnings. The later pieces, especially the bedsteads, are in abundance.

 

We'd call that a side table here. I'd agree on date.

 

Yes, also known as "Bobbin" turnings which were popular during the last quarter of the 17th century, the reign of Charles ll
Guesses mid 19th century, 1850s-1860s on your table as well, machine built, looks like walnut with a different contrasting species on drawer fronts.

 

Where the Jenny Lind spool turnings originated.
American, Maple Hi-Lo stretcher "bobbin" turned table, C 1680-1700

 

Gorgeous piece. Although the OP's piece is very nice, when compared to this thoughtful, artistic, hand created table, you can really see the differences. I really love it when you do this, as it helps to train my eye. Thank you.

 

What a gorgeous piece! I've always thought of this style as "William and Mary". It is truly an American style of the period with many British and Continental influences. The years I lived in Colonial Williamsburg come back to haunt me!

 

Yes, you are not alone on that score but, it's really not a W&M style, more like Charles ll which was the style in England just before W&M or here, "pilgrim century". Sotheby's described it incorrectly as W&M though, I stole it a couple years ago at the Vogel sale for $1000.
It has great provenance, I guessed correctly people at that sale would be put off by the replaced top which, if I had to guess, Nutting himself replaced that top!
There are no known American pilgrim "square" tables that have their original top.

https://www.sothebys.com/en/auction...nne-h-frederick-vogel-iii-n10003/lot.822.html

Provenance is no longer listed on the sale page.

Wallace Nutting Collection, Framingham, Massachusetts;

Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Connecticut;

Sotheby’s, New York, Fine Americana, October 26, 1991, sale 6227, lot 250;

Donald P. White III, Woodstock, Connecticut, July 2007;

Vogel Collection lot 822, January 2019

 

That table is yours? I thought you plucked it out of a catalog. I shouldn't be astonished, I suppose.

 

That you own such a piece and with a complete/continuous provenance, takes my breathe away. A legit steal. The replaced top patina appears to match the original parts. Amazingly well done.

The numerous contributions Wallace Nutting made to the history and preservation of American Colonial Furniture is being lost to the time thief. So sad.

Brings to mind that I have not perused my Wallace Nutting volumes of Furniture Treasury in many years. Perhaps, it’s time we get reacquainted. Never owned any of his ubiquitous prints, or cared about collecting.

 

"That table is yours?"

Yep, mine, for now at least. Slipped out the side door with it at the Vogel sale, it's sitting just 6 feet from where I am sitting now. There is a thread on it in here somewhere.
Vogel's had a 6 million dollar collection, many big-ticket early furniture examples they sold at Sotheby's in 2019. Foo-Foo people were not paying attention but I was.

 

Yeah was, 2019 was a GREAT year at the Winter Shows in NYC, there was a Virginia table owned by Thomas Jefferson as I recall at one of the sales.
Speaking of which, Winter shows/sales are upon us again in a few weeks, the big dog this year is the William (Bill) Dupont collection of early furniture. I've been casing the sales, looking for opportunities.
Ya never know!

Yes, although Nutting's Furniture Treasury has many things that are not correct by today's scholarship, it is STILL considered the furniture "Bible" of early American furniture. A MUST for any collector.

 

Of course it's mine! Where you been? you are WAY behind in recent acquisitions, this is what happens when you go camping for half the year,
you get left BEHIND!
Thread on most recent piece
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/eastern-shore-virginia-chesapeake.64363/

Eastern Shore Virginia corner cupboard, C 1740. Everything is there except the paint