John Bivins
The Convergence and Divergence of Three Stylistic Traditions in Charleston Neoclassical Case Furniture, 1785–1800

American Furniture 1997

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Secretary-and-bookcase, Charleston, 1785–1790. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with white cedar, red cedar, and white pine. H. 105 3/4", W. 48 1/2", D. 24 3/8". (Courtesy, Charleston Museum, Charleston, South Carolina; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) http://charlestonmuseum.org

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Detail of the writing compartment of the secretary-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Courtesy, Charleston Museum, Charleston, South Carolina; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) http://charlestonmuseum.org

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Detail of the pediment of the
    secretary-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Courtesy, Charleston Museum, Charleston, South Carolina; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) http://charlestonmuseum.org

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4 Clothespress, Charleston, 1785–1790. Woods and dimensions unrecorded. (Courtesy, Charleston Museum, Charleston, South Carolina; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) http://charlestonmuseum.org
  • Figure 5
    Figure 5 Detail of the pediment of the clothespress illustrated in fig. 4. (Courtesy, Charleston Museum, Charleston, South Carolina; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) http://charlestonmuseum.org
  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Secretary-and-bookcase on legs, Charleston, 1785–1790. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with cypress and yellow pine. H. 101 3/4", W. 49 13/16", D. 24 7/16". (Courtesy, Baltimore Museum of Art.) The pediment and frieze are constructed on a separate dovetail frame.

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    Detail of the leg and drawer inlay on the secretary-and-bookcase on legs illustrated in fig. 6.

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Chest of drawers labeled by William Jones, Charleston, 1788–1789. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with white pine, ash, tulip poplar, and mahogany. H. 34 1/2", W. 42", D. 21 3/4". (Collection of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.) The drawer-face veneers and stringing are replaced.

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Detail of the label on the chest illustrated in fig. 8.

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Detail of a canted corner and foot on the chest illustrated in fig. 8.

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Dressing chest attributed to William Jones, Charleston, 1785–1790. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with white pine, mahogany, and red cedar. H. 37 7/16", W. 40 13/16", D. 23 7/16". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum; gift of Commander and Mrs. Duncan I. Selfridge.)

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Detail of the veneer and inlay on the drawers, feet, and cants of the dressing chest illustrated in fig. 11.

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Detail of the upper drawer of the dressing chest illustrated in fig. 11, with dressing glass deployed.

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Secretary-press attributed to William Jones, Charleston, 1785–1790. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with white pine, red cedar, and tulip poplar. H. 99 1/4", W. 49 3/8", D. 24 5/8". (Courtesy, Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State.) Both the upper and lower cases have paneled backs.

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Detail of the writing compartment of the secretary-press illustrated in fig. 14.

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Clothespress, Charleston, 1785–1790. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with white pine. H. 91", W. 53 1/4", D. 25 3/4". (Private collection; photo, Dirk Bakker.)

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    Detail of a foot and canted corner of the clothespress illustrated in fig. 16. (Photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.)

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    Detail of the frieze of the clothespress illustrated in fig. 16. (Photo, Dirk Bakker.)

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

    Tea caddy, Britain, 1780–1800. Woods and dimensions unrecorded. (Courtesy, Philip H. Bradley, Inc.; photo, John Bivins.)

  • Figure 20
    Figure 20

    Clothespress, Charleston, 1785–1790. Mahogany with white pine. H. 94", W. 51 3/4", D. 24 3/4". (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.) The lower right brass has been digitally added to this image.

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    Detail of the pediment of the clothespress illustrated in fig. 20.

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

    Secretary-and-bookcase, Charleston, 1790–1800. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with red cedar and white pine. H. 104", W. 55 3/8", D. 24 3/8". (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.)

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    Open view of the secretary-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 22.

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    Detail of the pediment of the secretary-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 22.

  • Figure 25
    Figure 25

    Rear view of the secretary-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 22, showing the framed pediment and frieze and paneled upper and lower case backs.

  • Figure 26
    Figure 26

    Secretary-and-bookcase, Salem, Massachusetts, 1790–1800. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with birch and white pine. H. 96 3/4", W. 43 3/4", D. 24 1/4". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 27
    Figure 27

    Detail of the pediment of the secretary-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 26. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 28
    Figure 28

    Secretary-and-bookcase labeled by William Appleton, Salem, Massachusetts, 1795–1804 (based upon label address at Charter and Liberty Streets.) Mahogany and mahogany veneer with white pine. H. 97 1/2", W. 43 1/4", D. 24 3/8". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 29
    Figure 29

    Secretary-and-bookcase labeled by Elijah and Jacob Sanderson, Salem, Massachusetts, 1790–1810. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with red cedar and white pine. H. 97 5/8", W. 43 3/8", D. 24 3/4". (Courtesy, Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State.)

  • Figure 30
    Figure 30

    Clothespress, Charleston, 1790–1800. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with yellow pine and white pine. H. 96", W. 50 1/4", D. 24 3/4". (Collection of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.) The inlaid rosettes and the finial are restorations.

  • Figure 31
    Figure 31

    Desk-and-bookcase, Charleston, 1790–1800. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with white pine. H. 983/4" (including finial), W. 45", D. 25". The brasses are replaced. (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.)

  • Figure 32
    Figure 32

    Detail of the lower case of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 31.

  • Figure 33
    Figure 33

    Chest of drawers, Charleston, 1790–1800. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with red cedar, mahogany, and white pine. H. 37 1/4", W. 41 7/8", D. 22 1/2". (Courtesy, Yale University Art Gallery; gift of C. Stanford Bull.)    

  • Figure 34
    Figure 34

    Chest of drawers, Salem, Massachusetts, 1790–1800. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with white pine. H. 36 7/16", W. 40 3/8", D. 22 3/8". (Private collection; photo, John Bivins.)

  • Figure 35
    Figure 35

    Gentleman’s secretary, Charleston, 1790–1800. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with white pine. H. 115 1/2", W. 76". (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.) The door tracery is missing, and the two drawers below the desk drawer are replaced with a cabinet.

  • Figure 36
    Figure 36

    Gentleman’s secretary, Salem, Massachusetts, 1795–1805. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with white pine. H. 99 5/16", W. 67 3/16", D. 18 3/8". (Courtesy, Charleston Museum; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 37
    Figure 37

    Secretary-and-bookcase on legs, Charleston, 1795–1800. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with white pine, tulip poplar, yellow pine, and red cedar. H. 92", W. 42", D. 24". (Courtesy, Sumpter Priddy, III, Inc.; photo, Katherine Wetzel.)

  • Figure 38
    Figure 38

    Secretary-and-bookcase signed by Philips & Welch, Charleston, 1800. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with mahogany, yellow pine, and white pine. H. 111 1/2" (including finial), W. 58 1/8", D. 24 1/8". (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.)

  • Figure 39
    Figure 39

    Detail of the pediment of the secretary-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 38. The top of the finial is missing.

  • Figure 40
    Figure 40

    Detail of the lower case of the secretary-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 38.