John Bivins
Rhode Island Influence in the Work of Two North Carolina Cabinetmakers

American Furniture 1999

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Detail of a map of North Carolina. (Courtesy, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.) The approximate locations of (a) Thomas White in Northampton County and (b) John Sanders in Perquimans County, North Carolina, are denoted.

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Desk attributed to Thomas White, Perquimans County, North Carolina, 1756–1766. Walnut with tulip poplar and yellow pine, H. 41 1/2", W. 40 1/2", D. 21." (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.)

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Dressing table attributed to Thomas White, Perquimans County, North Carolina, 1756–1766. Walnut with red cedar, yellow pine, cypress, and tulip poplar, H. 28 5/16", W. 34", D. 21 5/8". (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.)

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    Desk attributed to Thomas White, Perquimans County, North Carolina, ca. 1765. Walnut with white cedar, yellow pine, walnut, and mahogany, H. 43", W. 39 1/2", D. 21". (Courtesy, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.)

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Cupboard attributed to Thomas White, Northampton County, North Carolina, ca. 1766. Walnut with yellow pine and tulip poplar. W. 43 3/4", height and depth not recorded. (Courtesy, Willow Oaks Country Club, Richmond, Virginia; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.)

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Detail of the center foot on the cupboard illustrated in fig. 5.

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    Detail of the laminated and carved shell in the cupboard illustrated in fig. 5.

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Detail of the interior of the desk illustrated in fig. 4.

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Desk with incised inscription “John Goddard 1754,” Newport, Rhode Island. Mahogany; secondary woods not recorded. H. 41 1/2", W. 40 1/2", D. 22 1/2". (Courtesy of Sack Heritage Group) www.sackheritagegroup.com

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Detail of the interior of the desk illustrated in fig. 9

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Desk attributed to Thomas White, Perquimans County, North Carolina, 1756–1766. Walnut with white cedar, yellow pine, and walnut. H. 43 1/4", W. 43 1/2", D. 21 5/8". (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.) The base molding, feet, and brasses are replaced.

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Detail of the interior of the desk illustrated in fig. 11.

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Detail of the false bottom in the prospect cabinet of the desk illustrated in fig. 4.

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Detail of the prospect case removed from the interior of the desk illustrated in fig. 4.

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Detail of the flared interior drawers of the desk illustrated in fig. 4.

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Detail of the drawers and a quarter-column on the desk illustrated in fig. 11.

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    Detail of a quarter-column base on the desk illustrated in fig. 4.

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    Detail of the center foot of the desk illustrated in fig. 4.

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

    Detail of the left foot of the desk illustrated in fig. 4.

  • Figure 20
    Figure 20

    Detail of the shaped foot blocking of the desk illustrated in fig. 4.

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    Detail showing the drawer construction of the desk illustrated in fig. 4.

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

    Detail of a mitered joint on the upper rear drawer frame of the desk illustrated in fig. 4.

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    Detail of a half-bottom dustboard with kicker in the desk illustrated in fig. 4.

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    Detail of an upper leg and knee respond on the table illustrated in fig. 3, showing the curved upper profile of the knee at the leg stile.

  • Figure 25
    Figure 25

    Dressing table attributed to Thomas White, Perquimans County, North Carolina, 1756–1766. Mahogany with white cedar and yellow pine. H. 28 1/2", W. 32 1/2", D. 21 1/2". (Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase with funds provided by the Theta Charity Antique Show and Miss Ima Hogg, by exchange.)

  • Figure 26
    Figure 26

    Detail of the left front leg of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 25.

  • Figure 27
    Figure 27

    Corner chair attributed to Thomas White, Perquimans County, North Carolina, 1756–66. Walnut with yellow pine. H. 30 1/8", W. 18". (Courtesy, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.)

  • Figure 28
    Figure 28

    Detail of a leg on the corner chair illustrated in fig. 27.

  • Figure 29
    Figure 29

    Side chair attributed to Thomas White, Perquimans County, North Carolina, 1756–1766. Walnut with yellow pine. H. 36 1/8", W. 19". (Courtesy, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.) This chair has a history of descent in the Pettigrew family of Perquimans and Chowan Counties.

  • Figure 30
    Figure 30

    Detail of the open splat mortise in the rear rail of the side chair illustrated in fig. 29.

  • Figure 31
    Figure 31

    Tall case clock attributed to Thomas White, Northampton County, North Carolina, 1766–1788. Walnut with yellow pine. Dimensions not recorded. (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.)

  • Figure 32
    Figure 32

    Detail of a quarter-column base on the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 31.

  • Figure 33
    Figure 33

    Desk attributed to John Sanders, Perquimans County, North Carolina, 1750–1760. Cherry with white cedar, cypress, and yellow pine. H. 42 1/8", W. 41 1/4", D. 21 3/4". (Private collection; photo, John Bivins.)

  • Figure 34
    Figure 34

    Detail of the interior of the desk illustrated in fig. 33.

  • Figure 35
    Figure 35

    Detail of the prospect cabinet of the desk illustrated in fig. 33.

  • Figure 36
    Figure 36

    Detail of the prospect cabinet removed from a desk (not illustrated) attributed to John Sanders.

  • Figure 37
    Figure 37

    Detail of a foot on the desk illustrated in fig. 33.

  • Figure 38
    Figure 38

    Desk attributed to John Sanders, Perquimans County, North Carolina, 1760–1776. Walnut with yellow pine, tulip poplar, and walnut. H. 42 1/2", W. 41 1/4", D. 21 7/8". (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.)

  • Figure 39
    Figure 39

    Detail of the interior of the desk illustrated in fig. 38.

  • Figure 40
    Figure 40

    Detail of the interior of a desk (not illustrated) attributed to John Sanders, Perquimans County, North Carolina, 1760–1776. (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.) The bases and capitals of the stop-fluted pilaster drawers are missing.

  • Figure 41
    Figure 41

    Detail of the prospect of a desk (not illustrated) attributed to John Sanders, Perquimans County, North Carolina, 1760–1776. (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.) The feet of this desk are missing.

  • Figure 42
    Figure 42

    Detail of a quarter-column of the desk partially illustrated in fig. 40.

  • Figure 43
    Figure 43

    Tall clock case, Perquimans County, North Carolina, 1770–1790. Mahogany with white cedar and yellow pine. Dimensions not recorded. (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) This clock descended in the Moore family of Perquimans County, North Carolina.