Dean Thomas Lahikainen
A Salem Cabinetmakers’ Price Book

American Furniture 2001

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    George Washington Felt, View of Court House Square, Salem, Massachusetts, 1810–1820. Oil on wood panel. 35" x 52". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; gift of B. F. Brown.)

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    John Christian Rauschner, William Hook, ca. 1809. Colored wax. H. (frame) 6 1/2". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; photo, Mark Sexton.)

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Gentleman’s secretary, Salem, Massachusetts, 1795–1805. Mahogany with pine. H. 96 3/8", W. 72 1/8", D. 20 1/4". (Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; gift of Miss Ima Hogg.)

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    Design for a “Gentleman’s Secretary” illustrated on plate 52 of Thomas Sheraton’s The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Drawing Book (1793). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum Library: Printed Books and Periodical Collection.)

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Thomas Shearer, design for a “Wing Clothes Press,” illustrated on plate 3 of the Society of Upholsterers, Cabinet-Makers’ London Book of Prices (1788). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum Library: Printed Books and Periodical Collection.)

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Gentleman’s secretary attributed to Edmund Johnson, Salem, Massachusetts, 1795–1812. Mahogany and satinwood with pine. H. 88", W. 67 1/2", D. unrecorded. (Courtesy, Sotheby’s.)

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    Secretary-and-bookcase, Salem, Massachusetts, 1795–1800. Mahogany with pine. H. 91 1/2", W. 45", D. 23". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum, bequest of Mrs. Arthur West; photo, Mark Sexton.)

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Secretary-and-bookcase with the label 
    of William Appleton, Salem, Massachusetts, 1795–1804. Mahogany and pine. H. 99 1/2", W. 42", D. 24 1/2". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum.) An inlaid scroll volute similar to those on this example is illustrated in a design for a bookcase on plate 1 of the Society of Upholsterer’s Cabinet-Makers’ London Book of Prices.

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Design for a “Side Board” illustrated on plate 29 of the second edition of George Hepplewhite’s Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide (London, 1789). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum Library: Printed Books and Periodical Collection.)

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Sideboard made by Daniel Clarke, Salem, Massachusetts, 1797. Mahogany with pine. H. 37 3/4", W. 68 1/2", D. 28". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum, gift of Eliza and Mary Ropes; photo, Mark Sexton.) This sideboard differs from the design illustrated in fig. 9 in having a cabinet with two doors beneath the center drawer.

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Sideboard bearing the label of Edmund Johnson, Salem, Massachusetts, 1800–1810. Mahogany with pine. H. 39 1/2", W. 63 1/2", D. 26 1/4". (Private collection; photo, Decorative Arts Photographic Collection, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Sideboard attributed to Nathaniel Safford, Salem, Massachusetts, 1805. Mahogany with pine. H. 42", W. 69", D. 26". (Private collection; photo, Mark Sexton.)

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Desk attributed to Elijah Sanderson, Salem, Massachusetts, 1780–1800. Mahogany and pine. H. 43 3/8", W. 45", D. 23". (Courtesy, New England Historic Genealogical Society.)

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Desk by Edmund Johnson, Salem, Massachusetts, ca. 1800. Cherry with pine. H. 45", W. 21", D. 42 1/4". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; gift of F. J. Bradlee.)

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Dwarf clock with movement by Samuel Mulliken II, Salem, Massachusetts, 1790–1796. Mahogany with pine; brass. H. 36 3/8", W. 11 3/4", D. 7". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; photo, Mark Sexton.)

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Design for a “Commode” illustrated on plate 78 of the third edition of George Hepplewhite’s Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide (1794). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum Library: Printed Books and Periodical Collection.)

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    Commode, Salem, Massachusetts, 1800–1810. Mahogany with pine. H. 40", W. 55", D. 32". (Courtesy, Christie’s.)

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    Commode with carving attributed to Samuel McIntire, Salem, Massachusetts, 1800–1805. Mahogany with pine. H. 43 1/4", W. 65 3/4", D. 28 1/4". (Courtesy, Decorative Arts Photographic Collection, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

    Lady’s secretary, Salem, Massachusetts, 1800–1810. Mahogany with pine. H. 61 1/4", W. 38", D. 29 1/4". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; bequest of Mrs. Arthur West.)

  • Figure 20
    Figure 20

    Design for a “Secretary and Bookcase” illustrated on plate 44 of the third edition of George Hepplewhite’s Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide (1794). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum Library: Printed Books and Periodical Collection.)

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    Lady’s tambour writing table by Elijah Sanderson, Salem, Massachusetts, 1800–1810. Mahogany with pine. Dimensions not recorded. (Courtesy, Decorative Arts Photographic Collection, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

    Circular front bureau, Salem, Massachusetts, 1795–1813. Mahogany and birch with pine. H. 37 1/2", W. 41", D. 21 1/2". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; gift of Francis and Miriam Shaw.) The chest descended in the family of Salem merchant Aaron Waite.

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    Dining table, eastern Massachusetts, 1795–1815. Birch. H. 28", W. 47 1/2", D. 46". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; gift of Charles Cotting, Jr.)

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    Card table attributed to William and Samuel Fiske, Salem, Massachusetts, 1795–1800. Mahogany with pine. H. 28 1/2", W. 35 3/4", D. 19 1/2". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; bequest of Mrs. Isabel Newcomb.)

  • Figure 25
    Figure 25

    Night table made by Elijah Sanderson, Salem, Massachusetts, ca. 1800. Mahogany with pine. H. 29 1/2", W. 25 3/4", D. 19". (Private collection; photo, Peabody Essex Museum.)

  • Figure 26
    Figure 26

    Designs for “Night Tables” illustrated on plate 82 of the third edition of George Hepplewhite’s Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide (1794). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum Library: Printed Books and Periodical Collection.)

  • Figure 27
    Figure 27

    Pembroke table, possibly Salem, Massachusetts, 1795–1810. Mahogany with pine. H. 28", W. 33 1/2", D. 33 1/2". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum.)

  • Figure 28
    Figure 28

    Quarter table, probably Maryland, 1795–1810. Mahogany with pine and tulip poplar. H. 32 3/4", W. 32 3/4", D. 22 7/8". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 29
    Figure 29

    Table, Salem, Massachusetts, ca. 1789. Pine; black, brown, white, and ochre paint. H. 30 1/4", W. 42", D. 22 1/4". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; gift of Ellen Chever.)

  • Figure 30
    Figure 30

    Stand, Salem, Massachusetts, 1795– 1805. Mahogany. H. 30 1/2", W. 24", D. 15 1/2". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; gift of Mrs. George Nichols.)

  • Figure 31
    Figure 31

    Firescreen, Salem, Massachusetts, 1795–1805. Mahogany. H. 59 3/4", W. 17 1/2", D. 17 1/2". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; bequest of George Rea Curwen.)

  • Figure 32
    Figure 32

    Design for a “Corner Basin Stand” illustrated on plate 42 of Thomas Sheraton’s Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Drawing Book (1793). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum Library: Printed Books and Periodical Collection.) 

  • Figure 33
    Figure 33

    Corner washstand, Salem, Massachusetts, 1800–1815. Mahogany with pine. H. 41", W. 14 1/2", D. 14 1/2". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; photo, Mark Sexton.)

  • Figure 34
    Figure 34

    Cradles, Salem, Massachusetts, 1790–1810. (left) Mahogany with pine. H. 29", L. 40", W. 21 1/2". (right) Pine; blue-green paint. H. 31", L. 40", W. 20". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; [left] gift of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph K. Elliot.)

  • Figure 35
    Figure 35

    Sofa, possibly by Nathaniel Safford, with carving attributed to Samuel McIntire, Salem, Massachusetts, ca. 1805. Mahogany with unidentified secondary woods. H. 38 1/2", L. 83", D. 33". (Private collection; photo, Mark Sexton.)

  • Figure 36
    Figure 36

    Easy chair, Salem, Massachusetts, ca. 1800. Mahogany. H. 48", W. 27 1/2", D. 21". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum, bequest of George Rea Curwen; photo, Mark Sexton.)

  • Figure 37
    Figure 37

    Design for an “Easy Chair” illustrated on plate 15 of the second edition of George Hepplewhite’s Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide (1789). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum Library: Printed Books and Periodical Collection.)

  • Figure 38
    Figure 38

    Armchair, Salem, Massachusetts, 1795–1805. Mahogany with unidentified secondary woods. H. 43 1/2", W. 23", D. 19 1/2". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; gift of George Rea Curwen.)

  • Figure 39
    Figure 39

    Lolling chair, Salem, Massachusetts, ca. 1805. Mahogany with unidentified secondary woods. H. 42", W. 24", D. 21". (Private collection; photo, Peabody Essex Museum.)

  • Figure 40
    Figure 40

    Window stool with carving attributed to Samuel McIntire, Salem, Massachusetts, 1801. Mahogany with unidentified secondary woods. H. 26", W. 44 1/2", D. 14 3/4". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum, gift of the estate of Charlotte Nichols; photo, Mark Sexton.)

  • Figure 41
    Figure 41

    Designs for “Window Stools” illustrated on plate 19 of the third edition of George Hepplewhite’s Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide (1794). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum Library: Printed Books and Periodical Collection.)

  • Figure 42
    Figure 42

    Detail of a bed post with carving attributed to Samuel McIntire, 1801–1811. Mahogany. H. 76", W. 4", D. 4". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum, gift of the estate of Charlotte Nichols; photo, Mark Sexton.)

  • Figure 43
    Figure 43

    Bedstead, Salem, 1795–1801. Mahogany and maple with pine. H. 87", W. 57", D. 79". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum, gift of Deborah J. Elliot: photo, Mark Sexton.)

  • Figure 44
    Figure 44

    Folding cot, probably Salem, Massachusetts, nineteenth century. Maple, pine, iron, and canvas. H. 25", W. 79", D. 55". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; photo, Mark Sexton.)

  • Figure 45
    Figure 45

    Luxe et Indigence, France, ca. 1818. Engraving. Dimensions not recorded.

  • Figure 46
    Figure 46

    Sea chest, probably Salem, Massachusetts, 1811–1830. Pine; gray paint. H. 18 3/4", W. 49 1/2", D. 18". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum, gift of the Reverend George D. Latimer; photo, Mark Sexton.) This chest belonged to Capt. Charles Hoffman of Salem.

  • Figure 47
    Figure 47

    Michele Felice Cornè, The Death of William, Salem Massachusetts, ca. 1807. Watercolor on paper. 19 1/2" x 15". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum; deposit of Mrs. Nathaniel S. Sanders.) The decceased was a mamber of the Webb or Luscomb family of Salem.

  • Figure 48
    Figure 48

    Articles of the Salem Cabinet-Maker Society, Associated. June 26 1801. Printed by Joshua Cushing, Salem 1801. (To scroll through all the pages click on the image.)

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