Luke Beckerdite
Brian Wilkinson, Samuel Harding, and Philadelphia Carving in the Early Georgian Style

American Furniture 2020

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Detail of J. Stevens, A View of the Landing the New England Forces in ye Expedition against Cape Breton, printed by John Bowles, London. 14" x 19 1/4". Colored line engraving. This engraving shows a ship with carved ornaments of the type produced by Anthony and Brian Wilkinson. (Chipstone Foundation; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Anthony Wilkinson’s bill for ship carving for Thomas Penn’s barge, Philadelphia, August 28, 1734. (Courtesy, RAAB Collection) 

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Brian Wilkinson’s bill for carving for the ship Delaware, Philadelphia, April 25, 1762. (Courtesy, Ten Pound Island Book Company). 

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    James Peller Malcolm, Christ Church, Philadelphia, 1814. 12 1/4" x 14 1/4". (Courtesy, Arader Galleries).

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Truss on the steeple of Christ Church, attributed to the shop of Samuel Harding, Philadelphia, 1753.

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Elevation of the North façade of the Pennsylvania State House shown on Matther A. Lotter’s A PLAN of the City and Environs of PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, 1777. (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum.)  

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    Samuel Harding, bill for carving for the Pennsylvania State House done between January 29, 1775 and January 7, 1757. A transcription of this bill is in the research files, Independence National Historical Park. The citation on the transcription is shown above. 

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    First floor, central hall in the Pennsylvania State House. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher, 1959).

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Door pediment in the first floor, central hall in the Pennsylvania State House. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher, 1959). 

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Pediment and upper section of an architrave on the north wall of the first floor, central hall in the Pennsylvania State House. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher, 1959). 

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Keystone of a pedimented architrave in the first floor, central hall of the Pennsylvania State House. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher, 1959). 

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Frontal view of a truss on the steeple of Christ Church. 

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Indian head, door pediment in the first floor, central hall of the Pennsylvania State House. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher, 1959). 

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Brackets and balusters in the stair tower of the Pennsylvania State House. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher, 1959). 

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Frieze of a landing in the stair tower of the Pennsylvania State House. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher, 1959).

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Venetian window and flanking pilasters and architraves in the stair tower of the Pennsylvania State House. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher, 1959).

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    Frieze applique on one of the pedimented architraves flanking the Venetian window of the stair tower of the Pennsylvania State House. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher, 1959). 

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    Side view of an upper truss on one of the architraves in the stair tower of the Pennsylvania State House. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher, 1959). 

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

    Lower truss on one of the architraves in the stair tower of the Pennsylvania State House. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher, 1959). 

  • Figure 20
    Figure 20

    Pilaster capital and drops framing one of the architraves in the stair tower of the Pennsylvania State House. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher, 1959). 

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    Exterior clock on the Pennsylvania State House. 

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

    Max Rosenthall, Interior View of Independence Hall, Philadelphia, 1856. (Courtesy the Library Company of Philadelphia.) 

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    Frieze applique in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House attributed to the shop of Brian Wilkinson, Philadelphia, 1750–1755. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher, 1959). 

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    Detail of the applique illustrated in fig. 23.

  • Figure 25
    Figure 25

    Detail of the applique illustrated in fig. 23.

  • Figure 26
    Figure 26

    Franklin stove attributed to Warwick or Mount Pleasant Furnace, Chester or Berks County, Pennsylvania, c. 1742–1748. Cast iron. H. 31 1/2", W. 27 1/2", D. 35 3/4". (Courtesy, Mercer Museum of the Doylestown Historical Society; photo, Philadelphia Museum of Art.) 

  • Figure 27
    Figure 27

    James Turner (w. 1744–1759) after Lewis Evans, design for Franklin’s Stove, illustrated in An Account of the New Invented Pennsylvanian Fire-places. (Courtesy, Library Company of Philadelphia.) 

  • Figure 28
    Figure 28

    Detail of the front plate of the stove illustrated in fig. 26.

  • Figure 29
    Figure 29

    Tall case clock with movement by Peter Stretch and carving attributed to the Wilkinson shops, Philadelphia, 1735–1745. Mahogany with tulip poplar, and yellow pine. H. 110", W. 18 1/2", D. 9". Courtesy, Winterthur Museum: purchase with funds provided by the Henry Francis du Pont Collectors Circle, Winterthur Centenary Fund, Mrs. C. Lalor Burdick, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Chilton, Mrs. Robert N. Downs III, Mr. William K.  
    du Pont, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick C. Fiechter III, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Herdeg, the Hohmann Foundation, Family of Mr and Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords, Jr., Kaufman Americana Foundation, Mrs. George M. Kaufman, Mr. and Mrs. Barron V. Kidd, Charles Pollak, Peter A. Pollak, Suzanne W. Pollak, Mr. and Mrs. P. Coleman Townsend, and anonymous donors and friends.

  • Figure 30
    Figure 30

    Detail showing the hood of the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 29.

  • Figure 31
    Figure 31

    Detail showing the carving on the hood of the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 29. 

  • Figure 32
    Figure 32

    Chimney back, Oxford Furnace, Warren County, New Jersey, 1747. Cast iron. 32 1/4" x 29 1/4". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum.) 

  • Figure 33
    Figure 33

    Tea table with carving attributed to the shop of Brian Wilkinson, Philadelphia, 1745–1755. Mahogany with yellow pine H. 26 1/2", W. 31 1/2", D. 21 1/2". (Courtesy, Library Company of Philadelphia.) 

  • Figure 34
    Figure 34

    Detail showing the carving on one of the long rails of the tea table illustrated in fig. 33. 

  • Figure 35
    Figure 35

    Detail showing the carving on a leg of the tea table illustrated in fig. 33. 

  • Figure 36
    Figure 36

    Tea table with carving attributed to the shop of Brian Wilkinson, Philadelphia, 1745–1755. H. 29", Diam. of top: 30" (Private collection; photo, Joseph P. Gromacki.) 

  • Figure 37
    Figure 37

    Detail of the carving on a leg of the tea table illustrated in fig. 36.

  • Figure 38
    Figure 38

    Tea table, with carving attributed to  the shop of Brian Wilkinson,Philadelphia, 1745–1755. Mahogany with white cedar. H. 27 1/2", W. 34 5/8", D. 21 1/8". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum.) 

  • Figure 39
    Figure 39

    Detail showing the carving on a long rail and leg of the tea table illustrated in fig. 38. 

  • Figure 40
    Figure 40

    Pier table, England, c., 1740. H. 31 13/16", W. 35 5/8", D. 24 1/2". Mahogany with mahogany veneer and larch. (Courtesy, Drayton Hall.) 

  • Figure 41
    Figure 41

    Desk-and‑bookcase, London, c. 1735. H. 93 3/4", W. 51 1/8", D. 23 5/8". Oak and rosewood with unidentified conifer. (Courtesy, Mackinnon Fine Furniture.

  • Figure 42
    Figure 42

    Pier table with carving attributed to the shop of Brian Wilkinson, Philadelphia, c. 1750. Mahogany with yellow pine and white cedar; clouded limestone. H. 31", W. 42", D. 24 5/8". (Private collection; photo, Levy Gallery.) 

  • Figure 43
    Figure 43

    Detail of the carving on the front rail of the pier table illustrated in fig. 42

  • Figure 44
    Figure 44

    Detail of the carving on the front rail and a leg of the pier table illustrated in fig. 42.

  • Figure 45
    Figure 45

    Top of the pier table illustrated in fig. 42. 

  • Figure 46
    Figure 46

    Details showing holes for and remnants of the indexing pins of the pier table illustrated in fig. 42. 

  • Figure 47
    Figure 47

    Detail showing the back edge of the top of the pier table illustrated in fig. 42

  • Figure 48
    Figure 48

    Chest-on-chest attributed to George Claypoole Sr. or Jr. with carving attributed to the shop of Brian Wilkinson, Philadelphia, c. 1750. Mahogany with tulip poplar, and white cedar. H. 85 1/2", W. 43 1/2", D. 22 3/4". (Private collection; photo, Sotheby’s.) 

  • Figure 49
    Figure 49

    Detail showing the carving on the upper center drawer of the chest-on-chest illustrated in fig. 48. 

  • Figure 50
    Figure 50

    Desk-and-bookcase with carving attributed to the shop of Brian Wilkinson, Philadelphia, c. 1750. Mahogany with unrecorded secondary woods. H. 84", W. 42", D. 25". (Private collection; photo, Morphy’s.)

  • Figure 51
    Figure 51

    Detail of the applique on the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 50.

  • Figure 52
    Figure 52

    Chimney back, Oxford Furnace, Warren County, New Jersey, 1746. Cast iron. 34 1/4" x 34". (Private collection; photo, Vine Cassaro.) 

  • Figure 53
    Figure 53

    Detail of the chimney back illustrated in fig. 52.

  • Figure 54
    Figure 54

    Frontal view of an upper truss on one of the architraves in the stair tower of the Pennsylvania State House. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher, 1959). 

  • Figure 55
    Figure 55

    Samuel Harding bill to George Claypoole Sr. or Jr. for carving done between May 19, 1755 and February 22, 1757. (Courtesy, Marion Carson Papers, Library of Congress; photo, Don Fennimore.) 

  • Figure 56
    Figure 56

    Desk-and-bookcase with carving attributed to the shop of Samuel Harding, Philadelphia, c. 1755. Walnut with tulip poplar, yellow pine, and white cedar. H. 100", W. 40 3/4", D. 23 3/4". (Chipstone Foundation; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 57
    Figure 57

    Detail showing the pediment of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 56. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 58
    Figure 58

    Desk-and-bookcase with carving attributed to the shop of Samuel Harding, Philadelphia, c. 1755. Mahogany with tulip poplar, yellow pine, and white cedar. H. 104", W. 41", D. 24". (Private collection; photo, Robb Quinn.) 

  • Figure 59
    Figure 59

    Detail showing the pediment of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 59.

  • Figure 60
    Figure 60

    Desk-and-bookcase with carving attributed to the shop of Samuel Harding, Philadelphia, c. 1755. Mahogany with tulip poplar, yellow pine, and white cedar. H. 105", W. 41 1/8", D. 24 3/4". (Courtesy, Philadelphia Museum of Art; gift of Daniel Blain, Jr.) 

  • Figure 61
    Figure 61

    Detail showing the pediment of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 60.

  • Figure 62
    Figure 62

    Tall clock case with movement by John Wood Sr. or Jr. and carving attributed to the shop of Samuel Harding, Philadelphia, c. 1755. Walnut with tulip poplar. H. 107 1/2", W. 23 1/2", D. 11 3/8". (Courtesy, © Metropolitan Museum of Art; bequest of W. Gedney Beatty, 1941.) 

  • Figure 63
    Figure 63

    Detail showing the pediment of the tall case clock illustrated in fig. 62. 

  • Figure 64
    Figure 64

    High chest of drawers with carving attributed to the shop of Samuel Harding, Philadelphia, c. 1755. Mahogany with white cedar, tulip poplar, and pine. H. 93", W. 40", D. 20". (Courtesy, James Kilvington Antiques.) 

  • Figure 65
    Figure 65

    Detail showing the carving on the upper center drawer of the high chest illustrated in fig. 64. 

  • Figure 66
    Figure 66

    Chimneypiece in Woodford Mansion, Philadelphia, c. 1755. (Courtesy, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress; photo, Jack E. Boucher.) 

  • Figure 67
    Figure 67

    Details showing carved linen-fold shells attributed to the shops of Brian Wilkinson (left), fig. 23, and Samuel Harding (right), fig. 56. 

  • 68
    68

    Details showing flat shells attributed  

    to the shops of Brian Wilkinson (left), fig. 50,  

    and Samuel Harding (right), fig. 60. 

  • 69
    69

    Details showing leafage on furniture appliques attributed to the shops of Brian Wilkinson (left), fig. 50, and Samuel Harding (right), fig. 56.

  • 70
    70

    Details showing leafage on architectural appliques attributed to the shops of Brian Wilkinson (top) and Samuel Harding (bottom).

  • 71
    71

    Desk-and-bookcase, Philadelphia, 1735–1745. Mahogany with tulip poplar and yellow pine. H. 89", W. 41 1/8", D. 24". (Private collection.) The shield ornament on this desk-and-bookcase is the earliest Philadelphia example known. Given the probable date of this object, Anthony Wilkinson is a likely candidate for its carver.

  • 72
    72

    High chest of drawers, Philadelphia, 1745–1755. Walnut and walnut veneer with tulip poplar, white cedar, and yellow pine. H. 85 5/8", W. 43", D. 24". (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.) The carving on this chest is stylistically related to that from the Wilkinson and Harding shops, but the leafage is crude by comparison.

  • 73
    73

    Dressing table, Philadelphia, c. 1750. Mahogany with white cedar, tulip poplar, and yellow pine. H. 31", W. 33 1/2", D. 21". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) This dressing table is one of the most fully developed examples of its era. As the details shown in figs. 5 and 6 reveal, the leaf carving on the knees is superior to that on the drawers and most closely resembles work associated with the Wilkinson shops. 

  • 74
    74

    Detail of the carving on the drawer of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 4. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • 75
    75

    Detail of the carving on a leg of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 4. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • 76
    76

    Side chair, Philadelphia, c. 1750. Walnut. H. 41 1/2". (Courtesy, Christie’s)

  • 77
    77

    Side chair, Philadelphia, c. 1750. Walnut. H. 42 1/2". (Courtesy, Christie’s)

  • 78
    78

    Detail showing the knee carving on the side chair illustrated in fig. 8.