Erik Gronning and Amy Coes
Newly Discoveries in Furniture by Christopher Townsend

American Furniture 2022

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Dressing table attributed to Christopher Townsend, Newport, Rhode Island, ca. 1745. Mahogany with tulip poplar. H. 29 3/4", W. 34 1/8", D. 20 1/2". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Detail of the drawer dovetailing of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 1. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Detail of the B inscribed on a drawer of the dressing table illustrated in fig.1. (Photo, Erik Gronning.) 

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    Detail of the B inscribed on interior of the case of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 1. (Photo, Erik Gronning.) 

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Christopher Townsend, desk-and-bookcase, Newport, Rhode Island, ca. 1750. Mahogany. (Private collection; photo © Metropolitan Museum of Art.) 

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Detail of the inscription “Made by Christopher Townsend” on the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 5. (Photo, Charlotte Hale, Sherman Fairchild Paintings Conservation Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art; image © Metropolitan Museum of Art.)

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    Detail of the B inscribed on the high chest originally owned by Governor Gideon Wanton. (Photo, Erik Gronning.) 

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Detail of the underside of the skirt of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 1. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Detail of the leg of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 1. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Dressing table, England, 1715–1730. Walnut, oak, and deal. (Photo, Apter-Fredericks.) 

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Dressing table, southeastern Virginia, 1735–1745. Walnut with yellow pine and tulip poplar. H. 28 3/16", W. 33 1/8", D. 19 1/4". (Private collection; photo, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.) 

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Dressing table, New Jersey, 1740–1760. Walnut. H. 30 5/8", W. 34 1/2", D. 20 1/2". (Courtesy, Christie’s.) 

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Tea table, Newport, Rhode Island, ca. 1750. Mahogany. H. 25 1/2", W. 25 1/4", D. 21". (Courtesy, Sotheby’s.) 

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

     Drop-leaf table, Woodbury, Connecticut, 1760–1780. Cherry. H. 26 3/4"; 
    40 1/8" x 36 1/2" (open). (Private collection; photo, Edward S. Cooke Jr., Fiddlebacks and Crooked-backs: Elijah Booth and Other Joiners in Newtown and Woodbury, 1750–1820 [Waterbury, Conn.: Mattatuck Historical Society, 1982], fig. 21.) 

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Dressing table, probably Newport, Rhode Island, 1730–1740. Walnut with white pine and poplar. H. 28 7/8", W. 34 3/4", D. 21 1/8". (Lyman Allyn Art Museum; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

     Dressing table, Newport or East Greenwich, Rhode Island, 1705–1735. Maple, maple veneer, and walnut with white pine. H. 28 1/2", W. 35 1/2", D. 23 1/4". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    Detail of the leg of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 15. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    Detail of the leg square and case of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 15. (Photo, Erik Gronning.) 

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

    Detail of the drawer dovetailing of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 15. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 20
    Figure 20

    Detail of the underside of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 15. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    Detail of the chalk marking on a drawer of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 15. (Photo, Erik Gronning.) 

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

     Detail of a chalk mark on the back of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 15. (Photo, Erik Gronning.) 

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    Chest of drawers, Newport, Rhode Island, 1715–1735. Maple. H. 37 1/4", W. 36 3/4", D. 20". (Courtesy, Whitehorne House Museum, Newport Restoration Foundation.) 

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    Detail of a chalk mark on the exterior back of a drawer of the chest of drawers illustrated in fig. 23. (Art & Industry in Early America: Rhode Island Furniture, 1650–1830, edited by Patricia E. Kane et al. [New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery, 2016)], p. 448, fig. 8.) 

  • Figure 25
    Figure 25

    Dressing table, Newport, Rhode Island, ca. 1740. Walnut. H. 30", W. 33 3/4", D. 20 1/2". (Courtesy, Sotheby’s.) 

  • Figure 26
    Figure 26

    Dressing table, Newport, Rhode Island, ca. 1740. Walnut with maple. H. 30", W. 33", D. 21". (Photo reproduced from Wallace Nutting, Furniture Treasury, vol. 1 [New York: MacMillan Company, 1948], no. 398.) 

  • Figure 27
    Figure 27

    Dressing table, attributed to Christopher Townsend, Newport, Rhode Island, ca. 1750. Mahogany with maple and yellow poplar. H. 30 1/4", W. 36", D. 22". (Chipstone Foundation; photo, Christie’s.) 

  • Figure 28
    Figure 28

    Detail of the drawer dovetails of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 27. Photo, Robb Quinn.) 

  • Figure 29
    Figure 29

    Detail of the B inscribed on the back of a drawer of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 27. (Photo, Jonathan Prown.) 

  • Figure 30
    Figure 30

    Detail of the glue blocks securing a leg of the dressing table illustrated in fig. 27. (Photo, Robb Quinn.) 

  • Figure 31
    Figure 31

    Christopher Townsend and John Townsend, high chest of drawers, Newport, Rhode Island, ca. 1755. Mahogany with white pine and yellow poplar. H. 83 5/8", W. 40 1/2", D. 22 1/4". (Chipstone Foundation; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) The chest retains its original cast brass hardware and finish. 

  • Figure 32
    Figure 32

    Desk, attributed to Christopher Townsend, Newport, Rhode Island, ca. 1750. Mahogany with tulip poplar, chestnut, cereal, and white pine. H. 42", W. 36 1/2", D. 22". (Private collection; photo, Sotheby’s.) 

  • Figure 33
    Figure 33

     Desk, attributed to Christopher Townsend, Newport, Rhode Island, 1748. Mahogany with mahogany, poplar, birchwood, and cedar. H. 41 3/4", W. 38 1/8", D. 22 1/2". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 34
    Figure 34

    Detail of the inscription “Made 1748” on the desk illustrated in fig. 33. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 35
    Figure 35

    Detail of the inscription “Benjamin Almy | Made 1748” on the desk illustrated in fig. 33. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 36
    Figure 36

    Detail of the interior of the desk illustrated in fig. 33. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 37
    Figure 37

     Detail of the prospect door of the desk illustrated in fig. 33. (Photo, Erik Gronning.) 

  • Figure 38
    Figure 38

    Detail of the left sliding lock of the top long drawer of the desk illustrated in fig. 33. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 39
    Figure 39

    Christopher Townsend, desk, Newport, Rhode Island, ca. 1750. Mahogany, cedrela, and tulip poplar. H. 37 1/4", W. 35 5/8", D. 20 1/4". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 40
    Figure 40

    Detail of the brass mount on the left fallboard support of the desk illustrated in fig. 33. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 41
    Figure 41

    Detail of the silver mount on the left fallboard support of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 5. (Courtesy, Sotheby’s.) 

  • Figure 42
    Figure 42

    Detail of the brass mount on the left fallboard support of the desk illustrated in fig. 32. (Courtesy, Sotheby’s.)