Brock Jobe and Kemble Widmer
William King and a Century of Misattributions

American Furniture 2024

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Chest of drawers, labeled by William King, Salem, Massachusetts, 1788–1793. Mahogany with white pine. H. 33 3/4", W. 41", D. 22 3/4". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Detail of the label of William King on the back of the chest illustrated in fig. 1. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Chest of drawers, attributed to the shop of Thomas Needham Jr., Salem, Massachusetts, 1780–1787. Mahogany with white pine. H. 35 1/8", W. 41 3/4", D. 24 1/4". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum, gift of the Estate of Marianne M. Beach, 1962, M11444; photo, Michael E. Myers.)

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    Detail of the front foot of the chest of drawers illustrated in fig. 3. (Photo, Michael E. Myers.)

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Advertisement by William King in the Salem Mercury (Mass.), February 5, 1793. (Courtesy, American Antiquarian Society.)

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Card table, labeled by William King, Salem, Massachusetts, 1788–1793. Mahogany with white pine and maple. H. 28 1/2", W. 34 9/16", D. 17". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    Detail of the swing leg showing the label of the card table illustrated in fig. 6. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Side chair, labeled by William King, Salem, Massachusetts, 1788–1793. Mahogany with white pine and unidentified hardwood. H. 38 1/4", W. 21", D. 18". (Private collection; photo, Historic New England.)

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Detail of the label of William King on the underside of the seat rail of the side chair illustrated in fig. 8. (Photo, Historic New England.)

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Candlestand, stamped “W. KING,” Salem, Massachusetts, 1783–1793. Mahogany. H. 28 5/16", W. 22 1/4", D. 15 3/4". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Detail of stamped “W. KING” on the bottom of the pillar of the candlestand in fig. 10. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Advertisement by William King in the Dartmouth Gazette (Hanover, N.H.), March 28, 1806. (Courtesy, American Antiquarian Society.)

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Silhouettes of Zilpah and Stephen Longfellow, William King, Portland, Maine, ca. 1805. (Courtesy, Collections of Maine Historical Society.)

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Details of gadrooned carving on five pieces of case furniture traditionally attributed to William King:

    A: front foot of the chest of drawers illustrated in fig. 3. (Photo, Michael E. Myers.)
    B: front foot of the chest of drawers illustrated in fig. 59. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)
    C: front foot of the chest of drawers illustrated in fig. 44.
    D: front foot of the desk and bookcase illustrated in fig. 69. (Photo, Brock Jobe.)
    E: front foot of the desk illustrated in fig. 35. (Photo, Michael E. Myers.)

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Design for a “Desk & Bookcase” and detail of foot shown on pl. 78 of the first edition of Thomas Chippendale’s The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director (London, 1754). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library.)

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Detail of the interior of the chest of drawers in fig. 1. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    Detail of the bottom of the chest of drawers in fig. 1. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    Detail of the rear foot bracket of the chest of drawers in fig. 1. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

    Detail of a veneered drawer front in the chest of drawers in fig. 1. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 20
    Figure 20

    Detail of the laminated pine core of a drawer in the chest of drawers in fig. 1. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    Chest of drawers, Thomas Needham Jr., Salem, Massachusetts, 1783. Mahogany with white pine. H. 36 1/2", W. 44 1/4", D. 24 1/4". (Private collection; photo, Sack Family Archive, Yale University Art Gallery.)

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

    Detail under infrared light of the inscription “TN 1783” on the bottom of the chest of drawers in fig. 21. (Photo, Sack Family Archive, Yale University Art Gallery.)

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    Chest of drawers, attributed to the shop of Thomas Needham Jr., Salem, Massachusetts, 1780–1787. Mahogany with white pine. H. 33 1/2", W. 46", D. 23 5/8". (Photo, © 2024 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.)

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    Chest of drawers, attributed to the shop of Thomas Needham Jr., Salem, Massachusetts, 1780–1787. Mahogany with white pine. H. 33 1/4", W. 44 1/2", D. 22 7/8". (Courtesy, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, bequest of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Hennage.)

  • Figure 25
    Figure 25

    Chest of drawers, attributed to the shop of Thomas Needham Jr., Salem, Massachusetts, 1780–1787. Mahogany with white pine. H. 31 3/4", W. 41 1/4", D. 23". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 26
    Figure 26

    Desk, attributed to the shop of Thomas Needham Jr., Salem, Massachusetts, 1780–1787. Mahogany with white pine. H. 44 7/8", W. 47 1/2", D. 25 1/4". (Private collection; photo, Sotheby’s.)

  • Figure 27
    Figure 27

    Desk, attributed to the shop of Thomas Needham Jr., Salem, Massachusetts, 1780–1787. Mahogany with white pine. H. 43 1/2", W. 43 3/4", D. 24". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex Museum, gift of the Estate of Sarah Ann Cheever, 1908, 101792; photo, Walter Silver.)

  • Figure 28
    Figure 28

    Chest of drawers, attributed to the shop of Thomas Needham Jr., Salem, Massachusetts, 1785–1787. Mahogany with white pine. H. 35 1/2", W. 41 1/2", D. 24". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 29
    Figure 29

    Detail of the rear foot of the chest of drawers in fig. 3. (Photo, Michael E. Myers.)

  • Figure 30
    Figure 30

    Detail of the top of the chest of drawers in fig. 25. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 31
    Figure 31

    Detail of the pendant drop of the chest of drawers in fig. 3. (Photo, Michael E. Myers.)

  • Figure 32
    Figure 32

    Detail of the interior of the chest of drawers in fig. 3. (Photo, Michael E. Myers.)

  • Figure 33
    Figure 33

    Detail of the bottom of the chest of drawers in fig. 3. (Photo, Michael E. Myers.)

  • Figure 34
    Figure 34

    Detail of the drawer bottom in the desk in fig. 26. (Photo, Brock Jobe.)

  • Figure 35
    Figure 35

    Desk, Salem-Beverly area, Massachusetts, 1780–1790. Mahogany with white pine. H. 42", W. 45 5/8", D. 25 1/16". (Courtesy, James W. Lowery Fine Antiques and Arts; photo, Michael E. Myers.)

  • Figure 36
    Figure 36

    Detail of the interior of the desk in fig. 35. (Photo, Michael E. Myers.)

  • Figure 37
    Figure 37

    Desk, Salem-Beverly area, Massachusetts, 1780–1790. Mahogany with white pine. H. 42 1/8", W. 45 3/4", D. 24 7/8". (Courtesy, The Stanley Weiss Collection.)

  • Figure 38
    Figure 38

    Detail of the interior of the desk in fig. 37.

  • Figure 39
    Figure 39

    Desk, Salem-Beverly area, Massachusetts, 1780–1790. Mahogany. H. 43 1/8", W. 41", D. 23". (Current location unknown; photo, Bonhams Skinner.)

  • Figure 40
    Figure 40

    Chest-on-chest, Salem-Beverly area, Massachusetts, 1770–1780. Mahogany with white pine. H. 74 3/4", W. 45 3/4", D. 24 1/4". (Courtesy, Historic New England, Museum purchase with funds provided by an anonymous gift, 1985.9; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 41
    Figure 41

    Design for a “Chest of Drawers” shown on pl. 88 of the first edition of Thomas Chippendale’s The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director (London, 1754). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library.)

  • Figure 42
    Figure 42

    Comparison of the cornice of the chest-on-chest in fig. 40 and the cornice profile also shown on pl. 88 of the first edition of Thomas Chippendale’s The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director (London, 1754). (Photos, Gavin Ashworth [left] and Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library [right].)

  • Figure 43
    Figure 43

    Comparison of the fretwork on the chest-on-chest in fig. 40 and a detail of the design for “Two New Frets proper for Trays or Fenders” shown on pl. 6 of John Crunden’s The Joyner and Cabinet-Maker’s Darling (London, 1765). (Photos, Gavin Ashworth [top] and Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library [bottom].)

  • Figure 44
    Figure 44

    Chest of drawers, Salem area, Massachusetts, 1770–1780. Mahogany with crabwood, basswood, and white pine. H. 34 5/8", W. 36", D. 22 3/4". (Courtesy, The Henry Ford.)

  • Figure 45
    Figure 45

    Detail of a design for a “Desk & Bookcase” shown on pl. 80 of the first edition of Thomas Chippendale’s The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director (London, 1754). (Photo, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library.)

  • Figure 46
    Figure 46

    Desk and bookcase, Salem-Beverly area, Massachusetts, 1770–1780. Mahogany with white pine. H. 90", W. 40 1/2", D. 24 1/2". (Photo, © 2016 Christie’s Images Limited.)

  • Figure 47
    Figure 47

    Desk, Salem-Beverly area, Massachusetts, 1775–1790. Mahogany with white pine. H. 42 1/2", W.46", D. 23 15/16". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 48
    Figure 48

    Detail of the interior of the desk in fig. 47. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 49
    Figure 49

    Detail of the bottom of the chest-on-chest in fig. 40. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 50
    Figure 50

    Detail of the rear foot bracket of the chest-on-chest in fig. 40. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 51
    Figure 51

    Detail of the widely spaced double bead on the drawer side of the chest-on-chest in fig. 40. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 52
    Figure 52

    Detail of the drawer bottom of the chest-on-chest in fig. 40. (Photo, Historic New England.)

  • Figure 53
    Figure 53

    Detail of the inscription “John Allen / 1792 [W]ashington Street” on the top of the lower case of the chest-on-chest in fig. 40. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 54
    Figure 54

    Desk, Salem area, Massachusetts, 1780–1795. Mahogany with white pine. H. 41 3/8", W. 47 1/4", D. 25 1/4". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 55
    Figure 55

    Detail of the interior of the desk in fig. 54. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 56
    Figure 56

    Detail of the rear foot bracket of the desk in fig. 54. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 57
    Figure 57

    Comparison of the front feet of the desks in figs. 35 and 54. (Photos, Michael E. Myers [left] and Gavin Ashworth [right].)

  • Figure 58
    Figure 58

    Chest of drawers, Salem area, Massachusetts, 1780–1800. Mahogany with white pine. H. 32 1/16", W. 40 1/8", D. 20". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 59
    Figure 59

    Chest of drawers, Salem area, Massachusetts, 1780–1800. Mahogany with white pine. H. 33 1/8", W. 40 9/16“, D. 21". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 60
    Figure 60

    Detail of the numbering (1–4) on the drawer backs of the chest of drawers in fig. 59. (Photos, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 61
    Figure 61

    Detail of the rear corner of a drawer in the chest of drawers in fig. 59, showing that the upper dovetail of the drawer side extends over the back. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 62
    Figure 62

    Detail of the rear corner of the drawer in the chest of drawers in fig. 1, showing that the upper dovetail on the drawer back extends over the side. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 63
    Figure 63

    Desk, Salem-Ipswich area, Massachusetts, 1780–1795. Mahogany. H. 42 3/4", W. 41 1/4". (Private collection; photo, Sotheby’s.)

  • Figure 64
    Figure 64

    Desk, Salem-Ipswich area, Massachusetts, 1780–1795. Mahogany with white pine. H. 43 5/16", W. 42 7/16", D. 21 1/8". (Private collection; photo, Charles White/JWPictures.com.)

  • Figure 65
    Figure 65

    Detail of the interior of the desk in fig. 64. (Photo, Charles White/JWPictures.com.)

  • Figure 66
    Figure 66

    Desk, Salem-Ipswich area, Massachusetts, ca. 1792. Mahogany with white pine. H. 43 1/2", W. approx. 43", D. 23 1/8". (Private collection; photo, Tremont Auctions.)

  • Figure 67
    Figure 67

    Desk, Salem-Ipswich area, Massachusetts, 1780–1795. Mahogany with white pine. H. 43 5/16", W. 44 9/16", D. 22 9/16". (Private collection; photo, New England Gallery advertisement in Antiques 129, no. 4 [April 1986]: 737.)

  • Figure 68
    Figure 68

    Detail of the bottom of the desk in fig. 66. (Photo, Tremont Auctions.)

  • Figure 69
    Figure 69

    Desk and bookcase, Salem area, Massachusetts, 1780–1795. Mahogany with white pine. H. 95 1/2", W. 41 5/8", D. 24 3/8". (Private collection; photo, Sotheby’s.)