American Furniture at Skinner's Auction

Queen Anne Maple Carved High Chest, probably Hampden, Massachusetts area, 1760-80, the scrolled molded cornice ends in carved pinwheels flanking the central plinth and flame-carved finial above the upper case that includes three small drawers, the central one with a concave fan above four long graduated drawers with molded upper edges above the mid-molding and the lower case of drawers which also includes a central concave carved drawer above three flat-headed arches and cabriole legs ending in pad feet, replaced brasses, refinished, (imperfections), ht. 84, wd. 37 1/4, dp. 19 in.

Estimate $20,000-25,000

Sold for $29,375

Tiger Maple Dressing Table, Delaware River Valley, c. 1770, the top with molded edge and front notched corners above the case of three thumb-molded drawers, the top drawer is only visually divided, on a vigorously shaped and cut out front skirt and shaped sides above four cabriole legs ending in carved, stockinged feet with five facets, original brasses and lock, refinished, (imperfections) ht. 29 3/4, wd. 30, top wd. 34 1/2, top dp. 20 1/4 in.

Estimate $15,000-25,000

Sold for $15,272

Painted Paneled Maple, Oak, and Pine Chest of Drawers, Hatfield-Hadley, Massachusetts area, c. 1730, the molded top above a case of reverse graduated drawers separated by half round moldings, with recessed panel sides above a heavy molding and turned feet, pulls appear early, old Spanish brown repaint, (imperfections), ht. 45, wd. 43, case wd. 40, dp. 21 in.

Estimate $8,000-12,000

Sold for $5,875

Set of Five Chippendale Mahogany Carved Side Chairs, Boston, 1760-80, the serpentine crest rails terminate in raked molded ears and include chip carving above the pierced splats on trapezoidal molded seat frames and leaf-carved arris cabriole legs ending in frontal ball and claw feet with raking talons and rear squared legs ending in squared feet, old surface, (minor imperfections), ht. 38 1/2, seat ht. to rail top 17 in.

Estimate $30,000-50,000

Sold for $55,813

Chippendale Mahogany Carved Reverse Serpentine Desk and Bookcase, Boston or North Shore, Massachusetts, 1760-80, the scrolled molded cornice terminates in circular bosses above the flame-carved finials over the ogee and bolection molded frieze on the scrolled paneled doors flanked by pilasters which open to valanced and plain compartments, small drawers and adjustable shelf over candle slides, on the lower case which consists of a desk with fan-carved, end-blocked, serpentine drawers, with scrolled valances flanking the blocked fan-carved prospect door with a similar interior drawer flanked by column-decorated prospect drawers above the four graduated, serpentine drawers the top one of which is arced with cockbeaded surrounds, above the conforming molded base with central leaf-carved dropped pendant and four carved ball and claw feet with shaped knee brackets, old surface, replaced brasses, (minor repairs), ht. 94 1/4, wd. 41 5/8, upper case wd. 39 3/4, dp. 22 5/8, upper case dp. 13 3/8 in.

Estimate $15,000-25,000

Sold for $27,025

Chippendale Mahogany Carved Easy Chair, Boston, c. 1760-80, the serpentine crest above the shaped wings continuing to outscrolled arms on the cabriole front legs with arris knees which continue to carved ball and claw feet which are joined to the rear maple square, chamfered, raking legs by block and turned stretchers, old surface, modern wool damask red show cover replicating the appropriate cover for this 18th century chair, ht. 46, seat ht. 14 3/4 in. to the rail.

Provenance: According to Lyman family history, this chair descended in the family from Theodore Lyman, a Boston merchant, to the consignor. In 1793, Theodore Lyman, who had amassed a fortune in the China trade, purchased 150 acres of farm and woodland in Waltham, Massachusetts, where he established his country set including a Palladian-style mansion designed by the prominent architect Samuel McIntire of Salem. The surrounding landscape included ornamental ponds, a deer park, greenhouse, garden, and vast meadows. When Theodore Lyman died in 1839, the property including the house and land stayed in the Lyman family until it was gifted in 1951 to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, a Boston museum which has preserved the Lyman estate as an historic house known as "The Vale."

Note: The conservation report on this chair was prepared by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities in 1994, when the show cover was hand-loomed for the chair

Estimate $40,000-60,000

Sold for $149,000.

Copy and photos from Skinner's Auction.