Lot 295: New England Chippendale Block Front Desk and Bookcase , ref. Nutting fig. 697

New England Chippendale mahogany block-front secretary – desk or desk and bookcase. Two-part construction, white pine secondary. Top section with molded arch bonnet pediment and three flame finials, over two tombstone paneled doors flanked by undulating scrolled pilasters opening to three shaped shelves. Desk with slant front having cleated ends, opening to a fitted interior with a center prospect door with a carved shell design that can be removed vertically with a key. The removal of the prospect door reveals a scalloped valence with a hidden dovetailed drawer of shallow depth over two blockfront dovetailed drawers. The center prospect section is flanked by vertical half-turned columnar hidden drawers. The columnar drawers are flanked on each side by a set of four blockfront dovetailed drawers and four pigeonholes above the drawers. All interior blockfront drawers with brass pulls. Blockfront lower case with four graduated, dovetailed drawers with batwing pulls and escutcheons; lip molding around the case perimeter for each drawer. Base with ogee molding transitioning to conforming blockfront feet with returns. 98 1/4 in. H (includes finials) x 38 3/4 in. W x 21 1/2 in. D. Possibly Massachusetts, late 18th century. Note: a nearly identical form is illustrated in Wallace Nutting’s FURNITURE TREASURY (New York: McMillan Co., 1948), Figure 697.

PROVENANCE: The estate of Dr. W. Harwell Murrey, Middle Tennessee.

CONDITION: Graduated desk drawers with replaced bottom boards and buildup of lower drawer sides indicate the possible marriage of blockfront drawers from another desk. Interior drawer supports replaced. Finials are replacements. Brasses and some of the hinges and locks are replaced. Backboards appear original, retaining some of the original rosehead nails.