Southern vernacular Hepplewhite sideboard or server with rope and tassel inlay, possibly Tennessee. Cherry, maple, walnut primary with other mixed hardwoods and poplar secondary. Plain rectangular top with ovolo corners over a conforming case, having one long dovetailed drawer with scallop inlaid edges and inlaid ellipses surrounding the round brass knobs, over one deep dovetailed drawer. Drawers are flanked by open rounded shaped corners, each having three dovetailed drawers at the back and open storage space at the top and front. Six square legs (which do not taper), having inlaid oval and elliptical reserves at upper stiles, with rope or cord and tassel inlay to legs where they intersect the lower edge of the case. Cuff inlay to feet. 42" H x 65" W x 30" D. First quarter 19th century. Note: This unusual, possibly unique Southern sideboard has a long history of passing through several prominent collections in the Southwestern Virginia/North Carolina and East/Middle Tennessee region. It was acquired by Frank L. Horton of Winston-Salem, NC from a Mrs. Webb of Shelby, North Carolina, then owned by Katharine A. Mundy of "The Columns," Lynchburg, Virginia for several years before being auctioned upon her death in 1980 by Wilson Galleries, Verona, Virginia to Malvern and Delle Brown of Nashville, Tennessee. The Browns sold the sideboard to Raymond White of Nashville in 1985. (A copy of the receipt from this 1985 purchase, along with a 1981 letter from Frank L. Horton to the Browns on MESDA letterhead, stating his past ownership of the sideboard, is available to the winning bidder). Also included is a copy of Malvern Brown's typed notes on the sideboard, stating the Wilson Galleries catalog had attributed the sideboard to Kentucky, but gave no source for that attribution. Mr. Brown stated he believed the board may not have originally had doors, but that doors were added (and removed) at some point in its history and that the six small drawers were later additions. He also believed the large lower center drawers may have been a replacement for three original side by side drawers.

PROVENANCE: The Estate of Raymond White, Nashville, Tennessee.

CONDITION: The sideboard may have had form-fitted drawers to sides, with early modification of three smaller drawers in replacement. Later surface, top with some wood shrinkage and stains. Patches to veneer of top drawer, some wood shrinkage to lower left cutout shelf, losses to veneer on two legs. Upper drawer line with later added green felt. Previously likely had a bank of three drawers with large lower drawer being an early modification.