Rare Chester County Pennsylvania Spice Chest in walnut having a moulded cornice above a raised panel door opening to an arrangement of ten small drawers (one replaced) and raised on straight bracket feet. Secondary woods include: poplar, oak, walnut and beech. There is a faint inscription on one of the bottom drawers. Pennsylvania, circa 1760-80.

Spice boxes or chests were a status symbol in colonial America. Only a household that was well furnished and fairly prosperous had a spice box. Spice chests were popular among the Quakers of the Delaware Valley during the late seventeenth and throughout the eighteenth centuries, remaining fashionable in Pennsylvania long after falling out of style elsewhere. The boxes, fitted in the interior with banks of small drawers, were often displayed in the public rooms (not the kitchens) of homes, functioning as both a repository for small valuables, such as spices and silver and jewelry items, and as a symbol of the family’s prosperity.

18"W x 9.75"D x 22" tall

LATE GEORGE III W.&T.M. BARDIN 18-INCH TERRESTRIAL GLOBE ON STAND 
additions to 1807, dedicated to Sir Joseph Banks, the globe in etched brass frame resting on a corona with months and zodiac on turned support with tapering downswept legs with brass casters

Dimensions: Height: 41 in. (104.1 cm.), Diameter: 24 in. (61 cm.)

This terrestrial globe is supported on a wooden tri-pod pedestal, surrounded by a wooden horizon circle, and it is equipped with a brass meridian . The cartouche in the Pacific Ocean displays a seated female figure of Britannia, a seated woman holding an astronomical quadrant, and a small portrait of Joseph Banks. The text below reads: “To the Rt Honorable / SIR JOSEPH BANKS, BART K. B. / This New British Terrestrial Globe / containing all the latest Discoveries and Communications, from the most / correct and authentic Observations and surveys, to the year 1798 / by Captn Cook and more recent Navigators, Engraved on / an accurate Drawing by Mr Arrowsmith Geographer / Is respectfully dedicated / by his most obedient hble servants / W. & T. M. Bardin / 230” A text below reads: “Manufactured & Sold Wholesale & Retail by W. & T. M. BARDIN / 16 Salisbury Square Fleet Street London”

William Bardin (fl. 1730-1798) was a London artisan who began making globes around 1780. Ten years later, now partnership with his son, Thomas Marriott Bardin (1768-1819), he began trading as W. & T. M. Bardin. The 18-inch globes, their most ambitious, were introduced in 1798, and remained in production, by successor firms, for a half century.

Similar globe is in the collection of National Museum of American History

Exceptional George III Serpentine Chest of Drawers or Commode in the French Manner having a moulded edge serpentine top with overhanging sides above two over three conforming drawers, rounded front corners and bold bracket feet. The drawer sides and bottoms are mahogany which is unusual since it was the most expensive wood during the 18th Century. Brass pulls may be original, escutcheons replaced.

English, Circa 1760.

Top: 42" wide
Case: 37" wide
Height: 37"
Depth: 23"

Rare American Federal tea caddy in nicely figured mahogany with three sides and stepped lid inlaid with banding and corner fan decoration; rectangular, with shaped skirt and French bracket feet and divided interior. Probably 1800. Provenance: The Cockrell Collection.

See Montgomery, American Furniture, The Federal Period, #436-439 for other examples.

Exhibited: “A Celebration of the Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party” at Doyles, Boston 2024

Height, 9.25”; Length, 12”; Width, 6.5.”

Exceptional George III bachelor’s chest in nicely figured mahogany with good color and patina, having a rectangular, cross banded top above an oak brushing slide and four graduated drawers flanked by canted, reeded corners and raised on straight bracket feet. English, circa 1780 (brasses replaced).

Length: 33.75”
Depth: 19.75”
Height: 32.5”

**Please note: This item is not currently on view in our gallery. If you would like to see it, please call at least 48 hours in advance.

Antique English Tea Chest in the Form of a Sideboard, in mahogany and deal, having a rectangular hinged top with shaped and carved backsplash which opens to a sugarbowl, the front with two cabinet doors opening to lidded tea caddies.

Exhibited: “A Celebration of the Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party” at Doyles, Boston 2024

William Smee & Sons, London, published a catalog of furniture designs in 1850 which had sideboards of similar form. (See Pictorial Dictionary of British 19th Century Furniture Designs by Edward Joy, pp 435-36.) 14"x5"x12.75"tall (key)

Attributed to Pieter van Bloemen (Flemish, 1657-1720)

Military Encampment

Oil-on-canvas.

Painting size: 23” x 32”

Frame size: 31” x 40”

Born in Antwerp, van Bloemen was the brother of Jan-Frans and Norbert van Bloemen. His master was the battle painter, Simon van Douw. In 1673 van Bloemen was a master in Antwerp, but he did not stay there long. He is believed to have spent 20 years in Rome and it is known that he was working there in 1688. In 1694 he returned to Antwerp where he had eight students in an atelier. Van Bloemen is noted for his paintings of horses, Italian landscapes, battle scenes and market places. His works are in the collections of many European museums.

Source:

Benezit, E. Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs

An unusual and dramatic firescreen abattant. It reminds me of some of the smaller, New York classical parlor furniture I've seen in Southern house tours with late Federal drawing and music rooms furnished with pieces imported by successful merchants - almost, but not quite, over the top in their design yet direct in their function. So an argument could be made for high, New York city style. And the inlaid oval in the center, with pie crimped edge, is reminiscent of some New England work. The passive function is that of a firescreen and explains the distress to the side with inlay which likely faced the fireplace (rather than the upholstered side.) The "surprise" is the enclosed work area with the hinged top dropping to provide a writing surface (abattant [fr], "put horizontal") below the interior fitted with letter or document slots (only the back one of three dividing slats remaining - evidence of two more, and three segments which would have divided at least one of two lateral slots into three sections.) Perhaps because of the narrow profile, there appears to be no secondary wood under or behind any of the solid mahogany. Condition is quite good considering the likely heat exposure as a firescreen and probable stress to the hinged top which relies upon the case as a counter-stop. We had distress to the inlaid surface evened out, filled and finished - disturbing old finish as less as possible - to make it presentable for the decorator yet acceptable to the collector. We left the old upholstery (possibly original) alone for the next steward to decide. Our restorer (specializing in period furniture) had also never before encountered this design. Our photographs illustrate the character of the old, now serviceable inlaid surface. Ca 1800 - 1810. Height, about 42 3/4 inches. Width, about 21 5/8 inches (about 22 1/4 inches wide at the trestle base).

This firescreen abattant may be inspected at The Antique Center at Historic Savage Mill, Maryland

Chippendale mahogany reverse serpentine (oxbow) slant front desk. Ball and claw feet. Circa 1770. Good, old surface. Relined drawers. Original back and bottom show the age and oxidation of some original, untouched secondary surfaces. Replaced drawer brasses. Some loose, smaller pulls for slant front slide supports and interior gallery drawers retained. A locksmith need be retained to loose the top drawer. Otherwise good condition. Massachusetts, probably Boston. Height, 44 1/2 inches. Width, 41 1/2 inches. Depth, 27 inches (add another 1.5 inches for convex drawer fronts and foot returns). A rare opportunity to acquire, enjoy and conserve as steward a beautiful specimen born with our country.

This desk may be inspected at The Antique Center at Historic Savage Mill, Maryland

Rare set of English Regency bedsteps in mahogany with caned sides and back, having a turned gallery above three tooled leather treads, the first with tambour doors below, the second now with drawer below. Circa 1800-1815.

Height: 27” (top of top step)
Depth: 31.75”
Width: 20”

Rare George II Writing Stand in mahogany, having a rectangular adjustable top with strut supports and a removable book rest, a fitted side drawer with two glass inkwells, two swing out candle-slides, and an adjustable height cannon-form standard supported by cabriole legs ending in pad feet and brass castors.

English, Circa 1740.

Height when closed: 36-3/4 in (93.3 cm); Width: 22 in (55.9 cm); Depth: 17 in (43.2 cm)
(ink stains on top)

Extremely Rare Chippendale Wine Table in mahogany having an octagonal top with low gallery above a vasiform carved and turned pillar and supported by three downswept legs. English, circa 1750

Many of the tables of this form described as "wine tables" are taller and are actually candlestands. This is a true wine table, which would have been placed next to the host's chair after dessert was served and the servants withdrew so there could be private conversation.

22" high x 20" spread

Exceptional Antique Eglomise Lacemakers Box on later Stand; rectangular with lid and sides with gilt decoration against a white ground and the lid with a painted scene of a thatched farmhouse, opening to fitted interior with removable tray and lacemakers spindle/roller. 19th Century (minor paint losses)

Box: 13.25" x 11" x 4.5"
With stand: 30.25" tall

Antique English Bagatelle Box in Mahogany with original wooden insert and later ball and cues, now mounted on a metal stand.

Circa 1840

Bagatelle was a billiards-derived indoor table game, the object of which was to get a number of balls past wooden pins into holes that are guarded by wooden pegs; penalties were incurred if the pegs are knocked over.

36" x 17.75" x 18.5" tall (closed)

Rare George III Wine Stand in mahogany having a circular top with molded lip on a shaped pedestal with tripod legs on slipper feet. English, circa 1760.

*Most tables of this form described as "wine tables" are actually candlestands. This is a true wine table, which would have been placed next to the host's chair after dessert was served and the servants withdrew so there could be private conversation.

h: 21 x dia: 10.75 in.

A nicely proportioned, elegant Sheraton cellarette. The case joined to the framed base, raised on turned legs. Escutcheon with associated lock but no key. Bottom of the case interior fitted with 4 1/2 inch high dividers for eight bottle positions. Old finish. Appears to be white pine secondary with a red paint wash and quite oxidized on the underside. Looking at our picture of the underside, one board from the back of the supporting frame can be discerned as a replacement. Also from that image, an illegible (to us) maker’s scrawl, large across the bottom of the case, is observed. We believe this cellarette is American Federal rather than English late Georgian. Circa 1820. Good condition. Easily holds champagne and other 750ml bottles. An easily placed size at 26 1/2 inches high, 20 inches wide and 11 1/4 inches deep.

An appointment would be necessary to inspect this cellarette

Fine George III Octagonal Cellarette or Wine Cooler in mahogany with brass banding, having a hinged lid opening to a tin liner, slightly tapered body with brass carrying handles and the original stand with four champfered legs. English, circa 1780.

Originally used in the dining room to hold wine brought up from the cellar for the meal, the tin liner would have protected the wood from the condensation from the bottles. Now often used as an occasional or end table.

Top: 19.25" x 19.25"
Height: 27"

Small George III Writing Table in mahogany with a rectangular, hinged ratcheting top, two candle slides and a removable book rest on a turned, adjustable height pedestal base with tripod legs and slipper feet ending in brass castors. English, circa 1760

h:29 w:22 d:18.75 in.