Colonial Furniture
1745 Desk-and-Bookcase by Christopher Townsend
1999 SOLD for $ 8.3M including premium by Sotheby's
narrated in 2020
Job and Christopher Townsend, members of the Quaker community of Newport RI, establish themselves as carpenters in 1723 and are also joiners. At that time Newport needs to manage its economic and religious independence from Boston. The two brothers become cabinetmakers.
They work together. The earliest reference to their new activity is a letter from Christopher in 1733 describing a desk-and-bookcase that Job had just sold. For nearly a century, this family, closely linked to the Goddard, Casey and Spencer families, will produce top quality mahogany furniture.
Attribution is difficult. Only one known piece, which is also a desk-and-bookcase, bears the label of Job Townsend. Christopher Townsend's previously unknown signature was discovered in 1998 on another desk-and-bookcase that was in France for nearly two centuries. Its traceability is perfect : it had been delivered to a minister in Cambridge MA and exported circa 1800 by his grandson in charge of a permanent diplomatic mission in France.
This piece of furniture in superb condition is typical of the best craftsmanship of American cabinetmakers of the 1740s. It was mounted in marked silver by a very young goldsmith named Samuel Casey who established his business in 1745 in Exeter RI after an apprenticeship in Boston. This is the only known American piece of furniture with solid silver handles. It was sold for $ 8.3M including premium by Sotheby's on January 16, 1999.
They work together. The earliest reference to their new activity is a letter from Christopher in 1733 describing a desk-and-bookcase that Job had just sold. For nearly a century, this family, closely linked to the Goddard, Casey and Spencer families, will produce top quality mahogany furniture.
Attribution is difficult. Only one known piece, which is also a desk-and-bookcase, bears the label of Job Townsend. Christopher Townsend's previously unknown signature was discovered in 1998 on another desk-and-bookcase that was in France for nearly two centuries. Its traceability is perfect : it had been delivered to a minister in Cambridge MA and exported circa 1800 by his grandson in charge of a permanent diplomatic mission in France.
This piece of furniture in superb condition is typical of the best craftsmanship of American cabinetmakers of the 1740s. It was mounted in marked silver by a very young goldsmith named Samuel Casey who established his business in 1745 in Exeter RI after an apprenticeship in Boston. This is the only known American piece of furniture with solid silver handles. It was sold for $ 8.3M including premium by Sotheby's on January 16, 1999.
1750 Queen Anne Footstool from Philadelphia
2008 SOLD for $ 5.2M including premium by Sotheby's
narrated in 2021
The Queen Anne style brought to England lighter pieces of furniture, skilfully carved in richly toned woods. From the 1730s the high classes in Boston and Philadelphia enjoy this highly elegant style. Tables and seats display signature S-shaped outward turned legs.
A footstool 40 cm high made ca 1750 in Philadelphia was sold by Sotheby's on September 26, 2008 for $ 5.2M including premium from a lower estimate of $ 200K, lot 117. Made in walnut, it displays a dark rich possibly original surface and has been reupholstered in a period correct fabric.
It has all the Queen Anne features including the paneled foot pads. The serpentine shape of the seat rail is unique of its kind in colonial and world furniture.
A footstool 40 cm high made ca 1750 in Philadelphia was sold by Sotheby's on September 26, 2008 for $ 5.2M including premium from a lower estimate of $ 200K, lot 117. Made in walnut, it displays a dark rich possibly original surface and has been reupholstered in a period correct fabric.
It has all the Queen Anne features including the paneled foot pads. The serpentine shape of the seat rail is unique of its kind in colonial and world furniture.
1755 Queen Anne Armchair from Philadelphia
2006 SOLD for $ 2.26M by Sotheby's
Founded by William Penn, Philadelphia meaning the city of brotherly friendship is the center of an intense intellectual activity keenly animated by Benjamin Franklin. A group of walnut armchairs is particularly appealing the historians because they are the witnesses of these learned societies, but they have not yet unveiled the circumstances of their origin.
These pieces are scattered and nothing is known of their history before their separation. Four of them are numbered : III, IIII, V and VIII, with the matching frame numbers except for chair VIII which is fitted with frame I.
Their Queen Anne style was common in Philadelphia. The elegance of these luxury seats is obtained by the carefully rounded sculpture of their wood elements. The complex assembly is reinforced with iron in the most fragile areas. Their overall height, long elbows and hollowed decorated back confirm that they constitute a single group.
The comparison with other individual seats including side chairs leaves no doubt on the fact that they were manufactured in Philadelphia in the eighteenth century. The are the only group of its kind from which examples have survived.
The highest known number, VIII, suggests that they have been designed for the use of a community or a club. The name of the great bibliophile James Logan, who was also a mayor of Philadelphia, was proposed but the argument about such a provenance is not based on period documents.
Chair V was sold for $ 2.26M by Sotheby's on October 7, 2006 from a lower estimate of $ 500K, lot 318.
A unique unnumbered armchair is known. Its final characteristics are identical to those of the other four units and it comes undoubtedly from the same original operation. Some holes to facilitate the assembly, present on the other chairs, are missing to this one, opening the interesting hypothesis that this piece would be a prototype for the series. It was sold for $ 550K including premium by Christie's on January 22, 2016.
Christie's catalog positions it around 1755, which corresponds to the period of preparation of the Philadelphia public library following the very generous legacy made by Logan.
These pieces are scattered and nothing is known of their history before their separation. Four of them are numbered : III, IIII, V and VIII, with the matching frame numbers except for chair VIII which is fitted with frame I.
Their Queen Anne style was common in Philadelphia. The elegance of these luxury seats is obtained by the carefully rounded sculpture of their wood elements. The complex assembly is reinforced with iron in the most fragile areas. Their overall height, long elbows and hollowed decorated back confirm that they constitute a single group.
The comparison with other individual seats including side chairs leaves no doubt on the fact that they were manufactured in Philadelphia in the eighteenth century. The are the only group of its kind from which examples have survived.
The highest known number, VIII, suggests that they have been designed for the use of a community or a club. The name of the great bibliophile James Logan, who was also a mayor of Philadelphia, was proposed but the argument about such a provenance is not based on period documents.
Chair V was sold for $ 2.26M by Sotheby's on October 7, 2006 from a lower estimate of $ 500K, lot 318.
A unique unnumbered armchair is known. Its final characteristics are identical to those of the other four units and it comes undoubtedly from the same original operation. Some holes to facilitate the assembly, present on the other chairs, are missing to this one, opening the interesting hypothesis that this piece would be a prototype for the series. It was sold for $ 550K including premium by Christie's on January 22, 2016.
Christie's catalog positions it around 1755, which corresponds to the period of preparation of the Philadelphia public library following the very generous legacy made by Logan.
1755 Slab Table by John Goddard
2012 SOLD for $ 2.1M including premium by Christie's
Link to catalogue.
1756 A Masterpiece of John Townsend
2012 SOLD 3.6 M$ including premium
In the ancient meaning of that word, a masterpiece (or chef d'oeuvre) is the piece with which a craftsman terminates his apprenticeship. This work demonstrates his know how and opens to him the right of creating his own workshop.
The high chest of drawers (or highboy) for sale on January 21 in New York by Sotheby's is signed by John Townsend, located in Newport (Rhode Island) and dated 1756. This craftsman who was to become the most renowned cabinetmaker of Newport was then 23 years old, and this piece is one of the first pieces of furniture signed by him.
It is a mahogany chest of Queen Anne style, similar to examples made in Philadelphia at the same time. Measuring 2.25 x 1.02 x 0.54 m, it has carved higher and lower rails and high claw feet enclosing balls.
It remained in its original condition and has always belonged to the same family. Such qualities are always in high demand by the market, and it is estimated $ 2M. Here is the link to the catalog.
Chance of auctions: the craft of John Townsend is represented by several outstanding lots in the Americana sales of current month, including a diminutive block and shell cabinet at Christie's which has also been the subject of an article in this group.
POST SALE COMMENT
The Americana sales of current week were dominated by two pieces of furniture by John Townsend, both discussed in this group, one at Christie's and the other at Sotheby's. They were of similar quality and fetched comparable prices.
The highboy presented by Sotheby's and subject of this article was sold for $ 3.6 million including premium.
The high chest of drawers (or highboy) for sale on January 21 in New York by Sotheby's is signed by John Townsend, located in Newport (Rhode Island) and dated 1756. This craftsman who was to become the most renowned cabinetmaker of Newport was then 23 years old, and this piece is one of the first pieces of furniture signed by him.
It is a mahogany chest of Queen Anne style, similar to examples made in Philadelphia at the same time. Measuring 2.25 x 1.02 x 0.54 m, it has carved higher and lower rails and high claw feet enclosing balls.
It remained in its original condition and has always belonged to the same family. Such qualities are always in high demand by the market, and it is estimated $ 2M. Here is the link to the catalog.
Chance of auctions: the craft of John Townsend is represented by several outstanding lots in the Americana sales of current month, including a diminutive block and shell cabinet at Christie's which has also been the subject of an article in this group.
POST SALE COMMENT
The Americana sales of current week were dominated by two pieces of furniture by John Townsend, both discussed in this group, one at Christie's and the other at Sotheby's. They were of similar quality and fetched comparable prices.
The highboy presented by Sotheby's and subject of this article was sold for $ 3.6 million including premium.
1755-1760 Scalloped Mahogany in Philadelphia
2015 SOLD for $ 1.9M including premium
Narrated below. See blog.
The appearance of an unpublished piece of furniture in perfect condition in direct line from Philadelphia's notable families is an important event, especially when these pieces have been normally maintained without being retouched.
This is the case of the tea table from Fisher-Fox provenance carved by "Garver" around 1760. It was sold for $ 6.8M including premium at Christie's on 3 October 2007.
On January 31 in New York, Keno sells the Potter-Crouch-Jordan specimen executed at the same period by "Spike", in a similar conservation state, and which is also a new discovery. This tea table is estimated $ 500K to 2M, lot 1. Maine Antique Digest describes this piece of furniture as signed by cabinetmaker Henry Cliffton, with carving attributed to "Spike," 1755-60.
The models for both pieces are very similar, and it is quite possible that these anonymous Spike and Garver were sharing the same shop.
The appearance of an unpublished piece of furniture in perfect condition in direct line from Philadelphia's notable families is an important event, especially when these pieces have been normally maintained without being retouched.
This is the case of the tea table from Fisher-Fox provenance carved by "Garver" around 1760. It was sold for $ 6.8M including premium at Christie's on 3 October 2007.
On January 31 in New York, Keno sells the Potter-Crouch-Jordan specimen executed at the same period by "Spike", in a similar conservation state, and which is also a new discovery. This tea table is estimated $ 500K to 2M, lot 1. Maine Antique Digest describes this piece of furniture as signed by cabinetmaker Henry Cliffton, with carving attributed to "Spike," 1755-60.
The models for both pieces are very similar, and it is quite possible that these anonymous Spike and Garver were sharing the same shop.
Chippendale tea table sold for $1,895,000 at Keno Auctions on January 31. #antiques #auction
http://t.co/S8HkyJOCjY pic.twitter.com/Bf1CBV75Sl
— Maine Antique Digest (@AntiqueDigest) January 31, 20151760 Philadelphia Tea Table
2007 SOLD for $ 6.8M including premium by Christie's
narrated in 2015 before the sale of another table by Keno (see below) (see also above)
The second half of the eighteenth century saw a rapid economic growth in Boston and Philadelphia. Politically Philadelphia, thanks to its central position inside the colonies, will play the major role at the time of independence.
The higher bourgeoisie of Philadelphia welcomed the mahogany furniture in Chippendale style. Curiously, the best cabinet makers have not been identified and their achievements have been grouped under later coined pseudonyms.
The tea table with tilt top and scalloped edge is one of the most stunning models from Philadelphia's colonial furniture. Their carving is abundant and extremely careful.
The appearance of an unpublished piece of furniture in perfect condition in direct line from Philadelphia's notable families is an important event, especially when these pieces have been normally maintained without being retouched.
This is the case of the tea table from Fisher-Fox provenance carved by "Garver" around 1760. It was sold by Christie's on October 3, 2007 for $ 6.8M including premium from a lower estimate of $ 2M, lot 94.
On January 31, 2015, Keno sold for $ 1.9M including premium the Potter-Crouch-Jordan specimen executed at the same period by "Spike", in a similar conservation status, and which is also a new discovery.
Both pieces are very similar, and it is quite possible that these anonymous Spike and Garver were sharing the same shop.
The higher bourgeoisie of Philadelphia welcomed the mahogany furniture in Chippendale style. Curiously, the best cabinet makers have not been identified and their achievements have been grouped under later coined pseudonyms.
The tea table with tilt top and scalloped edge is one of the most stunning models from Philadelphia's colonial furniture. Their carving is abundant and extremely careful.
The appearance of an unpublished piece of furniture in perfect condition in direct line from Philadelphia's notable families is an important event, especially when these pieces have been normally maintained without being retouched.
This is the case of the tea table from Fisher-Fox provenance carved by "Garver" around 1760. It was sold by Christie's on October 3, 2007 for $ 6.8M including premium from a lower estimate of $ 2M, lot 94.
On January 31, 2015, Keno sold for $ 1.9M including premium the Potter-Crouch-Jordan specimen executed at the same period by "Spike", in a similar conservation status, and which is also a new discovery.
Both pieces are very similar, and it is quite possible that these anonymous Spike and Garver were sharing the same shop.
1763 Tea Table by John Goddard
2005 SOLD for $ 8.4M including premium by Sotheby's
narrated in 2020
Belonging to the second generation of the Townsend-Goddard family of cabinetmakers based in Newport RI, John Goddard produces mahogany furniture with an exquisite carving. Not far from there, in Providence RI, the four Brown brothers, working in partnership until 1771, make their fortune in the maritime trade.
Weddings are an opportunity to acquire furniture. The transactions between John Brown and John Goddard in 1760 are documented by a statement of account and a progress report.
This supply included a tea table with scalloped edges. In 1763 two other tables were documented by Goddard in similar letters, one for a close associate of the Four Browns and the other for one of their cousins. These deliveries within a closed circle of customers suggest that the model was exclusive.
In 1762 Nicholas Brown, the head of the family, is married in his turn. He orders his table. A year later the younger brother rebukes John Goddard for having managed competing priorities. The table was delivered to Nicholas in the fall of 1763. Satisfied with this acquisition, Nicholas Brown had a replica of this piece made two years later. This one is not documented but the almost perfect conformity of the copy is attributed to the entourage of John Goddard.
Both tables had been in Brown's lineage, together for three generations and then reunited again in 1970. The table provided by Goddard, in remarkable condition, was sold for $ 8.4M including premium by Sotheby's on January 22 2005, lot 809. The replica was sold for $ 910K including premium by Sotheby's on January 21, 2017.
Weddings are an opportunity to acquire furniture. The transactions between John Brown and John Goddard in 1760 are documented by a statement of account and a progress report.
This supply included a tea table with scalloped edges. In 1763 two other tables were documented by Goddard in similar letters, one for a close associate of the Four Browns and the other for one of their cousins. These deliveries within a closed circle of customers suggest that the model was exclusive.
In 1762 Nicholas Brown, the head of the family, is married in his turn. He orders his table. A year later the younger brother rebukes John Goddard for having managed competing priorities. The table was delivered to Nicholas in the fall of 1763. Satisfied with this acquisition, Nicholas Brown had a replica of this piece made two years later. This one is not documented but the almost perfect conformity of the copy is attributed to the entourage of John Goddard.
Both tables had been in Brown's lineage, together for three generations and then reunited again in 1970. The table provided by Goddard, in remarkable condition, was sold for $ 8.4M including premium by Sotheby's on January 22 2005, lot 809. The replica was sold for $ 910K including premium by Sotheby's on January 21, 2017.
<1765 Block and Shell in Newport
2012 SOLD 3.45 M$ including premium
Newport was one of the busiest ports in colonial America. It was one of the strategic points of the slave trade. They distilled rum with sugar cane from the Caribbean, then exchanged the drink for African people.
The maritime business was conducive to the delivery of mahogany, and Newport was a major center of furniture manufacturing. Two families of cabinet makers linked by marriages, Goddard and Townsend, dominated this industry throughout the eighteenth century.
It was indeed at Newport that the block-and-shell style was developed : a storage cabinet inspired by the Chippendale style. The square front is divided into three sections: a central part and two stacks of square drawers, the Blocks. Each section is decorated with a carved Shell in its upper part.
On January 20 in New York, Christie's sells a cabinet of small size, 70 x 65 x 33 cm. Made in mahogany between 1755 and 1765, it is one of the earliest examples of block and shell and one of very few to have been signed by John Townsend. Here is the link to the catalog.
Note that some similar furniture that reached high prices at auction were not much larger. The Slocum chest of drawers, made by John Townsend in 1792 and sold $ 4.7 million including premium by Christie's on 18 June 1998, measures 86 x 91 cm. A desk table made by John Goddard in 1765, 80 x 90 cm, was sold $ 5.7 million including premium at Christie's on January 21, 2011.
Go back a little further in the history of auctions. The bookcase desk sold $ 12.1 million at Christie's in 1989 was a six shell model made circa 1765 attributed to John Goddard.
POST SALE COMMENT
This beautiful small piece of furniture had all the qualities to approach the price of similar works cited in my article. It was sold $ 3.45 million including premium.
The maritime business was conducive to the delivery of mahogany, and Newport was a major center of furniture manufacturing. Two families of cabinet makers linked by marriages, Goddard and Townsend, dominated this industry throughout the eighteenth century.
It was indeed at Newport that the block-and-shell style was developed : a storage cabinet inspired by the Chippendale style. The square front is divided into three sections: a central part and two stacks of square drawers, the Blocks. Each section is decorated with a carved Shell in its upper part.
On January 20 in New York, Christie's sells a cabinet of small size, 70 x 65 x 33 cm. Made in mahogany between 1755 and 1765, it is one of the earliest examples of block and shell and one of very few to have been signed by John Townsend. Here is the link to the catalog.
Note that some similar furniture that reached high prices at auction were not much larger. The Slocum chest of drawers, made by John Townsend in 1792 and sold $ 4.7 million including premium by Christie's on 18 June 1998, measures 86 x 91 cm. A desk table made by John Goddard in 1765, 80 x 90 cm, was sold $ 5.7 million including premium at Christie's on January 21, 2011.
Go back a little further in the history of auctions. The bookcase desk sold $ 12.1 million at Christie's in 1989 was a six shell model made circa 1765 attributed to John Goddard.
POST SALE COMMENT
This beautiful small piece of furniture had all the qualities to approach the price of similar works cited in my article. It was sold $ 3.45 million including premium.
1765 Kneehole Bureau attributed to John Goddard
2011 SOLD for $ 5.7M including premium by Christie's
Link to catalogue.
1765-1770 A Bureau Table made in Newport
2013 SOLD 2.2 M$ including premium
The most prestigious and most original colonial American furniture has been made by a Quaker family in Newport where they were installed since 1707. The son of one of the founders, John Townsend, is the best known. Last year, in January, I discussed two furniture signed by him, sold $ 3.6 million including premium and 3.45 million including premium respectively by Sotheby's and Christie's.
You can still find colonial treasures in the United States. A small mahogany furniture, 82 cm high and 93 cm wide, had never been appraised. The signature in graphite by John Townsend has been discovered under one of the drawers.
Identified as a bureau table, it is typical of the 'block and shell' Newport style. It is divided into three parts including two side columns of block drawers, and adorned with radiant shells in its upper part.
This furniture has several qualities. It seems clear that John Townsend did only sign his best pieces and the design of this one is not the most common. The fact that the signature is handwritten and the detailed study of the ornaments enable to date it to the best time of the cabinetmaker, between 1765 and 1770. It is in very good condition. The brass imported from Birmingham in England has retained much of its original organic coating.
It is estimated $ 700K, for sale by Christie's in New York on January 25. The price that such colonial furniture can reach is often difficult to predict. Here is the link to the catalog.
POST SALE COMMENT
The best colonial American pieces of furniture often exceed their estimates. This was the case, of course, for this one: $ 2.2 million including premium.
You can still find colonial treasures in the United States. A small mahogany furniture, 82 cm high and 93 cm wide, had never been appraised. The signature in graphite by John Townsend has been discovered under one of the drawers.
Identified as a bureau table, it is typical of the 'block and shell' Newport style. It is divided into three parts including two side columns of block drawers, and adorned with radiant shells in its upper part.
This furniture has several qualities. It seems clear that John Townsend did only sign his best pieces and the design of this one is not the most common. The fact that the signature is handwritten and the detailed study of the ornaments enable to date it to the best time of the cabinetmaker, between 1765 and 1770. It is in very good condition. The brass imported from Birmingham in England has retained much of its original organic coating.
It is estimated $ 700K, for sale by Christie's in New York on January 25. The price that such colonial furniture can reach is often difficult to predict. Here is the link to the catalog.
POST SALE COMMENT
The best colonial American pieces of furniture often exceed their estimates. This was the case, of course, for this one: $ 2.2 million including premium.
1772-1785 Desk-and-Bookcase from Rhode Island
1989 SOLD for $ 12M including premium by Christie's
narrated in 2020
The Block and Shell style, denoting the ornaments of the drawers, appears around 1755 in Newport RI in the furniture made by the Townsend-Goddard dynasty of cabinetmakers. The masters of the second generation are John Townsend and John Goddard.
The Chippendale style succeeds the Queen Anne. John Goddard is probably the first to make the desk-and-bookcase which is an adaptation of the Block and Shell to the Chippendale. These pieces of furniture are not signed and very difficult to attribute to one or another master in that family. Nine examples in the six-shell design have survived, all of them in mahogany.
The Brown brothers were wealthy merchants and statesmen of Providence RI, involved in slave trade and smuggling. A Newport-style desk-and-bookcase that belonged to John Brown, 272 × 113 × 64 cm, is kept at Yale University. The piece that belonged to Nicholas Brown, 287 × 108 × 64 cm, is very similar. It had remained in the direct descent of its first owner and was sold for $ 12M including premium by Christie's on June 3, 1989.
For the attribution of these two pieces of furniture, it was noticed that Daniel Spencer, a nephew of John Goddard, had left Newport and established a workshop for the making of cabinets and chairs in Providence in 1772. The terminus ante quem is his imprisonment for debt in 1785. He ended his career in Kentucky.
The Chippendale style succeeds the Queen Anne. John Goddard is probably the first to make the desk-and-bookcase which is an adaptation of the Block and Shell to the Chippendale. These pieces of furniture are not signed and very difficult to attribute to one or another master in that family. Nine examples in the six-shell design have survived, all of them in mahogany.
The Brown brothers were wealthy merchants and statesmen of Providence RI, involved in slave trade and smuggling. A Newport-style desk-and-bookcase that belonged to John Brown, 272 × 113 × 64 cm, is kept at Yale University. The piece that belonged to Nicholas Brown, 287 × 108 × 64 cm, is very similar. It had remained in the direct descent of its first owner and was sold for $ 12M including premium by Christie's on June 3, 1989.
For the attribution of these two pieces of furniture, it was noticed that Daniel Spencer, a nephew of John Goddard, had left Newport and established a workshop for the making of cabinets and chairs in Providence in 1772. The terminus ante quem is his imprisonment for debt in 1785. He ended his career in Kentucky.
