A Exceedingly Rare And Fine Philadelphia Sheraton Mahogany Tambour Roll Desk

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A Exceedingly Rare And Fine Philadelphia Sheraton Mahogany Tambour Roll Desk:
$18500.00

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Circa 1800-1810

Attributed to Joseph Barry, influenced by Ephraim Haines/Daniel Trotter.

Wow what a simply great desk, superb wonderful diminutive size. A true Tambour Roll Ladies desk.

Crafted of mahogany, mahogany veneer, tiger maple veneer, with white pine, mahogany and poplar secondary woods.

A Tambour Roll top case, constructed apart of the base, held to the base with 4 screws. The base has 2 drawers, with steel locks, and neat underside swivel wooden locks.

The Roll top opens to reveal a sliding writing tablet top, 4 drawers, and 7 pigeon holes. The writing tablet slides out and lifts up to reveal a secret compartment, and has a brace to form a slanted raised writing surface. The interior retains its original bone drawer knobs, and the original glass ink well.

The cabinetmaker that built thus desk, had the utmost skill. Exceptional quality work, precision and taste.

The mahogany is matching throughout, with The choicest grain patterns selected for beauty and strength.

Desks of this form are exceedingly rare. The known group is extant to 3.

1. This desk.

2. A desk in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, made by Daniel Trotter/Ephraim Haines for Robert Waln.

3. A desk in The Stanley Weiss Collection, attributed to Daniel Trotter/Haines.

In all of our research, we have only found these 3 examples of this form.

The Philadelphia museum of art desk is made by Daniel Trotter. Trotter died in 1800, Ephraim Haines was his apprentice, and later son in law. He took over this shop after trotters death. Haines is renowned for his Sheraton seating forms, with very little case pieces.

The Stanley Weiss Desk is similar to the Philadelphia museum Desk, both are Tambour Roll, and Tapered Hepplewhite legs.

We believe our desk is related to those desks, but we feel it was inspired by those desks only.

The construction is classic Joseph Barry. The triple reeded columns to the left and right of the drawers above the legs, is a classic Barry attribute.

Barry also has 2 or 3 cylinder Roll desks to his attribution. Those of which are illustrated in the book \"Philadelphia Empire\" by Boor pages 426, figure 272 & 272a.

The turned reeded front legs are also classic Barry. As seen on many of his chairs and card tables illustrated in the same book.

The Waln - Trotter/Haines desks are illustrated in \"Horner\'s Blue Book, Philadelphia Furniture\" by William Macpherson Horner Jr. plates 382., and further illustrated and discussed in \"Philadelphia Federal, The Athens of the Western World\" by Beatrice B. Garvan page 84/85 plate 20.

We Feel through our research this is most likely a Joseph Barry piece, influenced by Haines.

Joseph Barry was a Scotsman cabinetmaker who was known for his high quality cabinet work. He worked in Philadelphia from 1794-1815

Furthering this attribution, is the fact that the secondary woods are white pine. White pine was used in much of high style Philadelphia Sheraton/Neo-Classical furniture at the start of the 19th century. The switch over from the heavily used poplar and white cedar was quite rapid, almost over a year or so. Nobody has been able to provide a explanation for this.

The overall preserved surviving condition of this desk, is a testament to its crafter. The desk is in overall remarkably excellent condition.

We believe it has been refinished a. Dry long time ago, probably about 125 years ago. The current surface is highly polished and is very bright. The red colour of the mahogany pops in the light.

Structurally it\'s 100% intact, with only but a few minor veneer repairs. We feel at onetime someone had put a brass gallery around the top of the desk, which would not have been original to the piece. Those holes have been subsequently plugged up. We feel the brasses on the lower drawers are of the period, however they are probably replacements.

The desk stands tall at the full original height, and has not been altered.

All drawers are dovetailed, with the utmost fine dovetailing work.

The interior drawers are made with mahogany secondary woods to deter wear, they are also blocked underside of the chamfered drawer bottoms to ensure the drawers stay intact.

Dimensions: 31\" wide, 23\" deep, 42\" tall overall.

Feel free to ask us questions, many more pictures are available.

This desk would make a superb addition to a great collection of Americana

Thanks, and enjoy!