The Hezekiah Smith Chippendale Carved Mahogany Bonnet-top Block-front Desk and Bookcase

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Fine Americana: The Keane Collection

By Bonhams Skinner

Nov 19, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-11-19 10:00:00 2021-11-19 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Americana: The Keane Collection https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/skinner/fine-americana-the-keane-collection-7822
Skinner is honored to be selling the extraordinary Beacon Hill Collection of John and Marilyn Keane. Highlighted by important 18th and early 19th century American furniture, and exceptional paintings from the China Trade, the collection is set to be offered in a live auction on November 19. Bonhams Skinner bidsquare@bonhamsskinner.com

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• Lot Description
  The Hezekiah Smith Chippendale Carved Mahogany Bonnet-top Block-front Desk and Bookcase, Boston, Massachusetts, c. 1765, in two sections, the upper case with molded swan's neck cresting ending in carved rosettes centering a center plinth and urn and flame finial flanked by finials, and dentil-molding below, above doors with raised scalloped panels flanked by fluted pilasters, opening to a valanced and compartmented interior, and candle slides below, set into the lower section with slant-lid opening to an interior with central fan-carved prospect drawer flanked by carved document drawers, pigeonholes, drawers, and further fan-carved drawers, on a cockbeaded case with graduated drawers on a conformingly shaped molded case joining claw-and-ball feet, old surface, brasses appear to be original, (minor restoration), ht. 92, lower case wd. 42 1/2, dp. at feet 24 1/2 in.
  
  Provenance: Hezekiah Smith (1737-1805), moved to Haverhill, Massachusetts, in 1764, and established the Haverhill Baptist Church in May, 1765. This desk and bookcase was listed on his 1805 estate inventory and valued at $40. After his death, it passed to his wife Hepzibah Kimball Smith (1746-1824). Then to Jonathan Kimball Smith. Then likely to his grandson Charles Smith Bradley, New York, New York. Then to his son George Lothrop Bradley, Washington, DC, and Pomfret, Connecticut, the great-great grandson of Hezekiah Smith. Then to his second cousin Henry W. Howe, Bedford Hills, New York, in 1919. Then to his son Henry Wainwright Howe Jr. in 1921. By descent in the family. Purchased by the consignor from Leigh Keno, c. 1998.
  
  Note: According to a statement provided by a previous seller, this desk and bookcase relates to several other known case pieces, possibly by the same unknown maker. One, a chest-on-chest, was offered on January 17, 1997, at Sotheby's auction of Important Americana. Another, a nearly identical desk and bookcase, is in the collection of the Milwaukee Art Museum.

  Condition

  
  
  Condition: part of central finial professionally restored; shrinkage cracks to door panels; right and left side mid-moldings replaced; repair to front edge of writing surface near hinges; some drawer runners replaced;
  
  Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging.
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