Lot 56: Miniature Carved Classical Chest of Drawers

McIntire School, Salem, Massachusetts, circa 1810
H. 19 ½ in.; W. 16 ¾ in.; D. 9 ¼ in.

Carving and punch work decoration of fruit and basket motif characteristic of the Samuel McIntire (1757-1811) school. The carving on this miniature chest is attributed to the Samuel McIntire School, best known for their signature ornaments featuring baskets of fruits and flowers. No two McIntire baskets are identical, suggesting each was conceived along with the furniture design. Despite its small scale, the carving evokes the texture and three-dimensionality of a real basket and maintains the symmetry characteristic of McIntire carvings. The central carving is most similar to that on a Salem card table of an unidentified maker with carvings attributed to Samuel Field McIntire, son of Samuel McIntire.

The stylized flowers are nearly identical to those on the base molding of the Derby chest-on-chest IV, Salem, 1806-09, in the MFA Boston.

Estimate: $3,000 - $6,000

It is an honor and pleasure for Keno Auctions to offer for sale the Collection of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Isbell. People collect for a variety of reasons; the Isbells assembled a fabulous Americana collection because of their passion for each piece. Over three decades they sought out the best examples of high quality Colonial American furniture and folk art using the criteria of quality, rarity, condition and provenance as their guide