Featured William and Mary Highboy

Hey everyone, it's been a while since I've logged in, but hoping to get back into it. I picked up this highboy for $400. I think it's walnut. Looks original; the dovetailed drawers look hand-cut.

I've moved onto an interest in furniture; have some exciting finds to share soon. But I'd like to know what you think about this? Judging by the dovetails, it's pre-1860s, and I'm wondering if it might be original. Any thoughts?

 

@verybrad and @Ghopper1924 are our resident furniture folks.
PS-I'm a total laymen,but it's looks gorgeous (if refinished/restored) to my amateur eyes.
PSS- Closeups of the brasses would most likely help.

 

good eye...I like the split boards on the front !!!!

 

I'll take photos in the morning I glanced at the brasses when I was picking it up, and they look hand-engraved. I'll take photos of the lock, too (no maker's mark or name as far as I can tell)

 

Didn't know that was the name for them--does that mean the veneer is split, to create a mirror-image pattern across the drawer fronts?

I have another antique Chippendale style highboy I'll take photos of tomorrow (but more whimsical with its cute curled top)

 

also, great knowing you're still active!!

 

good to see , you're re-activated !!!!!!

 

My life kind of fell apart after college/studying in Germany, but I've managed to maintain my interest in antiques It's the single, reliant source of joy in my life.

 

That sounds rough.......... but you always have a safe refuge ... right here !!!!

& the rants & raves thread,,,,,,, if u need it !!

Welcome back !!!!

 

Hey Barn Owl good to see you back again.
My parents had a similar one made by Ethan Allen from the 1970's

 

We all need beauty in our lives. It soothes the soul and helps us through the bad times.
Welcome back.

 

Really out of my wheelhouse but looks like a genuine antique. Whether 19th century or earlier, I can't help you with. Looks more like mahogany than walnut to me. I think book-matched veneers is the term needed for the discussion about the front (also sometimes called butterfly matched). Cockbeading on the drawers is a bit unusual and may be a clue. Think you got a deal, even if not a period example.

Here is a period example for comparison. I see quite a few differences but that doesn't necessarily mean that yours may not be period.

Lot - WILLIAM & MARY HIGHBOY - Period Two-Part Chest, the upper cabinet with molded top and five drawers, the lower with three, having booked and banded mahogany veneer inlaid surface, original tooled brasses, set on nicely...

 

Great catalog Brad-some of the Early American and early 19th cent prices seem pretty reasonable to me-but then,very rare to see this stuff on the West Coast.

 

They are a good auction site, one of the remaining independents that gets good stuff. Hard to get to, middle of Maine, but dealers still remaining make the trek. Like all auction sites, however, you need to read descriptions carefully since they point out only the good, not the bad, so best to go in person and ask pointed questions.

 

Snipe fasteners on the back. I'd guess the brasses are original. At $1400 it was begging to be bought; in the 80s it would have gone for 5x that amount. Old wood furniture is going for peanuts.

 

I am largely in agreement with brad, there are some good things but also likely some issues that that require a closer look. I recommend you look someplace other than here for more detailed help - getting more pics together and sending to Thomaston for an assessment is a good idea.

That’s it for me, hopefully I’ve learned my lesson about offering more detailed help on this forum when it comes to early American furniture. It either leads to (at best) being ignored (https://www.antiquers.com/threads/help-with-nc-corner-cupboards-and-stepback.90626/ ) or to (at worst) being called a bitch by numerous members (https://www.antiquers.com/threads/early-american-connecticut-chair.90684/ ).

But I will add what Thomaston or anyone else will looking for:
1. Reproduction, late 19th century bench made;
2. Marriage of two old or one old and one new pieces;
3. Legs, often replaced even on some partial older pieces;
4. Replaced cornice;
5. Old or new finish;
6. Brasses.

Good luck with Thomaston. If you are a collector, not a dealer/picker I highly recommend “Fake, Fraud or Genuine: identifying authentic american antique furniture” by Myrna Kaye as a good introduction to the highly complicated but interesting field of assessing antique furniture that has been around long enough to be copied and reworked.

 

I don't know if this helps with age or authenticity but the 3 pic's below claim to be 18th century William & Mary highboys. All three have slightly different designs (leg supports??) of wood between the legs. The "originals" all have curved (half moon?) leg supports while yours are straight. Please forgive my ignorance as I am just learning about furniture. In fact, last week I discovered that wooden furniture really done come from trees and all is not marked, "IKEA".