Federal Mahogany Carved and Inlaid Lady's Secretary-bookcase, attributed to Thomas Seymour, Boston, c. 1807-12, the decorative eglomise painting attributed to John Ritto Penniman, the turnings possibly by Henry and/or Thomas Ayling. some brasses replaced, (minor imperfections), ht. 76 3/4, wd. 37 1/2, dp. 19 3/4 in. Provenance: John Bryant III (1780-1865), a Boston China Trade Merchant, and his wife Mary Cleveland (Smith) Bryant (1784-1860). Presumably to their son John Bryant IV (1811-1847) and his second wife Mary Ann (Lee) Bryant. To their daughter Julia Bryant (1847-1901), who married Brigadier General Charles Jackson Paine (1833-1916), a railroad magnate and yachtsman, of 87 Mount Vernon Street, on March 26, 1867. To their daughter Georgia Paine Fisher Howland. To her son Charles Paine Fisher. Estate of Charles P. Fisher. Note: The lady's secretary and bookcase was a cultural badge signifying a Boston lady of refinement and education during the Federal period. Mary Cleveland (Smith) Bryant (1784-1860) was such a lady. She had been well-educated as daughter of Rev. John Smith, a professor of Ancient and Middle Eastern Languages at Dartmouth College, and was widely read. It was probably purchased around the time of, or a few years after, her marriage in late 1807 to John Bryant III (1780-1865). He was the son of John Bryant II, the Deputy Commissary of Military Stores at the Federal Armory in Springfield. The elegant bookcase provided space for the increasingly affordable books then available to educated Bostonians. It was also designed to provide everything needed for letter writing to her increasingly dispersed family. The year after the couple's marriage on November 25, 1807, Bryant evidently furnished their Boston house, listing twenty-seven payments in his financial Waste Book under the category "House Furniture". These included one for a "Bedstead" on July 5, 1808 to Boston's premier cabinetmaker, Thomas Seymour. Under financial pressure in 1808, Bryant shipped out on an adventure in the brig Mandarin for Canton, his first to China. Bryant's voyage and trading proved extremely profitable. After his return in 1809, he formed a partnership with William Sturgis dba Bryant and Sturgis, which eventually became one of Boston's most successful China trade firms. The couple lived initially in a fashionable home in Tremont Place, later on Beacon Street near Charles Street. After his return, Bryant made numerous additional purchases of house furnishings in 1810, including another from Thomas Seymour for $39.00 for unspecified furniture which he recorded on Dec. 27. This payment may have been for the present secretary and bookcase. However, Bryant's several voyages in this period are reflected in sporadic and incomplete entries for household expenses. Other purchases from Seymour and other craftsmen probably went unrecorded. Surviving Bryant family and business records do not include actual bills and receipts. The secretary is one of at least four which employ églomisé (reverse glass) painting in two shades of green with repeating Gothic arches and centering stylized leafage. Details are picked out in fine black lines. This "fancy painted" work can be firmly attributed to John Ritto Penniman based on the very high quality of work, and on at least two of his characteristic techniques - faux-shadowing below and to the right of both leaves and arches which simulate light cast from the upper left; and detailed modeling formed by two or more layers of fine black lines applied at right angles to each other, also simulating depth and shadows. Penniman was a tenant in Thomas Seymour's Boston Furniture Warehouse from at least 1808-1810. The two collaborated numerous times, most commonly for decoratively painted panels featuring flowers, leafage, or sea-shells on work boxes and quartetto, work and card tables. Every aspect of the Bryant family secretary reflects Seymour's habitual attention to detail and precise execution. Mahogany veneers are carefully selected of four different grain characters. Spandrels between gothic arches at the tops of the doors are beautifully faced with book-matched curly satinwood and outlined with his typical very fine-gauge black and white stringing lines. Large drawer fronts are framed with curly maple crossbanding, each accented by sand-scorching one long edge to provide greater depth and modeling. Keyholes on doors and drawers are lined or faced with bone shaped to three different patterns. Precisely executed small-scale bead moldings are employed on lower case edges, the frieze, as an astragal molding on the glazed doors, on pilaster columns separating door panels and on the cornice. Molding miter joints are perfect. Drawer construction follows Seymour's typical habits, with fine-gauge dovetails and bottoms beveled on the edges to fit into grooves in drawer sides and fronts. Glue blocking on drawer bottoms along front edges is of even size and evenly spaced. Glue blocks along the drawer sides are cut into short, regular segments from one continuous strip of pine, then butted, glued and cut off at an angle at the rear edge. Small interior and mid-case drawers require no glue blocking. The design of the cornice is particularly refined, with its central oval inlaid with curly satinwood and black stringing surround set into a stripe-figured mahogany ground, its upper molded frame in the form of a semi-oval, and elegantly shaped and molded finial support block above. The small turned roundels applied at terminations of the half -oval molding and on the leg blocks were employed frequently by Seymour in this period. They reflect English Regency designs he began employing at about this period, and which increasingly dominated his work from about 1808 to 1817. Seymour's use of lion-pattern hardware for the interior drawer pulls also follows Regency period preference. An interesting and perhaps unique feature is the hinged lid which slants downward when opened to enable easier writing. This is supported at both ends by lopers which also slant down and slide in slanted housings in the case. Seymour's penchant for constant experimentation resulted in enormous variation in his work. Except for sets and pairs, no two pieces it seems are alike. The Bryant secretary is no exception. Robert D. Mussey, Jr. Milton, Mass. Note: Please note that a copy of Robert Mussey's Furniture Examination Report is available for this piece, with endnotes. We would like to thank Mr. Mussey for his assistance in cataloguing this lot. Estimate $100,000-150,000 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. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement 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.
PATENT MODEL: STOVE BY CLINTON PAINE. No patent tag but indicated to be #50,268. Marked on side "Clinton J. Paine, Painesville Lake Co., Ohio". Several spaces for doors and drawers on this cast iron and aluminum model (missing some doors and one drawer). SIZE: 9-1/4" l. x 6-1/4" t. x 6" d. CONDITION: Generally fair to poor with a crack to the casting on one side. Appears to be missing stove lids and possible replaced side panel. 1-1293
asStanley Credenza Retailed by Paine Furniture Walnut veneers United States, 1970s Rectangular top over four cabinet doors, one revealing a compartment with a single shelf, the other with three slide-out drawers, top drawer for cutlery, raised on six square legs, with Stanley branded and Paine Furniture cloth label, ht. 29 1/2, wd. 72, dp. 18 in. Estimate $500-600 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. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement 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.
PAINTED DRESSING TABLE, BENCH & MIRROR - PAINE FURNITURE Blue Painted Two Drawer Dressing Stand, with wooden mushroom pulls and floral decorated drawer fronts, set on turned legs, 30" high, 34" x 19 3/4"; with a matching cane top bench, Paine Furniture plaque on underside, 18" high, 20" x 14"; and Tombstone top mirror, 26" x 18". Paint losses and surface wear.
PAINE Server with single drawer and plate rack over a broad lower shelf. Refinished, scratch to top. Paine Furniture metal tag. 36 1/4" x 38" x 18"
Late 19th/early 20th C. French marble-top semanier retailed by Paine Furniture Co. [Boston, MA], noche travertine marble top above six drawer base with ormolu-mounted accents, contrasting veneers, when top of base imprinted with "FRANCE" along edges when marble is removed, "Paine Furniture Co." brass label adhered to backside of base, expected wear including some lifting to veneer and scattered loss, surface scratching and sporadic nicking/chipping along edges and sides, approximately 41 1/2" h. x 17" w. x 10 3/4" d.
American Arts & Crafts Brass-Mounted Oak Fall-Front Desk, Paine's Furniture Company: With a label on the reverse, 'Paine's Furniture Company, Manufacturers and Importers of Fine Furniture, 48 Canal Street and 141 Friend Street, Boston, Mass'. And a High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia white painted inventory number 'HMA 1995. 187'. Fitted with a mirrored back panel above the fall front opening to a fitted interior, above one long and two short drawers, raised on columnar legs and joined by a shelf. 4 ft. 8 x 30 1/4 x 17 in. Ex Collection High Museum, Atlanta, Georgia, number HMA 1995. 187. Condition In good overall condition with minor staining and scuffing to the top. Scuffing to the writing surface and general wear throughout. Structurally sound. Not withstanding this report or any discussion concerning condition of a lot, all lots are offered and sold "as is" in accordance with our conditions of sale.
Paine Furniture Co. (Boston, MA) Jacobean style sideboard, c. 1930, oak, beveled backsplash flanked by baluster posts, oblong top, single long drawer with drop pendant pulls over three swing cabinet doors, side doors open to reveal one interior shelf each, center cabinet door opens to reveal two short drawers of graduated size including velvet-lined top drawer and lower linen drawer, recessed side panels, ball feet, stamped with company logo right side top drawer, comes with key, expected surface wear including isolated loss, 50" h. x 59 7/8" w. x 25 1/8" d. [PLEASE BRING APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE AND VEHICLE]
HEPPLEWHITE STYLE INLAID MAHOGANY TAMBOUR SECRETARY BY PAINE FURNITURE. Two sections having a desk interior top with tambour slides, three drawer interior with cubby holes and central inlaid drawer. Bottom section having two drawers, tapered square legs, bellflower inlay and other inlay and foldover writing surface. SIZE: 43” h x 37-1/4” at widest x 19-1/2” at deepest. CONDITION: Generally very good, small nicks. 9-72252 ($600.00-$800.00)
9 pc BERKEY & GAY VICTORIAN ENGLISH OAK STYLE DINING SET: Expandable TABLE with draw leaf ends turned legs with stretcher 30''h. 62'' plus two 24'' leaves 39''w.; 6 CHAIRS with 2 being arm chairs single carved back slat with rabbit ear finials removable leather seats turned legs with stretcher arm chairs measure 39 1/2''h. x 29''w. x 21''d. side chairs measure 38''h. x 20'' x 20''; HUTCH with single blind door over 2 drawers on double arch base with stretcher one drawer with Berkey & Gay medallion the other with Paine Furniture Co. Boston Mass medallion 60''h. x 41 1/2''w. x 17''; SIDEBOARD with three carved front deep drawers triple arch base with stretcher 36 1/2'' x 72''w. x 22''d.
HIGHBOY - Adams family Queen Anne period, two part cherry highboy. Flat molded top over nine drawers, center drawers have fan carvings with shaped apron on pad foot cabriole legs, M. Paine Rowley Mass. on back. From direct descent of John Adams. 81 1/2" h
Pair of Paine Furniture Walnut End Tables, Heritage Collection, rectangular top with tapered ends over single drawer with recessed pulls, lower shelf raised on tapered cylindrical legs, (some dark areas on tops), ht.22, dp. 28, wd. 23 in.
DIMINUTIVE HEPPLEWHITE-STYLE CENTENNIAL SIDEBOARD Early 20th CenturyAn early Paine Furniture Co. example. In mahogany with banded inlay to top. Three drawers over four doors. Square tapered legs. Height 37½. Width 58". Depth 21"."
19th-20th Century Federal mahogany bow front chest, having two (2) over three (3) drawers, flanked by reeded columns, 43" h. x 44" w. x 24" d., marked Paine Furniture. Good condition.EST600~900
DESK - Paine Furniture Co. mahogany block front Governor Winthrop style desk with ribbon mahogany writing surface with breadboard ends which drop to reveal well crafted nest of interior drawers center door with fan carving flanked by split column secret
LADIES DESK - Paine Furniture Co. Louis XIV style parquetry inlaid and ormolu mounted kidney shaped desk finished in full round with removable upper section having Nereid mounts paw foot Baroque floral pulls single central drawer flanked by two deep
FEDERAL STYLE WRITING TABLE, Paine Furniture Co. (founded 1835), Boston, Mass., c. 1920s, a rectangular table-like desk with single drawer and twin pedestals, 31.75"H x 45.5"W x 19.5"D.
EARLY 20TH CENTURY FEDERAL-STYLE SERVER by the Paine Furniture Co., Boston, Mass. In mahogany and mahogany veneer. With two drawers and tapered banded legs. Height 32.35. Length 34". Depth 19"."ConditionMinor amount of wear to the top surface, and some light roughage to the veneer at the bottom of the side panels. Structurally sound.
PAINE FURNITURE COMPANY, BOSTON MAHOGANY HIGHBOY pierced split pediment with flame urn finial atop multiple drawer including a carved central cabinet door, the lower case with similar carved decoration raised on ball and claw feet, paper label - h:85.50 w:45 d:23 in.
Two Sheraton style single drawer stands: taller by Paine Furniture Co., Boston, label verso, turned and tapered round column legs with reeding, stamped brass pull with floral design, 29 1/2" h. x 18" w. x 18" d.; and smaller with ringed column legs and vasiform feet, molded clear glass pull with stamped floral design, water rings to top, 27 3/4" h. x 18" w. x 19" d., both pieces with wear consistent with age and use, including heavy wear to top, minor damages and loss, etc.
NEAR PR JOHN WIDDICOMB FOR PAINE SIDE TABLES United States,20th CenturySquare top tables with over one drawer over cane shelf supported by tapered legs, one in light and one in dark stain finish.