Hillsborough area, possibly by Martin Palmer, circa 1770, yellow pine secondary wood, three board top with molded edge, single finely dovetailed drawer, deeply scalloped skirt on all four sides, ball and claw feet, 28 x 29-3/4 x 22 in.

Provenance: Gift of Mabel Brady Garvan of New York, NY, on November 27, 1941; Property from the Brooklyn Museum

Note: Similar example documented by MESDA photo number S-5615, and sold by Brunk Auctions, Premier Auction Session Two, July 15 2023, lot 776, $80,000; this exceptionally rare table is part of a small group of pre-Revolutionary War furniture attributed to the Hillsborough School of cabinetmakers of Orange County, North Carolina. Founded in 1754, Hillsborough quickly became the political and commercial center of North Carolina's backcountry, and was home to North Carolina Governor Thomas Burke (circa 1747-1783) who represented the state in the Second Continental Congress. Through family tradition, Governor Burke was said to have been the original owner of an important Hillsborough School table later acquired by the neighboring Webb family, now held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (acc. 3777.2).

This exceptionally rare table is part of a small group of pre-Revolutionary War furniture attributed to the Hillsborough School of cabinetmakers of Orange County, North Carolina. Founded in 1754, Hillsborough quickly became the political and commercial center of North Carolina's backcountry, and was home to North Carolina Governor Thomas Burke (circa 1747-1783), who represented the state in the Second Continental Congress.

Martin Palmer (1742-1832), a carpenter and joiner working in Orange County from 1770, is considered the likely maker of the MESDA table and supports the attribution made here. MESDA's files note that Martin and his son, William Palmer (1762-circa 1842) are well documented building houses, repairing public buildings and making furniture for many of Orange County's most prominent families.