Boston, 1805-1815, possibly by John, Thomas Seymour (w. 1794/6-1816), upper section with brass gallery, two arcaded glazed doors, adjustable shelved and compartmentalized interior, lower section with hinged writing flap, inlaid long drawer, two lower cabinet doors, shelved interior, 53-1/2 x 37-3/4 x 20-1/4 in.

Note:

Literature: Stoneman, Vernon C. John and Thomas Seymour, Cabinetmakers in Boston, 1794-1816, pages 118-119. Boston, Massachusetts, 1959.

Israel Sack, Inc. American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, Vol. IV, page 901. Washington, D.C.: Highland House, 1974.

This desk has a storied provenance, as it was part of the collection of H. Eugene Bolles (1838-1910) purchased as a core of the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

H. Eugene Bolles began collecting Americana in the 1880s, and soon had a collection more than 600 objects strong. In 1909, Bolles lent twenty-five of his over 400 pieces with New England origin, to the Hudson-Fulton exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This exhibition, which was one of the first of its kind to celebrate the decorative arts of America, was an instant success and spurred Henry Watson Kent to create the first permanent American collection.

, Provenance: Collection of Eugene Bolles; Collection of Mrs. Russell Sage; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Israel Sack, Inc., New York, 1981; Christie's, New York, May 2002, sale 1096, lot 168 (sold for $8,365); Property from an Important South Carolina Estate

generally good condition, scattered veneer and molding repairs, brasses replaced, veneer checking to door panels, shrinkage cracks to case sides with color retouch, one upper door with patches and repairs at hinges, minor warping to writing board (veneer distress to interior banding), stains to felt