Philadelphia, 1765 to 1775, the carving possibly by John Pollard, with carved pitch pediment centering a drapery and diaper work carved central plinth fitted with a dramatic carved phoenix cartouche, highly figured mahogany veneers, the drawers set with original gilt brass Rococo pulls, on original ogee bracket feet, 89 x 48 x 24 in.

Provenance: Joseph Fox family, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

Mr. and Mrs. Harley Niles Trice II, Pittsburgh;

Alan Miller, Quakertown, Pennsylvania;

the carved phoenix cartouche acquired separately from the estate of Meade Easby, Philadelphia, sold Freeman’s Auction, possibly 2005

The Jerold Krouse Collection

Few Philadelphia chest on chests with pierced pitch pediments survive from the period. Two are illustrated in Horner's Blue Book of Philadelphia Furniture, plates 147 and 152. Another example, with solid pitch pediment and similarly highly figured mahogany, is in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. See Kirtley, American Furniture 1650-1840, catalog no. 105.

The period phoenix finial now mounted on the chest turned up at a Pennsylvania auction and is attributed to the carvers of that city, and is perfectly at home on its perch on this impressive chest.