James Gheen school, Rowan County, circa 1790, upper case with scrolled pediment and carved rosettes centering a bellflower inlaid tree, line inlaid cornice over two arched glazed doors, opening to a fixed shelved interior, flanked by reeded chamfered corners, set with original brass H hinges, lower case with inlaid fallboard opening to a fitted interior with shell carved prospect door, reeded document drawers, four serpentine drawers and four inlaid drawers, above five additional drawers set with original brass pulls, yellow pine secondary throughout, dovetailed and rosehead nail construction,ÿoriginal bracket feet with distinctive front to back blocking in the style of James Gheen, 96-1/2 x 43-1/2 x 21-1/4 in.Note: This rare North Carolina desk and bookcase is the most fully developed of all of the known desks from the James Gheen school of cabinetmaking. Other known examples have upper cases with flat tops and paneled doors. This example is further distinguished by the bellflower tree inlay at the central finial plinth. The interior desk fenestration with its shell carved prospect door and serpentine small drawers is closely in keeping with other Gheen attributed desk interiors. Largely intact and retaining its original feet, this example is among the best surviving from this important North Carolina cabinetmaking school. - Provenance: United States Congressman, Richard Thurmond Chatham, North Carolina; Private Collection, Camden, South Carolina excellent condition overall, lacking finials, minor patches at fallboard hinges and lock, one front foot facing replaced, doors in good condition overall with some early glazing, two panes with minor cracks, three panes with scratched inscriptions, side bed moldings replaced, front bed molding appears to be original, minor cracks and repairs to scrolled pediment with one area of loss at edge of rosette