19th Century American Chestnut Glazed Bookcase.
Auction Date: January 15, 2022
Estimate: Estimate: 500 - 800
Sold for: $2,700
Lot: 115
Probably Philadelphia.
Circa 1876.
The bookcase in two sections with two drawers to the base, crowned with Benjamin Franklin carved wood bust.
Approximate dimensions: 90 high x 56 wide x 17 1/2 inches wide..
Provenance: Property of an Alameda Estate.
Condition: Some surface wear throughout, including stains and fading to the finish. Scratches to interior.
Note: Alexandra Kirtley, The Montgomery-Garvan Curator of American Decorative Arts at Philadelphia Museum of Art, has noted certain similarities to furniture installed in Philadelphia and environs libraries by Frank Furness. Frank Heyling Furness (1839-1912) became the seminal architect of Philadelphia for the mid- to late-19th Century. Working with cabinetmaker Daniel Pabst, Furness also designed interiors for some of the architectural wonders he created. As the bookcase is unsigned, it is impossible to place it with any specific shop or cabinet maker.