Secretary-Bookcase

1784

Scroll

Jacob Sass, Gesken & Desel, and others

Secretary-Bookcase

Manufacturer: Jacob Sass
Previously attributed to: Gesken & Desel
Previously attributed to: Warner & Silberg, active c. 1785

Secretary-Bookcase

1784

Physical Qualities Mahogany; mahogany veneers; light wood inlays; secondary woods: cedar and yellow pine; brass; replaced curtains, 101 3/4 x 49 13/16 x 24 7/16 in. (258.4 x 126.5 x 62.1 cm.)

Credit Line Purchased as the gift of a Group of Friends of the Museum

Object Number 1946.141

Upper bookcase section has a removable cornice. Bookcase lifts off long legged base containing a single drawer- a secretary drawer outfitted as a desk. Broken scroll pediment and the fretwork cornice molding ending with inlaid pinwheel flanking center finial on a plinth inlaid with four graduated bellflowers which are lightwood with black scribed lines and dots between each blossom. The entablature is inlaid on all three faces with inverted 'V' end rectangle of string inlay from the base of the 'V' a dot a single scribed bellflower, at the center is a diamond with similair bellflowers. The cross-grained veneered door faces each have a double string of lightwood inlay. The bookcase is grooved for shelves and has two at present. The doors are glazed with a central hexagon, six adjacent half hexagons and the remainder square panes.

The Baltimore Museum of Art, by purchase, 1946; Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Stratford Hall, Virginia; Mrs. J. Amory Haskell; L. Richmond, Freehold, New Jersey.

American Art Association, New York, "Loan Exhibition of Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Century Furniture, Girl Scouts, Inc.," 1929, no. 707.
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Baltimore Furniture," 1947, no. 75.
Maryland Historical Society, "Maryland Heritage," 1976, no. 109.

American Art Association, New York, "Loan Exhibition of Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Century Furniture, Girl Scouts, Inc.," 1929, no. 707, ill.

The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Baltimore Furniture," 1947, no. 75, pp. 118-119.

Maryland Historical Society, "Maryland Heritage," 1976, no. 109, pp. 122-123.

Elder III, William Voss and Jayne E. Stokes. American Furniture 1680-1880: From the Collection of the Baltimore Museum of Art. Baltimore: Museum of Art, 1987, p.109-110, ill. 79.

Bivins, John. The Convergence and Divergence of Three Stylistic Traditions in Charleston Neoclassical Case Furniture, 1785-1800, "American Furniture," 1997, p. 56-57, ill. 6-7.

Inscribed: Brass plaque on rear of base section 'Property of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell,' and a handwritten paper labeled 'Mrs. Amory Haskell/ E. 61st st.' In secretary drawer some valances are inscribed. The first one left of the center door has 'Invitations' in block ink. In more faded inscriptions the valance second from the left of the second door from the left end has 'Re___,' one right of the center has 'Private Letters' and last one on right has initials 'C.I.J'