With our absolute highest compliments Bay Colony Antiques takes the utmost pleasure in offering this remarkable and important late 19th century Victorian era marble top dresser. This example is perhaps one of the finest dressers of its kind ever produced in the New York City area and it worthy of being represented in any important collection or institution which has a focus on exemplary late 19th century furniture and decorative arts. The dresser has remained in near pristine condition throughout generations of ownership and is as magnificent as the day it was made. It has been our privilege throughout decades of business to furnish Victorian homes throughout the country; from our local communities in New England to as far away as Louisiana, Texas, and California. For this reason, we always include choice offerings in our online antique catalogues of premium Victorian furniture for every room in the home. In our continual pursuits of the finest grades of Victorian furniture, either offered on the antiques market or exclusively in private collections, we have come to greatly admire the work of one particular artisan, Thomas Brooks of New York City. We distinguish the Thomas Brooks of New York City from another furniture maker of the same name active in the production of Victorian era furniture who was located in Connecticut. We have offered the later Thomas Brooks furniture as we have found it, primarily identified by paper labels inside the case of furniture or so attributed by nearly identical examples we have found unlabeled yet so close in design to known examples as to be unquestionably produced by the same maker. Recently we had a Victorian Sow Belly Parlor Table with a drawer accessible from either side of the table which went to a wonderful collection in New England that was a product of the Connecticut maker. It is unclear to us if there is a familiar connection between the two furniture makers or if by coincidence they both have the same name. We do feel the importance of signifying the difference between both cabinetmakers as to not confuse those who are unfamiliar with either party and are relying on search engines to gather more insight.
Thomas Brooks of New York City was perhaps one of the finest furniture makers of the late 19th century and is largely overshadowed by the better-known Victorian period designers such as R.J. Horner, John Henry Belter, & Joseph Meeks just to name a few. In the recent decades a stronger following for Brooks' works has emerged with examples selling at auction for commanding prices. We are actively in pursuit of anything possibly made by his firm as we feel it has remained undervalued for a long period of time and will retain its value or appreciate better compared to the famous workshops that produced furniture which is far out of reach of ordinary antique collectors. In our experience most of the works produced by Thomas Brooks is unlabeled but can be attributed through quality comparison and certain stylistic elements which are a common thread on his workshop's walnut furnishings. Two features we always search out are raised double ended tombstone panels in burled walnut affixed to the front of drawers and a particular stylized walnut leaf carving generally used as an ornament on various places throughout the exterior.
This dresser is primarily walnut with burled walnut veneers used to provide contrast on accent panels on the drawer faces and along the frame. The dresser is constructed with a drop well configuration which features three individual marble tablets that all original. Four smaller drawers are housed above two long drawers each of which is fitted with an ebonized drop pull with Eastlake brass stylizations. The sides are constructed with a frame and panel which allows for continual wood movement as the dresser experiences seasonal changes in relative humidity and the dresser features a well pronounced baseboard molding. This dresser is made complete by the presence of a commanding mirror which is enhanced with candle cup accents and interesting shell carved motifs. The architectural form of the mirror crest is further embellished with angelic wings which are clearly the product of a master carver likely in the employment of Thomas Brooks. The entire piece is sturdy and will provide the next owner with generations of continual use and is well suited for daily use. This dresser is equal parts functional furniture as it is an artistic achievement in the medium of walnut with the finest carving work and overall mastery of aesthetic design that a collector can hope to find from any work of the late 19th century. The dresser measures 54" wide x 20" deep x 91" tall to the very top center of the mirror. The marble ends measure 33 3/4" tall off the floor.
