18TH CENTURY NEW YORK CITY CHIPPENDALE PERIOD MAHOGANY LINEN PRESS ~ MUSEUM GRADE & EXCEPTIONALLY RARE
Thank you for shopping with Bay Colony Antiques. We're a third generation family owned business furnishing homes all over the world. We aggressively pursue important antiques, decorative arts, and objects of interest for our most discerning clients.
With our highest compliments and honors we're extremely proud to offer for sale this fantastic American Chippendale period mahogany linen press. We've been bothered by not having a great American linen press for sale for quite some time. These are very desirable cabinets with a multitude of uses that don't surface much. We have the pleasure of handling a good half dozen or so English ones a year but the American ones are locked away in private collections & institutions and when they do surface they regularly realize 10k+ at any prominent auction service. We thought about sending this off because it's so rare and fantastic but we really do want to offer the best to solely our clients. This is a New York City example with a commanding presence executed to perfection.
This linen press is crafted from the best most select cuts of Santo Domingan mahogany. Santo Domingan & Cuban mahogany is the best in the world with a special oil density that gives it it's lustrous sheen & durability. These exotic woods were imported to the United States in the 18th century in major port cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia etc. High end cabinet shops in these major cities had the skills and clientele and would purchase the best cuts of mahogany at a steep sum. We've had our hands on private ledgers from the 18th century and it's fascinating to see our favorite cabinet makers go to market and buy their supplies. The cabinet has two amazing hand chamfered single panel flame mahogany blank doors with exceptional use of grain. Above the doors there are book matched crotch mahogany panels below the crown molding. This linen press has a key and original lock still intact. When the blank doors open they reveal 4 sliding open half drawers all dovetailed that actuate with ease. This linen press is an absolute premiere example of New York City cabinetry. The linen press has 4 graduate cock bead molded drawers crafted from concurrent cuts of book matched mahogany. The drawers are decorated with 8 magnificent cast brass lion head pulls and every drawer retains their original escutcheon & lock. The upper most drawer is compartmentalized. We reached our photo limit of 12 but would be happy to furnish you with any additional ones you may need. The linen press stands on a finely formed molded bracket base with a wonderful decorative cut out pattern. Make sure to check out the back of the piece as well, it shows the construction further and is rich with oxidation, scribe marks, and joinery. We're excited to offer this rare piece of American furniture to our clients. This NYC mahogany Chippendale linen press is 51" wide x 23" deep x 82" tall.
