18th Century New England Queen Anne Highboy

Description

This “Killingly” Highboy, in superb original condition and finish, was expertly crafted in Killingly, Ct. between 1730 and 1760. Killingly … more This “Killingly” Highboy, in superb original condition and finish, was expertly crafted in Killingly, Ct. between 1730 and 1760. Killingly is located in northeast Connecticut, where hilly topography, riddled with streams to power saw mills and thick with forest, was the main source of prosperity.

In addition to the inscription “Killingly" penciled on the left inside board of the lower case, the chest has characteristics tying it to mid-18th century rural Connecticut. The primary wood is maple, which was finished to look like mahogany. Maple was used as a substitute for mahogany, which was imported from the West Indies and usually available only in seaport towns trading with the islands. The secondary wood is chestnut, which, though blighted, was plentiful in the area, durable and yielded wide boards for drawer bottoms.

The brass on this two-part, chest on chest is original. The drawers are dovetailed, have stamped brass escutcheons and bail pulls, and centered locks on the wider drawers. The lower case is framed with mortise-and-tenon joints and pegs to secure the horizontal backboard and sides to the legs.

For nearly three centuries, the Queen Anne style has retained its esteem for simplicity and grace. This Highboy was purchased at the Philadelphia Antiques Show in 1995 from W. M. Schwind, Jr. Antiques for $16,000. less