A Classical Pier Cabinet

Boston, Massachusetts
Circa 1830

Pier cabinets appear to largely have been made by the cabinetmakers of Boston. They are constructed on a similar design to a pier table but with doors and drawers instead of a plinth and mirror. This handsome cabinet is topped with a very fine Egyptian marble top. Instead of an apron as would be used on a pier table, a divided drawer is faced with book matched crotch mahogany and applied moldings. Two doors open to reveal storage space with a shelf. Beautiful figured mahogany veneers cover the doors. Carved decorations and moldings forming an anthemion are applied to each door. The unique anthemion design may have been taken from the 1829 English pattern book of Thomas King, “Modern Style of Cabinet Work Exemplified”. Plates 9, 22, and 83 illustrate the same design. Freestanding Doric-like columns are wrapped in veneers and the back of the case is supported by square freestanding columns. The feet are carved as large compressed animal paw feet with a collar of foliate carving.

Mahogany, (Secondary woods: chestnut and cedrella)
Height: 35 ¾” Width: 46 ½” Depth: 21”
C1044
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