Circa 1843 Federal apprentice or miniature chest, jewelry chest, very well proportioned, New York, highest grade mahogany (fiddleback and straight grains), white pine secondary, original lightly crazed finish, original turned mahogany pulls.
- Provenance written on back of chest in pencil – “MK Sarah Brewster (4yrs) Presented to her / By Her Grand-Father Wm G Burr [William Gorham-60yrs] March 20 1843 / Made at Sing Sing Prison”
Record, 6/27/1855, Cazenovia, Madison county, NY, in one household for twelve years
William G Burr-64 (1790-1860), native-MA (appears to have moved in 1843 to Cazenovia, NY to land given for service in War of 1812).
Wife-Polly Curtis-60 (1795-1871), native-NY.
Sarah Brewster-16-grandchild (1839-), native-NY. Sarah was four years old at time of this gift (raised by grandparents from three-days old
- Attribution - possibly by David L Seymour who was warden at Sing Sing Prison 1840-43 (possibly son of John Seymour, Boston, MA), chest is done in Salem, MA form and style of carving.
- Dovetailed on bottom and hidden dovetails on top of case / covered by top board, fully dovetailed on all four drawer corners / chamfered drawer bottoms, chest and accessory drawer tops are two different thicknesses and in proportion to chest size, single board construction.
- Carving is well-executed on proportionally appropriate columns and panels of spiraling acanthus leaf, spiral reeded legs and on upper accessory drawer corners, boldly carved acanthus leaf carved back-crest flowing down sides of accessory drawers, punch stippled areas in carving on back-splash and panels in manner often done in eastern MA.  Brand - Federal.

15.5” tall, 13.5” wide, 7” deep. 
Condition – excellent untouched original finish, old molding repair on left side of top, one small chip on top edge of carved back, nominal usage marks.        1388

Sold - Freemans Auction