Important North Carolina Inlaid Mahogany Cellarette

Premier Auction

December 07, 2019 09:00 AM EST Asheville, North Carolina

Estimate: $30,000 – $50,000

Roanoke River Valley, attributed to Micajah Wilkes (b.1765-d.1841), 1790-1810, with inlaid lid centering the initials “PM”, opening to a fitted interior with original dividers, box with line inlaid front and brass carrying handles, conforming frame with single dovetailed drawer and stretcher base, lightwood cockbeading, original hinges, back with impressed initials “MW”, in a fine mellow old surface, 34 x 20-1/2 x 15 in.

Note: Related cellarettes from this well documented group include examples at Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Hope, and several have been recorded in the MESDA files. For more on this group see Newbern and Melchor, WH Cabinetmaker: A Southern Mystery Solved, 2009, pp. 241-253. The early history of this example is not known.

Provenance: Estate of Gail W. Dane, Delray Beach, Florida

Condition: survives in very fine condition overall, with mellow surface, original hinges and dividers, original stretchers, brasses are replaced and lock is missing, scattered wear and losses to beading and bed molding, some distress and minor losses to drawer sides, some finish drips and runs to back and legs (has had some old finish work)