: "It descended in the family of Reverend Jonathan Livermore of
Wilton, N.H., and spent its last 80 years in a summer house. I
think it was rarely used," said auctioneer Stephen L. Fletcher,
marveling at the exceptional condition of this circa 1765
Massachusetts bonnet-top high chest of drawers, the cover lot of
Skinner's June 4 sale of American furniture and decorative arts
and, at $226,000, including premium, the day's most costly item.
Skinner's well-edited sale featured a quartet of important case
pieces: a cherry Federal Kentucky desk and bookcase, $127,000; a
red painted maple New Hampshire chest-on-chest, $105,000,
attributed to Samuel Dunlap; and a diminutive New Hampshire
flattop high chest of drawers, $76,375. Old Saybrook, Conn.,
dealers Stephen and Carol Huber outbid Bill Samaha, David
Wheatcroft and a persistent phone bidder to acquire a fresh and
folky "Fishing Lady" canvaswork picture for $149,000. A complete
review will appear in a future edition.
