“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.