Allen & Brother Bedroom Suite

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More photos on request: We are especially proud to be offering this Allen and Brother Bedroom Complete Suite! From the family provenance, this suite was built for Bartholomew Shea, Philadelphia business man, by Allen Company and placed on display at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876 by the furniture company with the owner's permission. (One small drawer still retains the chalk script "Bart Shea") According to information passed down in the family, there is only one other identical suite and that was purchased by the Smithsonian in Washington. (It has not been seen on display there any time as the family members have visited) The provenance lists each owner starting with Mr. Shea from 1876 to 1912 and up to the most recent family owner (who we purchased it from), the great great great niece of Mr. Shea. The purchaser of this suite will be provided with the lineage of the all the family owners. The bed is true queen width (over 60"), almost queen length, and absolutely regal! Please refer to the photos to view the magnificent open pierced thick carved crest with an ebonized center medallion with leaves, berries, scrolling, and incised shaped burled panels. The center section of the bed highlights a raised burled broad panel with incising and delicate ebonized trim with leaves and scrolling on the sides. The lower part of the headboard corresponds with the top with a similar raised shaped burl panel with reeded side stiles with ebony and rosettes. The footboard is almost a whole piece of furniture on its own! It is massive in size and weight, and is beautifully shaped with burl on the top and wonderful carvings, burl, and ebony throughout. Again, please refer to the photos for the details. All the feet are rounded and carved with deep incising. There are large original burled and incised siderails that have beautiful returns on the fronts and backs. The gorgeous drop center chest has the original tall mirror decorated with a similar wonderful crest as the bed. The base has the original tan marble inserts. It also has two outside door sections that open on the right to reveal small fitted drawers and on the left a cupboard with a shelf. One of the small fitted drawers is where Mr. Shea's name is in script. Notice the jewelry boxes and very unusual shield decorations on each side! The drawer interiors of both the chests have solid walnut - a sign of excellent craftsmanship. All the pieces have beautifully carved rounded feet with ebony and incising. Notice the burl on the sides and interior side of the low chest (as shown in the photos). The tall gentleman's chest is another piece of masterful creation. It has a pull out center desk. Notice the wonderful gallery with matching ebonized finials, the small shields and carvings that correspond with the other pieces, and the carved and incised drawer fronts that are all trimmed in ebony. It comes with the original brass key that works the chest locks that has the letter "A" on it. There is a secret drawer at the base of the dresser and the gents chest has lovely deeply scrolled center carvings. One important factor about this suite is not just the quality, form, condition and provenance. It is the usefulness of the suite. The combination of a queen width bed, multi drawered full length mirrored dresser, and large tall chest, make it an exceptional combination for storage, comfort, and use. Note that the whole set is in remarkable original finish and condition. We are delighted to offer this truly magnificent suite for sale, for the first time, outside the original family! Circa: 1870 Dimensions: Inside for mattress size of bed: 64" W x 77 1/8" Outside dimensions of bed: 109 1/2" H x 75" W x 88" D Dresser: 111 1/4" H x 57 1/2" W x 22" Gentleman's Chest: 66" H x 39" W x 23 D" Finish: Good to Excellent original, original key for gents chest, one tiny lock missing on the dresser door, there are the original interior bed slats Price: $49,950! for the Suite

Item Details

Reference #:
bd1179
Quantity
1
Category
Furniture & Furnishings
SubCategory
Furniture
Department
Antiques (approx100yrs)
Year
1870
Dimensions
(Width x Height X Depth)
x x
Weight
Unknown
Condition
Good original
Material