Property from a Private Upstate New York Collection
The Francis Scott Key Family Queen Anne Bonnet-Top High Chest of Drawers, Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts or Connecticut, circa 1780
Lot Closed
January 25, 09:15 PM GMT
Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 USD
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Read more.Lot Details
Description
carved cherrywood
height 81 ½ in. by width 40 ¾ in. by depth 21 in.
appears to retain its original hardware and it retains a dark historic surface. Finials replaced with late 18th century clock finials.
Please note that this lot will not be on view during the sale exhibition. It is located at our Long Island City, New York storage facility. If you would like to examine it in person before the sale please make an appointment with the Americana department at 212-606-7130.
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This high chest has descended for generations in the family of Francis Scott Key (1779-1843).
Likely originally owned by John Ross Key (1754-1821) m. Ann Phoebe Penn Dagworthy Charlton (1756-1830), Frederick, Maryland;
to his son, author of the American national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner", Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) m. Mary Tayloe Lloyd Key (1784-1859);
to their daughter, Anna Arnold Key (1811-1884) m. Daniel Turner (1796-1860), a North Carolina U.S. congressman;
to their daughter, Ellen Key Turner (1830-1907) m. Dr. John S. Messersmith (1811-1891) a US Navy surgeon to the USS Constellation;
to their daughter, Anna Key Messersmith (1866-1961) m. James Edward Palmer, Cmdr., USN (d. 1927);
bequeathed the piece to Anna Messersmith's grand-niece, Alice Cutts Wainwright (1907-1991), Coconut Grove, Florida;
Since 1991 the high chest has been in the collection of another Key descendant.
Private southern collector;
Sotheby's, New York, Important Americana, September 26, 2008, sale 8448, lot 53.
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