1993.30.A-B, High chest of drawers, Boston, c.1700-1725

The squared-off forms, matched panels of veneer, ebonized trumpet-shaped legs, and delicate hardware of this high chest reflect the influence of northern Europe and Spain upon English furniture of the late 17th century and, in turn, that of colonial America. This work was originally owned by the merchant William Sever and his wife, Sarah Warren, of Kingston, Rhode Island. The pieces were undoubtedly made in Boston.  

The high chest (sometimes referred to as a "highboy") replaced the cupboard as the most important piece of case furniture in the early 18th-century American household. The top of the high chest, like that of the cupboard, provided a convenient place for keeping and displaying glass, ceramics, and sometimes silver. Inventory records show that the chests usually stood in the parlor or the "best chamber" (a parlor-like room) and were often accompanied by a table [1993.31.FA]. Very few matching high chests and dressing tables of the William and Mary period have survived.

c. 1755-d. 1809: Squire William Sever and his wife Sarah Warren of Kingston, Massachusetts [1]

From 1809: Mrs. John Russell Sever, daughter-in-law and widow of John Sever (son of Squire William Sever), Kingston, Massachusetts, by inheritance

Until 1834: Charles Sever (d. 1834) and Jane Amarinthia Elliot Sever, Kingston, Massachusetts, by inheritance

After 1834: Jane (Amarinthia) Elliot Server (widow of Charles Sever) and Kate Elliot Server (daughter of Charles Sever), Kingston, Massachusetts [2]

Until d.1891: Kate Elliot Server, Kingston, Massachusetts, by inheritance

From 1891: Charles William Sever, Kingston, Massachusetts, by inheritance [3]

early 20th century-d.1941, Francis W. Sever, Cambridge, Massachusetts, by inheritance [4]

After 1941-d. 1993: Mary Conway O'Reilly (1906-1993), St. Louis, Missouri, by inheritance

1993: Archer O'Reilly, Jr, St. Louis, Missouri

After 1993: Collection of the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, Texas, purchased from Archer O'Reilly [5]

[1]The main source for this provenance is a typed letter from Archer O' Reilly, Jr. of St. Louis, Missouri dated December 10, 1991, addressed to "To whom it may concern"

[2] Kate Elliot Server referred to as  the "spinster" daughter of Charles Sever

[3] Charles William Sever inherited the house and its contents, but maintained his own residence in Cambridge, Massachusetts. From the aforementioned letter, "His family did not move to Kingston, but used the house only in the summer."

[4] from the O'Reilly letter, "My grandfather moved some pieces to Cambridge such as this highboy and the Sarah Warren needlepoint, now at Winterthur. The lowboy (1993.31.FA) remained in Kingston as My Aunt's, Martha Sever, bed side table.

[5] See copy of DMA check #3347 in Collections Records Object File (1993.A-B) made out to Archer O'Reilly, Jr, dated December 22, 1993

This high chest of drawers dressing table (commonly referred to as a "highboy") and its accompanying dressing table ("lowboy") stayed in the same family from 1775 to its acquisition by the Dallas Museum of Art in 1993.

Apply to objects where number equals 1993.30.A-B