An Exceptional quality Ebony and Silver Inlay worktable. Philadelphia
circa 1860.
A fully fitted interior with Ebony,
Satinwood, Silver and Mother of Pearl tools. The Interior has a writing desk, ebony lift out trays, a pair of ink wells,
a pair of scent bottles, and a variety of sewing tools.
The
Silver Lock is signed by Conrad Liberich a German immigrant from Philadelphia. The lock and the desk were made
between 1849 - 1868
A likely maker for this very fine
table is Gottlieb Vollmer. Vollmer made metal inlaid furniture, he was of German descent and his later pieces
are all signed on the locks.
The desk has a letter from
the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1968 describing the table as;
"Pretentious beyond the average, and with its multiplicity of functions it may well have been
some-thing made for intial presentation in an exhibition".
Vollmer is known to have exhibited
his furniture and President James Buchanan bought his person furnishings from Vollmer.
Buchanan also bought Vollmer furniture for the White House including
an Ebony Bedroom Set for the Green Bedroom, that was sold in 1902, it whereasbouts is unknown.
The Vollmer gilded Parlor Set is still in the Blue Room of the White
House.
$11,500
