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Product Details
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Newport Chest #0166
SKU: 0166
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Overview
Displaying magnificent carved block shells, this chest of drawers represents the zenith of American design and craftsmanship.
Acknowledged as one of the early America's innovations in furniture design, the block and shell furniture of Newport, Rhode Island exemplifies the social importance and economic strength of this affluent port city in the latter part of the 18th century. Merchants of Newport amassed large fortunes through the shipping trades and channeled some of this wealth into exquisite furniture made by Newport's finest cabinetmakers, the Goddard and Townsend families.
In the past sixteen years, furniture attributed to these families has brought enormous sums at auction. In 1986 a four-drawer chest like the one here sold at Sotheby's for over $300,000, at that time the second largest amount ever paid for an American piece of furniture. In 1989, Christie's sold the six-shell Brown Secretary for a record $12.1 million, and in 1998 a chest like the one above sold at Christie's for $4.7 million.
Bartley's reproduction of this spectacular 18th century Newport masterpiece will no doubt be showcased in your home and those of generations to follow. Hardly any other piece in the Bartley line combines such a sense of history, design, and craftsmanship. Offered in Mahogany, as was the original, and Cherry. Measures 32"H x 36"W x 20"D. The top drawer has one lock.
NOTE: Any kit we offer that is $1000 or more will require a 30% deposit at the time of scheduling. This deposit is fully refundable until we begin cutting the kit. (If a kit has already been scheduled we will require the 30% deposit at the time of order. What this means is that if we do not have a tentative ship date we will not charge the deposit.) At the time we begin cutting the kit we will require an additional 30% deposit. At this time both deposits are non-refundable. You will not be charged for the balance of payment until your kit is ready to ship.
In the past sixteen years, furniture attributed to these families has brought enormous sums at auction. In 1986 a four-drawer chest like the one here sold at Sotheby's for over $300,000, at that time the second largest amount ever paid for an American piece of furniture. In 1989, Christie's sold the six-shell Brown Secretary for a record $12.1 million, and in 1998 a chest like the one above sold at Christie's for $4.7 million.
Bartley's reproduction of this spectacular 18th century Newport masterpiece will no doubt be showcased in your home and those of generations to follow. Hardly any other piece in the Bartley line combines such a sense of history, design, and craftsmanship. Offered in Mahogany, as was the original, and Cherry. Measures 32"H x 36"W x 20"D. The top drawer has one lock.
NOTE: Any kit we offer that is $1000 or more will require a 30% deposit at the time of scheduling. This deposit is fully refundable until we begin cutting the kit. (If a kit has already been scheduled we will require the 30% deposit at the time of order. What this means is that if we do not have a tentative ship date we will not charge the deposit.) At the time we begin cutting the kit we will require an additional 30% deposit. At this time both deposits are non-refundable. You will not be charged for the balance of payment until your kit is ready to ship.
Reviews
Add Your ReviewReviewer: Morris K Lynch
Several years ago I ordered two of these chests.
I ordered in cherry. They are absolutely outstanding and very easy to build. I have them in my master bedroom which also had a king size cherry rice bed that I made from scratch. The canopy was a little tricky to make since it required bending cherry but all went well. The Bartley chests however are my show pieces. Would love to have on in Walnut but will have to wait since I am now retired. I would recommend these chests absolutely to anyone!
Reviewer: Anthony La Marca
I bought the Newport Chest last year and it took me a few days to put it together. This was my first experience with a fine furniture kit and it was quite interesting. I did make a few mistakes which were put in order by Donna who was able to get me the replacement parts I needed. I did think that the Instruction booklet wasn't quite clear enough only because it was in black and white. When I referred back to the color catalogue I could see the area's where I mad the mistakes more clearly. The only other problem I had was in centering the bottem of the draw slides on the chest. Perhaps on future cutting of the chest you might be able to mark the center on the cabinet to avoid making un needed holes.
Over all it was a great experience and I would do it all over again, as a matter of fact I just ordered the Tidewater Silver Chest.
The Newport Chest turned out to be a very very beautiful piece of furniture and the combination of the cherry and mahogany stains turned out just beautiful again thanks to Donna's input. Everyone who has seen the piece has a hard time believing it was a kit.
Thank you for making such a fine Product.
Sincerely
Anthony J. La Marca
Reviewer: Robert Rausch
In 1997 I was fortunate enough to order and build a Bartley Newport Chest, in Cherry. It remains one of the most beautiful pieces of furniture I've ever seen. The entire piece, including those neatly carved-shells has taken on a deep, rich, amber and reddish glow over the years. This piece is especially gorgeous when illuminated by the morning sun streaming in my bedroom windows.
The original Newport chests were well designed back in the late 1700's by those Newport Master Furniture Makers, and as I understand it, Bartley has only changed a few things here and there to make the proportions more pleasing to the eye. All the internal construction details, which made those original Newport chests last for hundreds of years have been preserved in this piece. This chest is the real deal.
I assembled the Newport Chest myself over a period of several weeks, working in the evenings. The instruction manual was well written, with many pictures added to show the details of construction. It went together pretty easily. The only problem I encountered was that one of the feet had somehow been damaged in transit from the East Coast to the West Coast, and Bartley sent me an immediate replacement as soon as I notified them.
The case is remarkably well designed--it fits together with tenons and dovetails, and is rock solid. The sides and top of the chest show that gorgeous Cherry grain, and have remained perfectly straight and flat over the years I've owned it--again, a testament to the quality of the wood, and how the piece was designed. The drawer support rails and dovetailed drawers themselves are all made to stay strong, work smoothly and close securely. The drawers slide on hardwood rails like the original Chests made over 200 years ago. No plastic sliders or stamped steel here! Every few years I rub a little candle wax onto the bottoms of the drawers, and I've seen no wear at all in 10 years of daily use. Gluing this chest up and finishing it was a wonderful adventure which I enjoyed immensely and one that I'll long remember.
My nephews are beginning to show appreciation for my Newport Chest. But they will have awhile to wait for it! Lucky for them I have 8 Bartley pieces and only 2 nephews.
