ATTRIBUTED TO ANTHONY QUERVELLE (1789-1856), PHILADELPHIA, CIRCA 1820

The overall design and carved work indicate this pier table's Philadelphia origins as it has affinities to a number of pieces made by or attributed to the shop of Anthony Quervelle. Born in France in 1789, Quervelle moved to Philadelphia in 1817, and quickly established himself as cabinetmaker to a number of prominent families in the area. Distinctive characteristics of his work can be seen here in the use of paw-scroll supports surmounted by acanthus carved details at the front with grapevine motif along the sides, elaborate gilt and stencil designs at the corner and central portions of the conforming top, and Ionic capitol forms at the rear flanking a mirrored back. As Robert Smith notes, "These classical fantasies, executed in a bold, sure, rhythmic style, are an unmistakably Quervellian feature" (Smith, "The Furniture of Anthony G. Quervelle," Philadelphia Furniture & Its Makers, John J. Snyder, Jr. (New Jersey, 1975), p. 107.
A virtually identical example is illustrated in Philadelphia Furniture & Its Makers, p. 106, fig. 4, the only differences found in the gilded details around the edging of the top skirt and gardrooned design outlining the mirror. Another related pier table is in the collection of The White House and featured in Betty Monkman, The White House: Its Historic Furnishings & First Families (New York, 2000), p. 85.