A Fine American Late Federal Mahogany Chest of Drawers, early 19th c., attributed to Nathaniel Appleton (Salem, active 1806), rectangular top, two outset short drawers over three long drawers flanked by reeded colonnettes, baluster-turned legs with acanthus collars, toupie feet, pine and poplar secondary wood, original gilt brass pulls, height 41 in., width 42 1/2 in., depth 20 in. Provenance: Acquired from Didier, Inc., 2008; ex-collection of the Great-Great Grandson of Admiral Raphael Semmes. Note: The reeded stiles, case form and pulls seen on this chest are very similar to those on a mahogany chest attributed to Nathaniel Appleton which is illustrated in Kimball, "Salem Furniture Makers", Magazine Antiques (September 1933), p. 91; and Randall, "Works of Boston Cabinet Makers", Ibid (February 1962), p. 189, fig. 5 In 1807 Samuel Field McIntire (Salem 1780-1819) billed cabinetmaker Jacob Sanderson for "reeding & carving 4 legs", (1) evidence of specialization in the Salem furniture trade also apparent here on this lot. The fine acanthus carved front legs on this chest are similar to those from McIntire illustrating a known relationship between the Appleton and McIntire workshops, as a secretary conserved by Salem's Essex Institute and attributed to Appleton features carved ornament by McIntire (2). Reference: (1) Swan, "A Factual Estimate of Samuel McIntire", Samuel McIntire: A Bicentennial Symposium 1757-1957, p. 94; (2) Bjerkoe, Cabinetmakers of America, p. 29 See also Sack, American Antiques in the Israel Sack Collection, Vol. VIII, 1986, p. 5581.