An American Federal Inlaid Mahogany Sideboard, c. 1790, bearing a scalloped oval label which reads "MADE AND SOLD BY/MATTHEW EGERTON, JUNIOR/JOINER AND CABINETMAKER/NEW-BRUNSWICK/NEW JERSEY/--NO.", serpentine form with three astragal drawers above three cupboard section, the doors all with stringing and quarter fan inlay at the corners, the square tapering legs inlaid with five graduated bellflowers each and cuffs, height 37 in., width 71 in., depth 30 1/2 in. E18000/25000 Provenance: John S. Walton, Inc. 1950, A local collector of Fine Americana. Note: Matthew Egerton Sr., the first of the three generations of Egerton cabinetmakers, was born in England in 1738 and by 1769 was in New Jersey. He owned considerable property was a warden of Christ Church, and served as a private in the state militia during the Revolutionary War. Matthew Egerton, Jr. (who ceased to use "Junior" after his father's death in 1802) apparently learned the trade from his father and was also a landowner active in local affairs, helping to start the New Jersey Bank for Savings. His sons, John Bergan and Evert, also became cabinetmakers. Evert working with his father and John on his own. Matthew Egerton, Jr. died in 1836 and both of his sons in the trade had passed away by 1838. The cabinet work of the two eldest Egertons is very similar-indeed they were contemporaries, however all labeled pieces are ascribed to Matthew, Junior, and include secretaries, clock cases, console tables,sideboards and other forms. Labeled works by Matthew Egerton, Jr. are in noted public and private collections including the H.F. Dupont Winterthur Museum, Chipstone, the Monmouth County Historical Society and others. Reference: Horner, William MacPherson, Jr. "Three Generations of Cabinetmakers, Part I" The Magazine Antiques, XIV (1928: 217-219 and Part II, XIV (1928): 417-421. Wisbey, Peter A. Three Generations of New Jersey Cabinetmakers: The Matthew Egerton Family, Master's thesis, University of Delaware, 1994. Neal Auction Company wishes to thank Peter A. Wisbey, Curator of Collections, Genesee county Musuem, Mumford, New York, for his assistance with this entry.