拍品专文
Primarily known as a cabinetmaker working in Boston, Rufus Pierce was in New York City in the year 1830 when creditors in Boston forced Pierce and his ex-partner, Nathaniel Messer, to sell the stock from their recent partnership. As his stamp indicates, Pierce ran a warehouse and, according to the New York City Directory of 1830-1831, "Rufus Pierce & Co." of 218 Broadway were makers of bedsteads (Page Talbott, "Boston Empire Furniture," Antiques (May 1976), p.1008; Longworth's New-York Directory, 1830-1831, p.482). Pierce's Boston stamp is found on a worktable and dressing glass (Talbott, figs. 9-10) and thus far, the work table offered here appears to be the only known item identified by Pierce's New York stamp. The work table bearing the Boston stamp and the example offered here are almost identical and share details such as the lack of knee carving on the rear legs.