J.W Southack and Son NY Cabinet
18 June 2018
Description

This 2pc cabinet is super old, wormwood drawers, forged iron bar on the bottom half and lions clawfeet. The condition is pretty rough on the lower portion from bug damage long long ago, the feet are pretty eaten up and the sides have holes but really no structural damage to the cabinet itself. It's signed in black ink J.W Southack and Son NY on the top and measures 33"w x 65"t x 17"d. The doors, drawers and dropleaf all open and close fine. Ive done stronge research on Mr Southack and read that he was one of New Yorks finest cabinet makers throughout the 19th century and his company furnished the famous Metropolitan Hotel, this piece I believe to be one of his first examples being that its signed and not labeled.

Provenance

This piece came from the historic John Guild Inn now the Moana Vally Inn on Oahu. The Inn opened in 1919 and was originally furnished with fine Antiques, this drybar was one of the original pieces. This piece was purchased with many more original Manoa Inn antiques on May 14th 2018 from the last owner of the Inn Theresa Wery, she sold the property 5 years prior and shipped off most of the contents to her current home in Kula, Maui. Here's a link to the property https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Guild_House

Acquired from
Other
For sale
Yes
Answered within about 24 hours
By Nora Curl
Jun 19, 19:16 UTC
Fair Market Value
$3,000 - $8,000 USD
Insurance Value $0 USD
What does this mean?

This is an antique, later 19th century, Victorian era, Renaissance Revival style drop front, 2 piece cabinet on stand that is notated, on the piece, by hand 'J.W. Southack & Son NY'. Although there are references to Southack as a cabinetmaker in New York City, having been commissioned to furnish the Metropolitan Hotel and whom also built and invested in commercial real estate within the city, there really are not many ready visual examples of other pieces known to have been made by J.W. Southack. It would not be one his earliest pieces from the 1840's, given that the firm was not originally named 'J.W. Southack & Son'; the '& Son' emerged after the Civil War. The interior drawer wood shows significant aging that is not normally seen on the secondary wood of 19th century furniture pieces, however this could be due to the hot and humid climate conditions of Hawaii. Another conundrum is that the lock mechanism on the bottom half is done in iron whereas the lock mechanism on the top drop front appears to be brass. Renaissance Revival furniture was popular in the later 19th century. It is possible that the piece was owned by Southack and not built by the firm. The estimate is based on actual recent past recorded auction sales of comparables. Retail 'asking prices' can be higher and vary.

Shane maui picker's paradise Nov 02, 01:29 UTC

Aloha Nora, I was wondering if you can refer a good auction house that you might think would be willing to consign this piece? I had seen that you guys can assist in selling, so I figured I'd give it a shot? Thanks

Nora curl Nov 08, 16:39 UTC

I recommend contacting Christie's Auction house to see if they would have interest in consigning this for sale.

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