having a broken arch top with an enclosed bonnet, turned and carved spiral finials, two of which are original, a fan carved central drawer incorporated in three over four drawers in the upper case flanked by fluted pilasters, original rare 'pine tree' brasses with serrated edges above four long drawers in the base, beaded drawer surrounds, tall straight bracket feet centered by a dropped pendant, and retaining a fine old mellow patina.

Salem, Massachusetts, circa 1770.

Height 7'5G", width 41G" (39G" @ upper case), depth 20I".

Provenance: This chest-on-chest descended from Thomas Walley (1725-1806), a
prominent tea and spice merchant, with a
shop on Dock Square in Boston. He took an
active political role as a delegate to the
proceedings of the convention held in
Concord, Massachusetts, in 1779 and as
chairman of the delegates to the Committee of
Correspondence. Thomas was a member of
the Standing committee in the West Church,
Boston. Walley's name appears on the back
of the middle drawer in the top.

Literature: A highboy undoubtedly from
the same shop appears in American Antiques,
Vol.IX, pages 2486 and 2487.