Dressing table w/ mirror has Sheraton and Empire features, is made of solid mahogany and veneers with secondary woods of poplar and pine. This is a rare form.
Top has veneered half-column mirror frame supported by turned stiles which are set into top with a double tenon set at a backward cant. Mirror corners are blocks with turned bulls-eyes. Inner cove-molded fillet has vestiges of gilding.
Oblong table top comprised of solid 3/8" thick mahogany laminated onto 1/2" thick poplar, and secured to carcase with screws. A rounded molding is applied to front and ends.
Veneered carcase contains five dovetailed drawers faced with mahogany veneers: one long flanked by two short, over two long. The top drawers have a rounded profile while the two bottom drawers are cockbeaded. All drawers have replacement pulls of hollow, rounded brass knobs with a pierced floliate design. The two bottom drawers are fitted with locks; keyholes have brass insets but dark ghosting indicates missing escutcheons.
Baluster-turned legs extend from table top to floor. They support a low shelf 11 1/2" from floor. Shelf is shaped with recessed cutouts at front and ends.
Inscription: Interior of top central drawer has "J.F. MARKLEY/ CABINET MAKER/ Locust St./ COLUMBIA." stamped within an oval laurel wreath.
Also in collections is a J. F. Markley Empire chest of drawers (P77.02).
Provenance
Provenance: This dressing table was previously owned by an acquaintance of John J. Snyder, Michael Stinchcomb of ???, who recently changed his mind about using this piece in his bathroom when he realized the veneers would suffer. He consequently consigned it to sale at Pook and Pook.
Cracking in veneer on mirror. Numerous spots of corrosion on mirror. Moderate cracking in veneer on front and sides. Minor chips and scratches overall. Top has two cracks, one is 2" long at left and one is 6 1/2" long at right side. Bottom shelf has 6 1/2" crack at right side. Nails have been added to secure top to carcase; back of top is not secure due to stripped screws. Top left drawer has significant wood removed with rasp at front of sides.
Empire style chest of drawers, mahogany veneer on pine or poplar. Four drawers, each with two pressed glass pulls & keyhole and each with bookmatched veneer of highly figured mahogany. The top drawer overhangs lower drawers and has a curved front (top-to-bottom), while the three lower drawers have flat fronts. Freestanding ionic columns flank drawers with carved plinths. Sunken panel construction at sides. Two extensively carved paw feet in front; two ball feet in back.
In April 1982, the entire case was disassembled and discovered to be signed and dated by Markley, behind the left front stile above the column. (Not seen in 2011. Inscription appears on top of thick drawer divider supporting top drawer.) Also stamped by maker within oval on upper surface of top drawer bottom: "J.F. MARKLEY/ CABINETMAKER/ Locust Street/ COLUMBIA."
According to file, the 1830-1846 Columbia Borough tax records list Markley variously as a doctor, cabinetmaker, contractor or gent.
See also a gentleman's dressing table with mirror, P00.39.01.
Piece of veneer 1.5" x 0.5" is missing from top right above drawer. Small spots and scratches overall, and two large cracks on top: one near front right corner, and one at rear center, partially filled in. The left pull on the second drawer up from the bottom is split in half; held in place with string windings.
Two toes on the right front foot were pieced and recarved by Joseph Molz of Lancaster City. Some veneer was also pieced.
Object ID
P.77.02
Notes
More info in file. There was a discrepancy in the research with two different Jacob Markleys. It appears that the maker of this chest of drawers was Jacob Fry Markley (1800-1854), born in boro of Strasburg to parents Jacob Markley, Sr. (1765-1829) and Barbara Fry Markley. Jacob Sr. was also a cabinetmaker.
Son Jacob is listed with different occupations over the years. He was living in Columbia in 1830 and possibly as late as 1841. He moved to Spring Grove, Philadelphia County by 1850 and is listed as a druggist in the 1850 Census with wife Ann & 5 children. "JACOB F. MARKLEY M.D." is on his tombstone in the Hatboro Cemetery. Thus Jacob Markley claimed to be a cabinetmaker, druggist and doctor (Doctor is perhaps what he called a pharmacist).
Place of Origin
Columbia
Role
Cabinetmaker
Credit
Gift of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Coll
Located on northwest corner of Fourth and Cherry Streets. Petition not granted.
January term.
Signers of Petition: James Boyd, Robert McDowell, Joseph Black, William Hissin, Joseph W. Cottrell, P. B. Elder, John Swartz, Michael Strein, Peter Haldeman, C. Haldeman, Joseph I. Strickler, Jacob Gossler, Francis Boggs, James Crow, George Zeigler, John Gonter Jr., James Wright, J. F. Cottrell, Michael Way, Jacob Fisher, Thomas Todd, Charles [Hathorn], Thomas Mullin.
1 item, 1 piece
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Signers of Petition: John [Ames], Robert K. Colvin, Gideon Breneman, Jacob Gossler, John R. Beatty, R. E. Cochran, John L. Wright, Henry B. Eagle, Peter Haldeman, William Wissin, Michael Strein, James Haughey, E. A. Martin, John Wilson, Michael Hoak.
1 item, 1 piece
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Signers of Petition: H. Breneman, Peter Haldeman, John Vaughen, William Hissin, C. Haldeman, R. E. Cochran, Joseph A. Hooke, Jacob Luttman, Henry Myers, William Mathiot, James Barber, John Ames, Charles Odell, John McFall, Henry Smith.
1 item, 1 piece
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Signers of Petition: John McMullen, John [Arms], H. Breneman, Michael [Hook], William [Hissin], Henry B. Eagle, Joseph Hooke, Peter Haldeman, F. A. Thomas, Robert K. Colvin, Reuben Mullison, James Long, George Wike, [George Minich], Thomas Collins, Jonas Rumple, Henry Myers, John Hippey, Joseph Mosher, J. W. Cottrell, C. Haldeman, William Atkins, John Lockard, R. E. Cochran, Harford Fraly, Henry Myers Jr., [signature in German], [Henry Minich], C. A. Martin, Justus Gray.
1 item, 1 piece
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Signers of Petition: F. A. Thomas, John Vaughen, H. Breneman, James Haughen, William Hissin, Jacob Luttman, John Ferguson, Samuel Jenkins, Henry Myers, Michael Hook, [unknown signature], Thomas Cating, John Arms, J. H. Hunter, John Beaver, R. E. Cochran, H. J. Mathiot, Reuben Mullison, [H. Brunner], Hugh Boyle, John [Emry], James J. Given, George Wike, James Given, George Maxton, Martin Beaver, John Fisher, Jonas Rumple, [John J. Mauz], Henry Myers Jr., Jacob Hartey, Jacob Hogertobler, Benjamin B. Miller, Jacob Mathiot, Peter Haldeman, Joseph W. Cottrell, J. F. Cottrell, Samuel Mathiot, John S. Wein, Henry Fisher, John Clarke, [signature in German], Henry Minick, [Christian Raush], Patrick McMullen, John McMullen, B. Haldeman, Frederick Hagman, George C. R. Zahm, Lewis Wislar, George W. Brade, Thomas B. [Dunbar], Wesley Lloyd, Joshua Hawkins, Nathaniel [B. Hoon], R. S. Hamill, John Corrigan.
1 item, 1 piece
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Signers of Petition: William J. Schultz, Joshua Vaughen, Peter Haldeman, Jonas Rumple, John Vaughen, C. Haldeman, James [Gron], James Donley, P. Gonter, Charles Evans, R. E. Cochran, Daniel Herr, George Ziegler, James Barber.
1 item, 1 piece
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Signers of Petition: H. Breneman, Joseph W. Cottrell, Thomas L. Smith, Robert W. Houston, J. S. Clarkson, William Mathiot, James Haughey, P.B. Elder, John Forrey, Evan Green, John Barber, J. F. Cottrell, Israel Cooper, John McKissick Jr.
1 item, 1 piece
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Signers of Petition: Michael Strein, Joseph Black, George Ziegler, Henry Strickler, Z. A. Thomas, H. Breneman, P. B. Elder, Lewis Wislar, Peter Haldeman, J. [Armstrong], Michael Lees, Joseph W. Cottrell, Michael Way, John M. Heller, John W. Houston.
1 item, 1 piece
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Located on Front Street adjoining property of John Arms, and Henry Martin.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of Petition: C. Haldeman, J. F. Cottrell, Thomas Collins, [unknown signature], Joseph Mosher, Lewis Wislar, Michael Way, Francis Boggs, Reuben Mullison, James Given, Jacob Gossler, Peter Haldeman, John Forrey.
1 item, 1 piece
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Located fronting on the corner of Walnut & 4th Street.
Formerly kept by George Wien and last by Jacob Hogendobler.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of Petition: Jacob Lichty, Jonas Rumple, Samuel Eberlein, [signature in German], Daniel Zahm, Jacob Grider, Henry Myers, Lewis [Plitt], James [Stanley], [unknown signature], Michael Wisler, John Bennet, William Long.
1 item, 1 piece
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Signers of Petition: Francis Boggs, John Arms, Michael Elder, William [Hissin], J. F. Eagle, Peter Haldeman, Jonas Rumple, John Cooper, E. Green, B. F. Dean, James Given, Michael Wisler, Cornelius Tyson.
1 item, 1 piece
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Signers of Petition: [John] H. Davis, J. M. Watts, Andrew Beiter, Samuel Eberlein, George C. Lloyd, Isaac Vaughen, John Vaughen, George Peters, John Lowery, John Swartz, John W. Keller, Henry Bruckart, Joseph Black, John List, [unknown signature], George Weaver, James Donley, Michael Way, John Montgomery.
1 item, 1 piece
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Signers of Petition: Joseph Strickler, William Mathiot, Nathaniel Evans, Hugh Boyle, John E. Brown, Henry Sourbeer, James Given, Daniel Zahm, John Cooper, J. F. Cottrell, [Joseph] W. Cottrell, George Moore.
1 item, 1 piece
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Located on corner of Lancaster & Columbia Turnpike and 5th Street.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of Petition: Jacob Grider, Robert Chalfant, John McMullen, Samuel Eberlein, Jacob Lichty, Jacob Gossler, George C. Lloyd, Robert W. Houston, Charles N. Wright, Joseph Strickler, C. Haldeman, J. F. Cottrell, P. B. Elder, H. Breneman.
1 item, 1 piece
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Remonstrance against additional licenses granted to taverns in Columbia.
January term.
Signers of Petition: William Houston, George Peters, J. F. Markley, H. McCorkle, A. Bruner, Albert G. Bradford, James Cresson, S. Goheen, James Little, William Beatty, James Wright.
1 item, 1 piece
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Signers of Petition: Michael Strein, John [List], John Swartz, Peter Haldeman, George C. Lloyd, H. Brunner, Moses Whitson, J. F. Cottrell, H. Bruner, William [Wilson], James Donley, John Montgomery, James Barber, Jacob Gossler, John R. Beatty, John Arms, Reuben Mullison, Michael Way.
1 item, 1 piece
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Signers of Petition: Jacob Lichty, Joseph W. Cottrell, J. F. Cottrell, James Donly, John A. Davis, Henry Myers, Daniel Herr, William S. Cochran, Joseph Johnston, George W. Evans, James Osborn, James Crows, William Atkins, James Barber, Thomas H. Pearce, Stephen Miller, John B. Paxton, Lewis Wilkinson, Robert McDowell, John R. Beaty, Jacob Gossler, [William Zittle], William [Hissin], H. Breneman, Peter Haldeman, William Mathiot, William J. Schultz, Francis Boggs, Nathaniel Evans, Michael Strein, Joseph Strickler, G. W. Johnston, [J. Dunn], [P. B Elder],
Additional signers: Jacob Lichty, J. F. Cottrell, Ira Woodcraft, Daniel Herr, John B. Paxton, Jacob Gossler, John Arms, William Mathiot, John L. Wright, Peter Haldeman, P. B. Elder, T. H. Breneman.
2 items, 1 piece
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