Valuables Cabinet made by James Symonds of Salem, Ma. in 1679. He built four of these cabinets in 1679, three as wedding commissions, and one for a private owner. This one is a replica of the one at the MMA, New York.
The primary wood is white oak, the turnings are of maple, all wood was riven from my firewood supply. The mouldings in the octagon are 18th century white pine with the points showing their oxidized color.
I made alterations and enhancements to this and His cabinet. 1) I used the moulded top from the Pope cabinet at the Peabody Essex Museum, ( the only one with an ogee moulded top including the back edge). 2) I 'let in' all of the interior drawer dividers into the sides, top and into themselves, (blind). 3) I made a brass escutcheon instead of iron. 4) The stippling in the carved sides is altered. 5) I painted the center top moulding black, three of the originals are not painted black. I made this one for myself and a replica of the Pope cabinet for a Hartford, Connecticut client in 2011. Joseph and Bathsheba Pope's ( the original owners ) Cabinet was sold at Christies in New York in 2000 for $ 2,495,000. It was in original condition, but missing two pieces of moulding in the center octagon and one drawer, of ten, inside ! I don't believe there is any other 1st Period piece of furniture in the Colonies that has ten drawers before 1700. A masterpiece indeed !! An update of these Symonds Cabinets is needed as of January 2026: Another Cabinet has come to light that was made by James Symonds in 1677, perhaps the second he made, for Symon and Rebeckah Horne of Andover, Ma, that sold at Sotheby's for $ 1,600,000. The lesser amount I'm sure was due to the poor condition it's in. But I hope they don't restore it. However? There could be another !