Possible Lincoln artifact discovered!

[Tadsecrete]

With a little luck and a lot of determination, we may eventually find the previous owner of this American Empire flame mahogany chest of drawers. last known location = NORTHEAST OHIO!!!! provenance, provenance, provenance.....Thank you for your time in reading...To see more images of the etchings, please see our website!

Please CLICK HERE.

Brian Ellison

http://www.tadlincolnssecret.com

[RJNorton]

Brian and Rachel, I wish you best of luck in discovering the provenance!

[LincolnMan]

I wonder if the TAD on the furniture piece matches the TAD on the one known to exist? I would have bought it too- great find. Keep us posted.

[Tadsecrete]

Due to the subject matter in the etchings, I believe the chest of drawers to be POST White House years. Whereas, the rocker is Known to be pre White House. An interesting story about the rocker is that I tried desperately to get a high resolution photograph of it so I could do a better comparison. The director at that site would have nothing to do with that. I do know that my TAD is actually carved with several animal figures. My TAD is filled with 150 plus years of dust and shellac but you can still make out a bird with it's talons in the back of a fish on the letter "T". I will find a photo of the T and post it if interested.

[Eva Elisabeth]

(06-17-2016 05:28 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  I wonder if the TAD on the furniture piece matches the TAD on the one known to exist? I would have bought it too- great find. Keep us posted.

AFAIK it was common practice that carpenters craved their initials on the back of (all) their works.

[Tadsecrete]

(06-17-2016 07:06 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(06-17-2016 05:28 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  I wonder if the TAD on the furniture piece matches the TAD on the one known to exist? I would have bought it too- great find. Keep us posted.

AFAIK it was common practice that carpenters craved their initials on the back of (all) their works.

First, this carving is on the TOP of the chest of drawers. And, no, that was not common practice.

[Gene C]

I can picture Tad carving his name onto the top of the chest.
The images on the back, I don't quite see as you do, but photographs have their limitations so maybe it would be different it I was personally looking at it.

Good luck. It's a nice peace of furniture that does have a story with it, Tad Lincoln or someone else. Enjoy the search, and I share Lincolnman's sentiments.

[RJNorton]

(06-17-2016 05:56 AM)Tadsecrete Wrote:  Due to the subject matter in the etchings, I believe the chest of drawers to be POST White House years.

Tad and Mary traveled to Europe in 1868, so therefore I am assuming Tad made the etchings between 1865 and 1868. From what I can find here are at least some of the places the Lincoln family lived during their 1865-1868 Chicago years:

1. Upon arriving in Chicago from Washington they moved into the Tremont House.

2. On May 31, 1865, they moved to the Hyde Park Hotel.

3. In May 1866 Mary purchased a home on Washington Street.

4. On May 1, 1867, Mary rented out her home and moved to the Clifton House.

5. On October 13, 1867, they began boarding with Daniel Cole, a contractor.

6. In 1868 the family was in and out of the Clifton House between out-of-state travels.

Also, in June 1867 Mary sold at least some of her furniture to a man named John Alston. I am not sure what Alston did with it.

[Eva Elisabeth]

(06-17-2016 07:57 AM)Tadsecrete Wrote:  

(06-17-2016 07:06 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(06-17-2016 05:28 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  I wonder if the TAD on the furniture piece matches the TAD on the one known to exist? I would have bought it too- great find. Keep us posted.

AFAIK it was common practice that carpenters craved their initials on the back of (all) their works.

First, this carving is on the TOP of the chest of drawers. And, no, that was not common practice.

Please check this out:
http://ancestoryarchives.blogspot.de/201...s.html?m=1

His grandfather carved his initials in pieces he made. My mother has some 19th century furniture pieces with initials as "signature". So a carpenter's mark is what would have first come to my mind it is. But who knows and I second the others' good wishes for your endeavor to find provenance.

Like Gene, I can picture Tad carving his name onto the top of the chest. From what I read about Tad I can easier see him doing that during the wh years, after the assassination I think he quite matured from that:

"Pa is dead. I can hardly believe that I shall never see him again. I must learn to take care of myself now... Well, I will try and be a good boy, and will hope to go someday to Pa and brother Willie, in heaven."

However, regarding the height - may I ask how tall one must be to do that carving? Also I wonder what tools you think were used to carve this as it looks too round for a knife. Possibly a wood gauge, maybe a bit smaller in "diameter" than this one?
http://www.schreinerhandel.de/images/pro...9_5461.jpg

[Tadsecrete]

(06-17-2016 02:15 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(06-17-2016 07:57 AM)Tadsecrete Wrote:  

(06-17-2016 07:06 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  [quote='LincolnMan' pid='59485' dateline='1466159283']
I wonder if the TAD on the furniture piece matches the TAD on the one known to exist? I would have bought it too- great find. Keep us posted.

AFAIK it was common practice that carpenters craved their initials on the back of (all) their works.

However, regarding the height - may I ask how tall one must be to do that carving? Also I wonder what tools you think were used to carve this as it looks too round for a knife. Possibly a wood gauge, maybe a bit smaller in "diameter" than this one?
http://www.schreinerhandel.de/images/pro...9_5461.jpg

I believe the instrument he used had a very.fine point to it. There is some impressive details in some of the etchings.

The chest of drawers is four feet tall.

Thanks for the encouragement and new information. I've learned several new things today!

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks for replying to my questions.

[RJNorton]

(06-17-2016 05:28 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  I wonder if the TAD on the furniture piece matches the TAD on the one known to exist?

Bill, here is a photo of the chair at the Lincoln Heritage Museum:

[Tadsecrete]

   

Maybe some fresh eyes to take a look at this "makers mark". It appears that one half of the figure eight in laurel leaves is made up of a name. I believe the middle initial to be an "A"

[LincolnMan]

(06-18-2016 04:21 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(06-17-2016 05:28 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  I wonder if the TAD on the furniture piece matches the TAD on the one known to exist?

Bill, here is a photo of the chair at the Lincoln Heritage Museum:

Thanks Roger.

[Tadsecrete]

    Check out this cute little dog with a fish in it's mouth. This etching also from the rear of the chest of drawers.