Artist/Maker

Krause, Johannes

Place Made

Date Made

1794-1795

Medium

wood; (See Description)

Dimensions

HOA: 97 1/4″; WOA: 53″ (at cornice); DOA: 25 3/8″ (at deepest point)

Accession Number

2664.1

Description

Desk and Bookcase; desk veneered with matched crotch-figured panels of cherry surrounded by banding of two strings of light wood (possibly ash) and a band of mahogany. Fallboard, drawers, and case sides are treated in this manner, with each panel of veneer surrounded with cross banding of cherry. The case edges are lip-molded, as are the fallboard edges; drawers have an applied cock-bead. Desk interior is fitted with two ranks of stepped drawers surrounding a shelved prospect fitted with drawers in the top partition; the right side of the prospect was altered ca. 1810-1830 with a locked door and a tier of drawers. The domed pediment bookcase is solid cherry with applied molding at the edges of the raised-panel fields, the fields being veneered with matched crotch cherry. All hardware replaced except for four pulls on interior drawers.
PRIMARY WOODS: Cherry and cherry veneer, with banding and stringing of walnut and an unidentified hardwood.
SECONDARY WOODS: desk case of yellow pine, back of poplar, drawer interiors of poplar, bookcase back of poplar.

History

LABEL NOTES: This piece descended in the family of Mr. Herbert H. Crist and is presumed to be the former property of Rudolph Christ, the potter.
RELATED NAME: Christ, Rudolph

Artist Biography

Attributed to Johannes Krause, joiner, watermaster. His parents were Johann Krause and Susanna Margaretha Dressel Krause. Born July 4, 1742 and died November 28, 1807. He was considered a master joiner in the Single Brothers Joinery; working dates are 1774-1796.

“Krause’s furniture has been identified in part by comparison with architectural works which he carried out in various buildings, and the hand of (Johann Jacob) Wohlfahrt, very likely, is seen in a number of pieces in the style of Krause but with differing detail of moldings and construction.” (Bivins & Welshimer, p.10) See Acc. no. 11 for another example of a desk by Krause.

Credit Line

Old Salem Purchase Fund