Artist/Maker

Petersen, Karsten (attr.)

Place Made

Date Made

1830-1845

Medium

maple (curly maple)

Dimensions

HOA 29 1/2; WOA 23 1/2; DOA 19 3/4″

Accession Number

2132.2

Description

DESCRIPTION: Two drawer table with turned legs and wide overhanging molded edge top, the drawers mounted with glass knobs and ivory tacked on shield-shaped keyhole escutcheons; primary wood is maple with poplar and pine secondary.

This may be the sewing table John Vogler purchased from the Petersen Shop in 1827 for $6.50. The top drawer of this particular table is fitted with compartments for sewing equipment. Small tables such as this one with one or two drawers were made at a variety of price points. This example made of figured maple and adorned with glass knobs is more elaborate than many surviving examples.

Top is 3/4″ thick of plain maple; the rest is curly maple. Top is fastened by 4 wood screws, 2 through upper front rail & 2 slant (?) through cut in back apron, inside. Apron set back of face of legs 1/8″ Aprons morticed into legs, no pegs. Runners in two parts, large part tenoned into legs. Small part nailed to large part. Drawers stopped by 1/4″ thick black glued to ____ apron. Drawers have dovetailed corners. Front 7/8″ thick curly maple, sides and back poplar 3/8″; bottom pinr 7/16″ thick. Bottom rabbeted in 1/4″ up. A round shank nail near each end in back. Two 1 3/4″ dia glass knobs each drawer. Knobs have screw through glass, not on end, inside drawer. Probably original. Brass screws but flanged iron nut (cast). Top drawer divided into five compartments. Bottom drawer has “No 2” penciled on the back. Drawers are stopped by hitting back apron. Ivory escutcheons nailed on surface for each lock.

LABEL NOTES:
Attributed to Karsten Petersen
Salem, North Carolina
1825-1835
Maple and poplar
Loan curtest of the Family of Elizabeth Butler

History

LABEL NOTES: Descended in the Bahnson family of Salem.

Artist Biography

ARTIST BIO: Karsten Petersen was born in Wichkrug by Flensburg, Schelswig-Holstein, Prussia on April 21, 1776. Although little is known of his background or training, evidence suggests that he may have lived in Denmark for several years. In 1806, he immigrated to Salem from Gnadau via Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. After a brief period in Salem during which Petersen worked in the Single Brothers’ joiner shop and studied English, he and Johann Christian Burkhardt traveled to Georgia to work as craftsmen among the Creek Indians on the Flint River. Petersen and Burkhardt returned to Salem in 1813 and Petersen set up first a turner shop and later a cabinetmaking shop on what had formerly been the Brother’ slaughter house lot. In 1816, Petersen married Suzanna Praezel. They had five children. Their two sons, William and Edward trained in their father’s shop and took the shop over when Petersen died in 1858.

Credit Line

Loan courtesy of the Family of Elizabeth Butler.