Arts&Crafts Piece

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E

Ed Griner

Well-known member
Could anyone tell me a little bit about the Arts&Crafts looking piece,in the left most photo on the Home page?

                                                                                                                                Ed
 
William Howard was a Mississippi slave. He worked at Kirkwood Plantation for William McWillie, who served as governor of the state (1857-1859.) After he was freed, Howard remained at Kirkwood and built this desk and one other like it, around 1870.  The front of the desk is decorated with various items and tools he used at Kirkwood.
 
Thanks for the quick reply! That's very interesting,where would I find more about Wm. Howard and his furniture?

                                                                                                                        Ed
 
There are only two known pieces by William Howard.  Both are desks.  One of them is in the Wadsworth Atheneum. See Mid-Year 2014 announcement (http://www.sapfm.org/mid-year-2014-behind-the-scenes) for further information about the Atheneum. If you are signed up for the Atheneum 'behind-the-scenes' tour, you might be able to make arrangements to view it.  If you're not signed up, enroll on the wait list (the tour is currently full at 15 participants.)

The desk was acquired by the Atheneum in 2012.  Robin Jaffee Frank (robin.frank@wadsworthatheneum.org) or Alyce Englund (Alyce.Englund@wadsworthatheneum.org) may be able to provide further information.

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts bought the other desk, also in 2012. The Maine Antique Digest reported the asking prices as $300,000 (Atheneum) and $400,000 (MIA).

In the early 1900s, the McWillie family razed Kirkwood plantation to the ground.
 
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