American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts

Note

In the The Magazine Antiques article, "Philadelphia Stories," of January 19, 2019, Alexandria A. Kirtley characterizes George Pickering as a "grossly under-appreciated and under-studied cabinetmaker who cultivated the talents of fellow artisans to create furniture in which academic design is combined with elegant execution." The facts known about Pickering's life are few. It is known that his shop was located on Water Street between Race and Vine Streets, had a one -time partnership with cabinetmaker Thomas Bryan, had indentured apprentices in 1771 and 1772, and that his estate was appraised by fellow cabinetmakers, Jonathan Gostelowe and William Rigby in 1784.

Pickering appears to have regularly labeled the products of his work shop. These labeled examples have permitted furniture scholars to attribute a number of extroardinary tall clock cases to Pickering. See. Alexandra A. Kirtley, American Furniture 1650-1840 Highlights from the Philadelphia Museum of Art (2020), 128-129, no. 101. (1998.81.1).