Rare and Important American Rococo Revival Rosewood Three-Piece Bedroom Suite

third quarter 19th century, attributed to the warerooms of Prudent Mallard, New Orleans, consisting of a half-tester bed with a complex tester frame and featuring carved moldings, and an integral floral-carved central cartouche, supported by turned-and-carved posts, the paneled headboard with a carved cartouche flanked by scrolled moldings, the rails and footboard adorned with scrolling leaf and foliate carvings, h. 122", inside w. 64", l. 83", outside w. 74", l. 93", a matching double-door armoire with mirrored doors, h. 116", w. 70", d. 30", and a marble-top washstand, h. 33", w. 48", d. 25".


Provenance: This suite of furniture was once part of a larger set of bedroom furniture made for Duncan Farrar Kenner (1813-1887). Kenner was the owner of numerous sugar plantations and his family resided at Ashland Plantation in Darrow, Louisiana. He served as president of the Louisiana Sugar Planters Association. He also served several terms in the Louisiana House of Representatives and was a member of the state constitutional convention of 1845 and 1852. The city of Kenner, Louisiana (located outside New Orleans) was named after Minor Kenner, who was the brother of Duncan Kenner. The Kenner family bedroom suite is believed to have originally consisted of a pair of these half tester beds, a pair of armoires, a pair of dressing tables, a pair of washstands and a pair of dressers. The set was eventually split up among family members. Many of the other remaining pieces to this set are conserved in a private collection, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Literature: The companion armoire is illustrated in American Furniture of the 19th Century 1840-1880, by Eileen and Richard Dubrow, page 151.

In as found condition. The bed has scattered scuffs and surface scratches to the rails. One rail is missing some of the applied carving in the center. The finials on the tops of the footboard posts are replacements. Some of the beaded trim under the canopy molding is missing at the rear right corner. Retains an old original finish. The washstand is missing its backsplash and there is a dark shadow along the back edge of the marble where it sat. The turned knobs on the lower two drawers are not original. The surface appears to be an old refinish. The armoire has a chip to the crown molding at the front right corner. Minor dings and scuffs to the finish, consistent with age and use. Both doors have dryness to the finish along their frames and some light flaking. The surface appears to be an old refinish.