This sofa form occurs at the end of the Classical period, the work of Samuel Field McIntire, the son of the famous woodcarver Samuel McIntire, woodcarver and architect in Salem. The McIntires span three generations of celebrated woodcarving, and much of their work is on exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem.
The decorative motif that is the hallmark of this period is the basket of fruit, which in this sofa, is beautifully developed along with the rope molding and leafage carving which abuts the basket. Leaving nothing undone, the arms are similarly developed, above classical saber legs which terminate in a complementary brass spiral foot. Other Salem pieces with the basket of fruit as a central motif in our collection include a sideboard: sw01554, and games table: sw00011.
I keep this example and our other exuberantly carved Salem sofa (see sw02114) together in our exhibition as comparative pieces. I usually ask, “Which do you like better? What are the differences?” This begins one’s connoisseurship: understanding and putting things together that are related is important for our study museum of American classical furniture.
Height: 35 in. Width: 80 in. Depth: 27 in.
Revised Feb 14, 2026, 10:56 AM