You did it! Thank you! Donors made it possible for the Dedham Historical Society & Museum to acquire this 17th-century carved chest attributed to John Thurston (1607-1685) of Dedham/Medfield. With this purchase, DHSM is now able to display this chest along with a similar carved chest we share with the Fairbanks House made by Thurston’s apprentice/associate John Houghton (1624-1684). We also have two Great Chairs in the DHSM collection associated with both craftsmen. Having two chests and two chairs from this period by artisans who worked together is an extremely rare educational opportunity. DHSM will host a “Welcome Home” party in the spring to celebrate this momentous addition to the collection.
Thurston emigrated to Salem from County Suffolk, England, in 1637 and was in Dedham by 1642, later moving to Medfield (Medfield separated from Dedham in 1649 and incorporated in 1651). When he died, he was one of the most prominent citizens of Medfield. John Houghton came to Dedham at the age of 11 in 1635 and it is thought he apprenticed with Thurston until 1645. He worked in Dedham until 1665, relocating to Lancaster and then to Charlestown in 1675 where he died and is buried in the Granary Burial ground beside Christ Church in Boston.
The Thurston chest was purchased at Sotheby’s in New York on January 19th, 2019, lot 846, as part of the Anne H. and Frederick Vogel collection: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/collection-anne-h-frederick-vogel-iii-n10003/lot.846.html. It was previously in the collection of the Delaware Art Museum.
Thank you to the Joan Pearson Watkins Revocable Trust for the seed funds for this purchase. Additionally, we thank the following donors: Anonymous, Bob & Becky Alexander, Daniel P. Brown, Lawrence C. Caldwell, Ann Chahbandour & Jay Robert Stiefel, Lucy and Mike Danziger, Raymond C. Egan, Robert & Bobbie Falk, Burt Fendelman, Judy and John Herdeg, Tom Jewett and Charles Berdan, Linda H. Kaufman, Marybeth Keene, Jim Mattozzi, Patricia and Samuel McCullough, Cheryl O’Malley, Elizabeth & Robert Owens, Nancy Kollish & Jeffrey Pressman, Dennis Radulski, David A. Schorsch and Eileen M. Smiles, Gary R. Sullivan Antiques, Inc., Seth A. Thayer Jr., Robert F. Trent, Leslie & Peter Warwick, Jan Whitlock, and Linda Wiseman. We are thankful for additional pledges that have been made and additional names will be added to this donor list once gifts are received. We are most appreciative to all who have made this purchase possible, including Jonathan Leo Fairbanks for providing the impetus to move forward. Thank you to Ronald Bourgeault for moral support during the auction, and to Scott Cousins Art Handling.
Just saw this website. Congratulations and many thanks for preserving this rare seventeenth-century furniture. It has special meaning for me as John Thurston was my great grandfather of 9 generations ago.
Hello Ron, Thank you for your email. The chair attributed to Thurston is so very important, being the oldest dated piece of furniture that survives from the colonies. It’s nifty that he made the chair for one of the first school teachers, Michael Metcalf, and also built the first school in Dedham. The chest also attributed to him is also important and we were glad to be able to purchase it at auction in January 2019. The fact that we have a chest and chair by his apprentice make the group extremely important and the only known “set” of 17-century furniture by master and apprentice of which I’m aware. I hope you can visit the museum at some point to see them in person. It’s always terrific to connect with a relative. Thank you again. Johanna McBrien, exec director
John Thurston is my 9th great grandfather as well; my wife and I hope to make it out to Dedham some day to see his handiwork in person. We had the honor of seeing a box of his at the Metropolitan Museum of Art several years ago.
Hello Robin, Thank you for your message. I am aware of the box but have not seen it in person. One day I hope. Please keep us posted on when you might be able to make a trip out east (after we reopen from the pandemic). My best and thank you again for reaching out.