November 21, 2025: Fall Premier Americana: Day Two Featuring The Benny Long Collection
Jeffrey S. Evans & Assoc., Inc. info@jeffreysevans.com
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| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
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FINE SHENANDOAH CO., SHENANDOAH VALLEY OF VIRGINIA FEDERAL INLAID WALNUT BUREAU / CHEST OF DRAWERS, the dovetailed case featuring applied top moldings above two over three graduated lip-molded dovetailed drawers flanked by chamfered stiles and solid ends, and an elliptical cut-out skirt, the whole raised on slightly flaring French feet. The inlays consist of a quatrefoil within a pointed oval between the top drawers, concave-corner stringing to the drawer faces, each stile features a full-length undulating leafy vine, the top terminating in a berry and the bottom in a tiny heart, a half fan having a dotted border on the skirt drop, and kite-form escutcheons, along with banding above the skirt. Yellow pine secondary wood. The brasses are period but not original and are set in one original drilling, the top two drawers originally had Quaker/spring locks to the bottoms, the other drawers with original cabinet locks. One drawer with period penciled inscription "in demand / I promised / to pay or cos", "Jacob Fauber the son of Joseph / Fauber April 22nd 1838" to the back, and "Jacob Fauber" beside an illegible inscription on one side. Retains an outstanding early, lightly cleaned dry surface. Circa 1820. 41 1/2" HOA, 38 1/2" x 19 1/4" OA.
Literature: For a similar chest, see The Shenandoah Valley Folklore Society - Folk and Decorative Art of the Shenandoah Valley, p. 38, fig. 401.
Catalogue Note: This chest is part of a larger group having variations on the same inlaid designs, which have always been attributed to Shenandoah County without direct attribution to a specific maker. The inscription on the present chest may be another clue in firming up an attribution.
Jacob Fauber, Sr. (1749-1838) was born in Germany, and immigrated to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and then to Toms Brook, Shenandoah Co., Virginia by 1780. He marries Mary Ann Funk (1757-1836), and together they have seven children, one of whom is Joseph Fauber (1784-1861), who is mentioned in the drawer's inscription, and another of interest is Christian Fauber (1779-1856). Christian's death is recorded in the 1856 death register and lists his occupation as "Joiner". Whether or not he is the maker of this chest is uncertain; it's also unknown where he is learning his trade as a joiner. His son Samuel (1819-1872) is listed as a carpenter in the 1869 census, suggesting this may be a multi-generational, passed-down trade within the family.
It remains somewhat unclear how the inscription mentioning Joseph and his son Jacob (1821-1908) specifically relates. Still, it is interesting to note that the "April 22nd, 1838" date is just over a month after the death of Jacob Fauber, Sr. It's not impossible to think that this was among his possessions being split up by his family.
Jacob Fauber (1821-1908), son of Joseph, moves to Spencer Township, Indiana by 1880, and it's around this time when the chest is probably given to another family member or leaves the Fauber family all together. It's possible that the Gochenour/Tusing family takes possession of the chest around this era and takes it with them from Shenandoah County to Madison County, where Benny Long purchased it.
Excellent overall condition with no repairs or replacements except for the aforementioned brasses, the top has lost most of its finish and has some stains, one front foot with a small loss to the bottom edge, some typical age cracks to the skirt.
From the collection of Benny Long, New Market, VA.
Purchased at the Duff estate auction, Madison Co., VA, 4/17/1999.
Possibly descended in the Gochenour/Tusing family of Shenandoah Co., VA.
Descended in the Fauber/Fauver family of Toms Brook, Shenandoah Co., VA.
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