Within the historic walls of the c.1756 Joseph Clark House, discover a carefully curated collection of authentic early American furniture and decorative arts—each piece a testament to American craftsmanship at its zenith.
At Antiques by Larry Frimerman, every piece passes through the hands of a true connoisseur. Larry doesn’t just sell antiques—he lives and breathes their history. With over 30 years dedicated to hunting exceptional pieces across European estates and American collections, his trained eye spots authenticity and craftsmanship that others miss.
“I only bring home pieces that speak to me. If I wouldn’t display it in my own home, it doesn’t make it to my showroom floor.”
Our Queen Anne collection exemplifies the refined elegance of early 18th century coastal New England craftsmanship. Sourced from distinguished estates and private collections, these pieces showcase the hallmarks that serious collectors seek: graceful cabriole legs with distinctive “hocked ankles,” carefully shaped pad feet, and the sophisticated proportions that defined the Newport and Boston workshops. Our current offerings include a magnificent Connecticut cherry and pine tea table with original rectangular top, a rare Newport mahogany tray-top candlestand with delicate dish top, and an extraordinary Boston balloon-seat side chair (c.1760) displaying the perfect balance of formality and comfort that characterized Queen Anne design. Each piece has been authenticated through rigorous analysis of construction techniques, wood selection, and comparative examples in museum collections.
The Chippendale period represents American furniture at its most ambitious, and our collection showcases the regional variations that make this style so captivating to collectors. The documented Robert Duncan cherry chest from Salem, New Jersey (c.1785) exemplifies the restrained elegance of Mid-Atlantic cabinetmaking with its balanced proportions and refined bracket feet. Our rare Isaac Brokaw tall case clock, with works signed and dated “Elizabeth Town, 1785,” features a case possibly crafted by Matthew Egerton Sr., representing the pinnacle of New Jersey Chippendale craftsmanship. These showpieces are complemented by a selection of deeply carved Philadelphia chairs, an exceptional Pennsylvania applewood tall chest with original hardware, and select Boston-area pieces displaying the precision joinery and architectural influences that defined Chippendale’s impact on American design.
The Federal period (1790-1820) introduced a new vocabulary of refined decoration to American furniture, beautifully represented in our collection of figured mahogany pieces enhanced with delicate inlay and classical motifs. The Baltimore sideboard (c.1800-05) in our collection displays the characteristic balanced proportions and sophisticated veneer work that made this city a center for fine cabinetmaking. Our Boston Federal mahogany and satinwood card table, with its serpentine top and original maker’s label, exemplifies the controlled elegance of the period, while our collection of Federal mirrors showcases gilded ornaments including wheat sheaves, drapery swags, and eagle motifs that celebrated America’s new national identity. The Hudson Valley tall case clock, with its figured mahogany case from approximately 1795-1805, demonstrates how Federal styling maintained regional characteristics while embracing the new national aesthetic.
Windsor chairs represent America’s first truly distinctive furniture form, combining British design inspiration with American innovation and practicality. Our collection features examples from the most sought-after early makers, including a rare Thomas Gilpin fan-back armchair (c.1750-65) from Philadelphia, displaying the perfect proportions and crisp turnings that made his work so influential. The near-pair of brace-back bow-back Windsor chairs (c.1790), one branded by I. Kitchell of New York City or Elizabeth, New Jersey, showcases the regional variations that developed as this democratic form spread throughout the colonies. Our continuous-arm Windsor (c.1780-1800), attributed to the E. Tracy Shop, features the vase-and-ring turnings and chestnut seat that serious collectors recognize as markers of quality craftsmanship, all preserved in its original surface—a rarity in Windsor collecting.
Beyond aesthetic merit, select pieces in our collection carry extraordinary historical significance that elevates them to museum quality. The 19th century pew from America’s oldest synagogue, the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, represents a tangible connection to early American religious freedom and the nation’s Jewish heritage. This rare maple piece, preserved under white paint with its original red upholstery elements, allows collectors to own a documented piece of American history. Similarly, pieces with exceptional provenance—like our Queen Anne walnut and maple highboy (c.1735-50) with drawer lining from an 1829 Philadelphia newspaper that descended through a Richmond, Virginia family to Providence, Rhode Island—offer the opportunity to connect directly with specific American families and their stories across generations, providing both authentication and the irreplaceable value of documented lineage.
Each piece in our collection has been personally selected by Larry Frimerman through his discriminating eye honed over four decades of scholarship. Our furniture isn’t merely antique—it represents the pinnacle of 18th and early 19th century American design and craftsmanship.
“Every drawer, every joint, every surface tells us something about the cabinetmaker who created it and the America they lived in.” —Larry Frimerman
Whether seeking a statement piece like our cherry Chippendale four-drawer chest by Joseph Rawson of Providence (1804), or beginning your collection with smaller treasures from our Annex, Larry provides the expertise to guide your journey.
Schedule a personal visit to the Joseph Clark House in Middletown, Connecticut. View these treasures in an authentic early American setting and benefit from Larry’s extensive knowledge and passion for American decorative arts.
At Larry Frimerman Antiques, we preserve the legacy of early American craftsmanship through scholarly research and passionate stewardship. Each piece we offer represents not just a moment in design history, but a tangible connection to the artisans and families who shaped our nation’s cultural heritage.