Union or Greenville County, South Carolina circa 1835 possibly Theophilus McJunkin, Union or Greenville County, South Carolina Descended in the Blythe/Mayfield family of Greenville County According to a family history acquired by the present owner from a direct descendant of the sideboard’s original owner, this piece was made by a ‘Gideon McJunkin’ ‘circa 1835-1840’ for Reverend David Blythe of Greenville County (b.1785, d.1869). Although genealogical research did not find a McJunkin by this name residing in South Carolina during this period, it did illuminate Theophilus McJunkin as a likely candidate. Theophilus was born in Union County SC in 1814 and although little is known about his early years, he was listed in the 1850’s census for Chambers County, Alabama as a cabinetmaker born in South Carolina. His father was John Thomas McJunkin (b.1785 - d.1854), son of Major John Caldwell McJunkin (b.1755 - d.1845), who is well known to students of South Carolina history because of his posthumously published memoirs of the Revolutionary War. Lending further support to the suggestion that Theophilus may have produced this piece is his familial relation to the Blythe and Mayfield families of Greenville County. Major John’s brother, Samuel, (b. Union County 1764) moved at some point to Greenville County as his will was composed there shortly before his death in 1841. One of the executors of the will was Reverend David Blythe, the original owner of the sideboard. Reverend Blythe would eventually marry Samuel McJunkin’s daughter Nancy McJunkin Mayfield (Theophilus’s first cousin once removed), her second marriage. Her son William from her first marriage would eventually marry one of Reverend Blythe’s daughters, Lillian McClure Blythe, making him Reverend Blythe’s stepson and son-in-law. After the death of Reverend Blythe they came into possession of the Blythe homestead on the South Saluda river, along with the sideboard. The piece remained in the Blythe house until 1953 when William Mayfield’s grandson took possession of the piece and moved it to his house in the vicinity. It remained in this house until 1994 when it was acquired by the current owner.The identification of Theophilus McJunkin as a cabinetmaker with primary source material, establishment of close familial relationships through genealogical research, and existence of independent family history certainly merit an attribution as to maker.The piece is composed of cherry with all yellow pine secondary wood. Although the overall stance and proportion of the piece, finely tapered legs, geometric backsplash, finely dovetailed drawers etc. demonstrate the artisans familiarity with urban designs, the idiosyncratic facade layout, use of indigenous woods and construction characteristics such as the use of exposed pinning of the joinery solidly plants it in the late neoclassical southern backcountry furniture tradition.From the Private Collection of Mr. & Mrs. Gary Thompson, Travelers Rest, South Carolina.H47 1/2 W74 D20 1/8

Old surface, if not original. Two drawers tastefully reconstructed, keyholes in all drawer facings are enlarged, several knobs replaced, scattered scratches and blemishes, overall very good condition. Slight separation in joint between the two boards comprising top.