American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts

Provenance: Russell was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts but moved to Philadelphia in 1818. That year he opened this store for the sale of New Bedford Whale oil at the north east corner of Strawberry and Chestnut Streets. Russell's drawing of the exterior of the store was sold at Sotheby's in the "The Bertram K. and Nina Fletcher Little Collection, Part II," October 21, 1994, lot 670. It shows a trade sign with a whale above the door and a wagon painted "New Bedford Lamp Oil 55 Chestnut St."