The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.
Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.
Search
Published by Colin Savage, 2020-02-05 09:00:51

ANTIQUES AND THE ARTS WEEKLY

Issue 2020 02 14

February 14, 2020ȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢ

Newsstand Rate $2.00 Published byThe Bee Publishing Company, Newtown, Connecticut INDEXES ON
PAGES 36 & 37

CHASING
THE BUTTERFLY MAN

Exploring A
Mysterious Maker
At The Cabildo In

New Orleans

BY KARLA KLEIN ALBERTSON
NEW ORLEANS, LA. — All exhibitions are long-term proj-
ects, opening only after years of planning. Arrangements are
carefully worked out for the loan of precious artworks and
designs are drawn up for their innovative installation. After
all that hard work, some shows turn out to be just reunions
of material tied together by an artist or theme, while others
reveal impressive results from original research, which is
then illustrated by the exhibits on display.
Such an exhibition is “Chasing the Butterfly Man: The
Search for a Lost New Orleans Cabinetmaker, 1810-1825”
on view through August 15 in the historic Cabildo on Jack-
son Square in the heart of the French Quarter. The show
explores the aesthetics of a small group of armoires that
reveal the anonymous master’s distinctive cabinetry con-
struction as well as the technical clues that link his body of
work. The details and depth of the research are recorded in
the excellent volume which accompanies the exhibition and
will remain a valuable reference in the field of early Nine-
teenth Century American furniture.

The researcher, curator and catalog author in this case is
Cybele Gontar, whom readers will remember as the driving
force behind the 2018 exhibition and book on New Orleans
portrait painter Josef Francisco Xavier de Salazar y Mendo-
za (1750-1802). The show at the Ogden Museum of Southern
Art was the subject of a cover story on June 29 of that year,
which happened to be the 300th anniversary of New Orleans.

Even before that painting study, Gontar was one of the
authors of the long-awaited Furnishing Louisiana: Creole
and Acadian Furniture, 1735-1835, published by the His-
toric New Orleans Collection in 2009. It was during the
investigations for that reference that her research into a
group of armoires made by the “Butterfly Man” began, and
she has continued to gather information during the inter-
vening decade. She said, “The Louisiana State Museum
wanted me to come over there and do something for them.
They had a place for a show in November, and I had amassed
all this material over the past ten years. We had learned
more about the Butterfly Man, and I wanted to do an exhi-
bition on that. We raised the money for the show and the

( continued on page 12C )
Distinctive scalloped front and side apron patterns function as the Butterfly Man’s signature. These patterns on several armoires match, indi-
cating that they were cut simultaneously. The initials “SR” personalize this object and suggest that it commemorated a marriage. Butterfly Man
armoire with detail, New Orleans, circa 1810-25. Collection of Dr and Mrs Wayne Stromeyer, Baton Rouge, La. Photograph by John Dileo.

2C — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 3C

4C — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 5C

6C — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 7C

8C — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

QA& February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 1

Stanley Weiss

“Flip through the pages of this impressive volume,
and you will discover a remarkable trove of trea-
sures,” writes Brock Jobe, Winterthur’s professor of
American decorative arts emeritus, in the foreword to Fine American Antiques in The Stanley Weiss Collection.
Impressive it is, with 300 pages of cabinets and clocks, sofas and sideboards, desks and dining tables, ranging
from Colonial to Classical, a visual odyssey through the forms, designs and patterns of the past. Weiss’ new
catalog presents more than 650 examples of American furniture from his vast collection, picking up in scope
where Albert Sack’s 1957 ten-volume compendium left off. Weiss, who was invited to be on a panel to discuss
“Passion for Collecting” during the recent Winter Show in New York City, sat down with Antiques and The
Arts Weekly to talk about his passion.

What was behind your move to combine Differentiators? That’s how I met Lenny. Lenny was a bassoonist and I
your private and public collection? a violinist. We both got scholarships to the Manhattan
Many collections are the usual a little bit of this, a School of music. I didn’t go, but Lenny did. I felt, if I
It was time to reunify our public and private col- little bit of that; a little porcelain, some oils, rugs, wasn’t going to be a great virtuoso, I wasn’t interested.
lections as a result of a confluence of events: our etc: the decorative arts. Ours was meant to be a Well, Lenny’s first job was with the Metropolitan Op-
daughters had grown up and left home, and we collection of furniture and associated mirrors and era for a few years, then onto the New York Philhar-
had finished my real estate developments in down- clocks. It’s about the woods that I talk about in the monic where he retired. Perhaps that is your answer:
town Providence, which was an integral part of the preface to our new book. Therefore, we cover Queen Lenny took the musical track and that may be the
Providence Renaissance, beginning in our historic Anne through Chippendale, which we call Colonial, story I could have expected to live.
retail core. This included the restoration of the old and post-1800, which we call Classical, with Phyfe,
Tilden-Thurber Building, among many others, and Sheraton, and Hepplewhite styles pre-Civil War and The challenges of moving your collection
the development of the Hotel Providence, a four- some later examples in the last quarter of the Nine- into a modern one-story gallery
diamond boutique hotel enhanced by Grace Park teenth Century, including Herter Brothers. This is from the Halsey House and four-story
adjacent to Grace Church. At that time we worked the legacy I have in mind of codifying, in part, some Tilden-Thurber Building?
with the Rhode Island School of Design to bring of the finest of its type. As an aside: nobody wants
students into this newly reemerging Soho-ish area to overpay, and one must see value into who they are Moving hundreds of pieces out of the mansion and
now called our Arts and Entertainment District. dealing with. That constitutes provenance. The auc- Tilden-Thurber building is precisely one of the
tion house is not always the place to find bargains. attractions of our new site, which is 10,000 square
How did you settle on a location? We see many things that are dumped, faked and with feet directly off the sidewalk with two curb cuts and
problems and many stylistically just don’t make it. 18-foot ceilings of open span. This was originally an
Finding a new spot is not easy. We wanted a location A&P warehouse. The new location accommodates the
in the Brown/RISD orbit that would also provide for You say that a love of the violin in your scope of material beautifully, as we can now display
a very large ground level floor with no obstructions youth sparked your appreciation for fine an array of related examples side by side, on elevated
and very high ceilings. So we are now behind a ballet woods and craftsmanship. Thoughts levels down a 50-foot span of space. It’s quite a thing
school in a friendly, residential neighborhood. We about what if your life had taken an to see, reminiscent of the Yale Art Gallery’s exhibi-
have also downsized from the Halsey Mansion to a exclusively musical turn? tion space and the decorative arts storage areas at the
pied-a-terre at the center of Benefit Street, a brick Boston MFA.
townhouse — on the Thomas Boynton Ives block, While I was born in Brooklyn (Brownsville), we Furniture is very difficult to move, and there’s an old
circa 1812 — at the foot of Brown and RISD’s ivory moved to Queens when I was starting high school. My saying: that’s when the damage happens. We have a
towers — one school uphill, the other downhill. We neighbor in Queens across the street, Leonard Hindel long-term relationship with a small mover moving fine
also have a year-roundish house in historic Wickford went to Music and Art High School in New York, and antiques along the coast, Maine to Florida. When you
Village on Narragansett Bay, a half hour’s drive south we met, oddly enough, at a summer music workshop
of Providence. in the Tanglewood/Stockbridge area of Massachusetts. ( continued on page 8)

How do you characterize your collection? The new gallery at 212 Fourth Street, Providence, R.I.

We continue our collection much like a museum.
As collectors of the best, we have and will continue
to add where appropriate — and also deaccession
by selling pieces to those wanting the best, be it a
museum or an astute connoisseur. As Sack would
say, “...the best for the best.” Some of the pieces
in the private collection do not have prices, and
beyond a certain point, we request a call. We stand
by the standards that one finds in Sack’s description
referenced in the following, and those that know me
in the business know my standards. Our collection
is meant to live on and be a market that opens on a
daily basis and not one that opens its doors a couple
of times a year for an auction. Our collection, in
each category, sets a standard, as Sack would have
illustrated in Good, Better, Best. Albert Sack would
have been very happy to see what we’ve built over
the many years since he told me to “do my own
thing” with our collection. This way, we build a
legacy, which is the reason for our current internet-
connected publication.

2 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020 Auction/Show Calendars - Page 36 INDEX - Page 37

OLD BURGLAR & FIRE ALARM EQUIPMENT

Memorabilia pertaining to the alarm industry: early burglar and fire alarm
equipment, photographs, catalogs, ephemera, etc.

WE BUY WE BUY WE BUY WE BUY WE BUY
[email protected]

www.antiqueandirons.com

Premier Seller of 18th and 19th Century
Fireplace Equipment

Period Federal and Classical Furniture
607-334-4020 • www.ColorGlocustomfireplacescreens.com

OLD MEDICAL BOOKS CONSIGNMENT
WANTED EVALUATION
DAYS
Webb Dordick
Every Friday
15 Ash Avenue 10:00am to 1:00pm
Somerville, MA 02145
50 Main Street North, Woodbury, CT 06798
617-776-1365 Appointment Requested

INWDAIANNTITEEMDS 203-266-0323
Especially Southwest [email protected]
Textiles, Kachinas, Pottery,
Early Jewelry, Baskets Leone’s Auction Gallery
Gallery Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11-5
ESTATE AUCTIONS
JOHN C. HILL EVERY OTHER FRIDAY

6962 EAST 1ST AVENUE February 14 and February 28
SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85251 2 Wedgewood Drive,
Jewett City, CT
(480) 946-2910
www.leonesauctions.com
[email protected]
www.johnhillgallery.com FLEA MARKET
Eastern CT’s Largest
Indoor/Outdoor Flea Market
College Mart Flea Market

OPEN EVERY SUNDAY 9-4

LITCHFIELD AUCTIONS Serving Westchester and Thomas K. Libby
Fairfield Counties Since 1987 Cannondale Village
THE WINTER ANTIQUES SALE Ceramics Restoration
Specializing in
Saturday, February 22, 10 am Fine Art, Jewelry 203 247-6164
& Sunday, February 23, 10 am [email protected]
and Estates
Asian Art & Antiquities| Modern Art & Design RHINEBECK
American & European Furniture & Paintings Next Auction: ANTIQUE
EMPORIUM
LITCHFIELDCOUNTYAUCTIONS.COM Mar. 29, 2020
845-876-8168
ELEPHANT’S TRUNK Large-scale
FLEA MARKET estate auctions held at OPEN DAILY

New Milford, CT Bedford 5229 Albany Post Rd.
Every Sunday • www.etflea.com Historical Hall Staatsburg, NY 12580

We’re Open April - December 608 Old Post Road Between Rhinebeck & Hyde Park
Bedford Village, NY 10,000 sq. ft. Antique Mall
DYNASTY NEXT Antique Bars/ Auctioneers & Appraisers
Original H&H Automats View catalogs
Auctions & Appraisals AUCTION and bid online at Limited Dealer Space Available
[email protected] butterscotchauction.com Rhinebeckantiqueemporium.com
CHINESE PAINTINGS SATURDAY, [email protected]
FEBRUARY 8 Buy and Sell 212-431-0600 914-764-4609 WANTED
PORCELAINS/ANTIQUES
10AM THOS. CORNELL [email protected] Paintings by
WANTED GALLERIES, LTD.
212.260.2000 Chestnut Henry Gasser, John Whorf,
WHOLE COLLECTIONS 150 School St., Glen Cove, NY 11542 ESTATE AUCTION Specialists Inc Dale Nichols, Dong Kingman

PURCHASED [email protected] Sunday, March 1, 11 am ANTIQUE FLOORING and Ralph Avery
www.rolandauctions.com HAND HEWN BEAMS
Please email photos to 152 S. COUNTRY ROAD 407-760-6675
BELLPORT, NY 11713 860-283-4209 www.centralfloridafineart.com
[email protected] 631-289-9505 www.chestnutspecialists.com
www.dynasty.nyc TO PLACE YOUR AD
Cel: +1-646-539-0523 www.thoscornellauctions.com [email protected] IN THIS SPOT

PROFESSIONAL FREE APPRAISAL CALL 203-426-8036

Ruby ISGrrn

www.rubylane.com

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 3

Jeff Leatham’s Kaleidoscopic Orchid Show Opens Feb. 15 At NYBG

BRONX, N.Y. — The popular Designer Jeff Leatham. kaleidoscope. I loved kaleido- sons Hotel George V, Paris, with has produced spectacular dis-
orchid exhibition at The New including rare and iconic speci- scopes as a child. You start studios also at the Four Seasons plays in Paris for nearly two
York Botanical Garden (NYBG) mens, will be on display. dreaming as you look through Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast decades, and in 2014, he was
returns for its 18th year with one. People have seen the interi- Center and the Four Seasons knighted with the Ordre des Arts
“The Orchid Show: Jeff Leath- “Color is the first and most ors of the Conservatory already, Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly et des Lettres — the highest
am’s Kaleidoscope,” opening Feb- important aspect of my work, but with this exhibition, I want Hills. He has been creating a sen- honor for artists and others who
ruary 15. Thousands of orchids always,” Leatham said when them to look through them like sation with his floral installations have made a significant contribu-
will be on dramatic display in describing his creations for The never before.” since he began his career in 1995. tion to French culture. His clients
dazzling creations by lifestyle Orchid Show. “I want every gal- His work is a combination of his include Cher, Dolly Parton, Tina
icon and floral designer to the lery to be a different color experi- Leatham is the award-winning love for flowers and passion for Turner, Oprah Winfrey, the Kar-
stars Jeff Leatham. On view ence for visitors as they move artistic director of the Four Sea- design. Using shape, color and dashians, His Holiness the Dalai
through April 19, Leatham’s cap- through them, like looking into a simplicity, his creations are dra- Lama, and many others. His pub-
tivating designs and installations matic, bold, unforgettable state- lications — Flowers by Jeff Leath-
will transform each gallery of the ments that are always an inte- am, Flowers by Design, and Jeff
exhibition in NYBG’s historic gral part of the setting. Leatham Leatham: Visionary Floral Art
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into and Design — remain best-sell-
a different color experience, like a ing design books worldwide.
turn of a kaleidoscope.
During Orchid Evenings on
Arches of hanging orchids of select dates throughout the run of
deliberate hues will deliver a The Orchid Show, adults 21 and
kaleidoscopic tunnel effect and, over can experience the exhibi-
along with other design surpris- tion at night with music, cash
es, bring thrilling and hypnotic bars and light bites. Advance
sensory delights to the 2020 ticket purchase is recommended
Orchid Show. Leatham is work- to guarantee admission to these
ing with horticulturists from signature events.
NYBG, including Senior Curator
of Orchids Marc Hachadourian, The New York Botanical Gar-
to assemble orchids from its col- den is at Bronx River Parkway
lections as well as from some of (Exit 7W) and Fordham Road, at
the finest growers in the world. 2900 Southern Boulevard. For
Orchids of seemingly every con- information and to purchase tick-
ceivable shape and provenance, ets, www.nybg.org or 718-817-
8700.

Tufts University
Art Galleries

Receive National
Endowment Of
The Arts Grant

MEDFORD, MASS. — Tufts
University Art Galleries has
been approved for a $60,000 Art
Works grant to support “Art for
the Future: Artists Call and
Central American Solidarity in
the 1980s.” Overall, the Nation-
al Endowment for the Arts has
approved 1,187 grants totaling
$27.3 million in the first round
of fiscal year 2020 funding to
support arts projects in every
state in the nation, as well as
the District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico.

The Art Works funding catego-
ry supports projects that focus
on public engagement with, and
access to, various forms of excel-
lent art across the nation; the
creation of art that meets the
highest standards of excellence;
learning in the arts at all stages
of life; and the integration of
the arts into the fabric of com-
munity life.

“Art for the Future: Artists
Call and Central American Sol-
idarity in the 1980s,” on view at
the Tufts University Art Galler-
ies’ Aidekman Arts Center
through April 18, 2021, focuses
on the seminal 1980s activist
campaign, “Artists Call Against
US Intervention in Central
America.” Growing out of the
friendships, solidarity networks
and political organizing among
artists and activists such as
Daniel Flores y Ascencio, Lucy
Lippard, Doug Ashford, Leon
Golub and Coosje van Bruggen,
the campaign resulted in exhi-
bitions, performances, poetry
readings, film screenings, con-
certs and other cultural and
educational events in more
than 27 cities across the United
States and Canada.

Tufts University Art Galler-
ies’ Aidekman Arts Center is at
40 Talbot Avenue. For more
information, 617-627-3518 or
https://artgalleries.tufts.edu.

BENTONVILLE, ARK. —
“North Forest Lights” is on view
through February 16 at Crystal
Bridges Museum of American
Art at 600 Museum Way. For
information, 479-418-5700 or
www.crystalbridges.org.

4 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

Olde Hope Welcomes Folk Art Fans To Manhattan

From left, Whitney Bounty, Olde Hope’s Edwin Hild, Lynda Cain and Barbara Gordon. Rear This arresting double portrait of two sisters is probably
is a monumental hooked rug that is attributed to Magdalena Briner Eby (1832-1915) of from Vermont and dates to about 1830. An old photograph
Perry County, Penn., circa 1890. shows it in the booth of Vermont dealer Hillary Underwood.
It later belonged to Claude and Alvan Bisnoff. With it are a
New England paint-decorated lidded box of circa 1825-40
and a circa 1820 portrait miniature of a boy with his dog.

Show highlights include the carousel figure of a camel, left, NEW YORK CITY — Longtime Winter Show Formerly in the collection of Sandy and Julie Pal-
and, right, the embroidered table hanging over the bow- exhibitors Olde Hope Antiques stepped away ley, a Montgomery County, Penn., schrank of circa
back Windsor settee by Gilbert and Robert Gaw of Philadel- from the show scene for a moment to welcome 1780 is notable for its age, preservation and unusu-
phia, circa 1793-98 lovers of American folk art to its new permanent al configuration of drawers and doors.
establishment on Manhattan’s East Side. While
headquarters for Patrick Bell and Edwin Hild An appealing primitive portrait of two sisters
remains at their gracious farmhouse in Bucks was painted around 1830 and is probably from
County, Penn., Olde Hope’s partners now have an Vermont. Noted folk art dealer Hillary Under-
open shop with regular hours at 115 East 72nd wood first brought it to the public’s attention. The
Street. The street-level quarters were formerly painting later belonged to collectors Claude and
occupied by Alexander Gallery. Alvan Bisnoff.

“We wanted to be available to our established cli- Prices for the works on view range from the low-
entele while also connecting with new audiences, four to mid-six figures.
including members of the design trade,” Bell told
Antiques and The Arts Weekly. Bell and Hild under- “We had a parade of clients and interested par-
took several months’ work on the 750-square-foot ties come through during Americana Week, par-
space before quietly opening in September and host- ticularly after each auction let out. We’ve made
ing their first reception in October. They kicked off some very good sales,” Hild told us midweek, antic-
New York’s Americana Week with a January 20 ipating further business during the Winter Show’s
reception that drew collectors from around the Unit- final weekend. Sales so far include a rare minia-
ed States. They followed on January 24 with a party ture banner, shield and flag wall plaque by John
for American Folk Art Museum trustees and mem- Haley Bellamy; a dated 1780 Lehigh County
bers of the museum’s Traditional Folk Art Society. dower chest, formerly in the Sittig and Shelley col-
lections and inscribed to Hanna Eister; plus an
The 100-plus objects currently on view are part of abundance of smalls and fraktur.
a new exhibition that includes selections from an
important Texas collection Olde Hope helped assem- New York once boasted a half-dozen important
ble over the years, plus additions from other sources. shops and galleries devoted to American folk art.
As the images here suggest, furniture, paintings Most have since closed. As Bell recalls, “There
and drawings, sculpture, including weathervanes, was a time when these beacons were all over
ceramics and textiles are among the offerings. town. You could spend a day in Greenwich Village
hitting shops and galleries, then head uptown to
Show highlights include a Mahantango Valley, see more.” Olde Hope’s New York City debut is a
Penn., chest of drawers attributed to Johannes welcome one.
Braun, with painted decoration attributed to
Johann Valentin Schuller Jr, 1830-40. The chest is Olde Hope’s inventory is available for viewing
exceptional in its combination of palette, mold- in Bucks County by appointment, and during reg-
ings and painted details, including ribbons, ularly posted hours in New York City at 115 East
rosettes, birds and angels. 72nd Street. For hours and other details, go to
www.oldehope.com, call 215-297-0200 or email
[email protected].

Review by
Laura Beach, Editor At Large
Photos by Josh Nefsky and Laura Beach

Olde Hope principal Patrick Bell, foreground right, chats
with Laurie Brown. Jonathan Fielding and Frank Levy are
rear. Partially visible is an important schrank made in
Montgomery County, Penn., circa 1780.

Olde Hope’s Edwin Hild, left, chats with Will Gregory. Rear Sales included the Lehigh County, Penn., This important Mahantango Valley, Penn.,
is an exuberant snowflake table attributed to the Pennsyl- dower chest of circa 1780. The exceptional chest of drawers is attributed to Johannes
vania German carver John Scholl (1827-1916), circa 1907-15. hooked rug is attributed to Magdalena Bri- Braun, with painted decoration attributed to
It once belonged to Adele Earnest, an early authority in ner Eby, circa 1890. The circa 1750-70 Windsor Johann Valentin Schuller Jr, 1830-40. Above
American folk sculpture. armchair is from Philadelphia or New York. it is a Jacob Maentel double portrait of a lady
and gentleman in a landscape. The work is
notable for its size and subject matter.

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 5

Morphy’s Will Offer Field & Range Firearms Feb. 17-19

Factory special-order engraved Winchester First
Model 1873 rifle with extra-length barrel. Document-
ed by Winchester with a Buffalo Bill Historical Cen-
ter letter ($8,5/12,500).

More Than 1,800 Guns, From Early American Rifles Special-order Vrancken-engraved .410-gauge Browning
To Rare Automatic Weapons Of War Superposed shotgun, two-barrel set with case, manufac-
tured in 1974 ($8/13,000).
DENVER, PENN. — Top- with accessories ($7,5/10,000). ished action, engraved by Felix
notch guns from premier collec- An early Twentieth Century Funken on both sides, is Colt 1860 fluted .44 caliber Army percussion revolver with
tions comprise the high-pow- adorned with images of a moth- detachable shoulder stock. Gustave Young-style engraving.
ered lineup to be offered at handgun of historical impor- er fox, flanked by her two cubs, Cased with accessories ($17/25,000).
Morphy’s field and range fire- tance is the last of Colt’s bringing a pheasant to her den,
arms auction slated for Febru- .45-caliber Bisley Sheriff ’s with additional engravings of been manufactured in an in the $25/45,000 range. An
ary 17-19. The selection includes Model single-action revolvers. two quail and two sporting dogs attempt to secure a Tryon con- Austen (Australian Sten) MK I
both antique and modern rifles, Its story is documented in The ($7,5/10,000). tract prior to the release of the 9mm Para machine gun, manu-
shotguns and handguns; and Book of Colt Firearms by R.L. 1814 model. The gun comes factured by W.T. Carmichael &
the types of elusive ammunition Wilson. As the author recounts, The third Browning highlight with US-marked socket bayo- Sons Ltd., also comes equipped
and accessories most desired by the gun was originally shipped is a rare and early Superposed net and letter of authenticity. with one (Sten) magazine
today’s collectors. as a .38-.40 caliber with a Grade 5 .20-gauge shotgun ($10/20,000).
4¾-inch barrel. However, it made in 1954 and signed by “V. Among rare and collectible
Two witnesses to America’s returned to the factory in the Doyen,” who engraved the automatic weapons of war are The auction will be held at the
turbulent Civil War era lead mid-1920s and was rebuilt as a images of pheasants, doves and two pre-1986 dealer’s-sample company’s gallery at 2000 North
the antique handguns category, .45-caliber Sheriff ’s Model with ducks onto the firearm. Its bar- machine guns, starting with a Reading Road starting each day
the first being a Colt 1860 flut- a 3-inch barrel as a special- rels retain nearly all of a facto- Cranston Arms Johnson Auto- at 10 am. All forms of bidding
ed .44 caliber Army percussion commission job for early fire- ry-quality restored finish, and matics Model 1941, a type used will be available, including live
revolver with matching serial arms collector J.C. Harvey the action retains nearly all of by the US Marines during via the Internet through Mor-
numbers and a single-line ($8/10,000). its original finish ($6/10,000). World War II. The .30-06 phy Live. For more information,
Hartford (Conn.) address on Springfield-caliber gun, with www.morphyauctions.com or
the barrel. The gun has a An array of Brownings is led There are many stellar entries one magazine, will likely finish 877-968-8880.
detachable shoulder stock and by a special-order Vrancken- among the 192 antique rifles to
comes in a Colt case containing engraved .410-gauge Browning be auctioned, including a facto-
many accessories, such as a Superposed shotgun manufac- ry special-order engraved Win-
bullet mold and powder flask tured in 1974. Special-ordered chester First Model 1873 rifle
(both Colt-marked) and an with nonstandard features with extra-length barrel. Bear-
Eley-marked 250-count cap tin including two sets of barrels – ing Serial No. 6092, its 1875
($17/25,000). one of them 28 inches, the other, ship date is documented by
26½ inches – the gun shows Winchester with a Buffalo Bill
The second mid-Nineteenth very little evidence of having Historical Center letter dated
Century handgun of note is a been fired. It comes with its March 14, 2000. The gun was
cased Colt 1849 pocket percus- paperwork in a Browning Air- restored to factory-new condi-
sion revolver manufactured in ways case made expressly for tion by Turnbull Restorations
1860. It displays classic Gus- two-barrel sets ($8/13,000). in 2004 ($8,5/12,500).
tave Young-style engraving
with Germanic scrolls and a A rare Browning Superposed A Tryon (Philadelphia) flint-
punch-dot background. Like Grade 4 .20-gauge two-barrel lock militia rifle to be auctioned
the aforementioned Colt, it has shotgun with American with a $2/3,000 estimate was
matching serial numbers, is straight-grained walnut butt- crafted in the style of an 1814
marked with a Colt address stock was manufactured in rifle but is of much higher qual-
and is presented in a fitted case 1959 and retains its Tolex two- ity. Morphy Auctions’ firearms
barrel-set case. The coin-fin- experts believe it may have

Immersive Digital Exhibition Highlights Importance Of Cultural Heritage Preservation

WASHINGTON, DC — Using scores the importance of place preserving the world’s fragile projections of dynamic imagery views with residents, as well as
the most recent digital tech- in the preservation of historical cultural and built heritage. and 3-D reconstructions of dam- archeologists and curators who
niques, the Freer Gallery of Art and architectural memory. aged monuments. The projec- work at great personal risk to
and the Arthur M. Sackler Gal- In the recent past, Iraq and tions shift gradually from protect and preserve these sites.
lery, the Smithsonian’s National “Age Old Cities: A Virtual Syria have suffered profound destruction to progressive Other videos explore unique
Museum of Asian Art, take visi- Journey from Palmyra to Mosul” upheavals that have destroyed reconstruction. To contextualize parts of the cities such as the
tors on a virtual tour of three will be on view at the Sackler many significant cultural and the sites, visitors will also see markets of Aleppo or the tomb
ancient cities: Palmyra and Alep- Gallery through October 26. It religious sites, leaving little of projections of historical photo- of the Three Brothers in Palmy-
po in Syria and Mosul in Iraq. was organized by the Arab the rich historical past. “Age graphs of the structures. ra, an underground burial
World Institute in Paris, and Old Cities” sheds light on the chamber turned into an ISIS
The exhibition highlights the created in collaboration with devastating destruction, the The exhibition offers more base of operations.
devastation of these historically Iconem, which specializes in important cultural heritage of than a visual of potential recon-
significant sites but also offers digitizing cultural heritage sites Syria and Iraq, and the need to struction of mostly destroyed The Freer Gallery of Art and
hope for their reconstruction in 3-D, and in partnership with preserve these sites. sites; it introduces visitors to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
and rehabilitation. By including UNESCO. The exhibition offers the people who still live in the are at 1050 Independence Ave-
the testimony of Iraqis and Syr- an immersive experience that The exhibition invites visitors cities. Several videos through- nue SW. For further information,
ians, the installation under- emphasizes the importance of into the heart of each of the out the exhibition feature inter- www.si.edu.
three cities with large-scale

6 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

New Vision — And Name — For 2020 Palm Beach Show

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. Wisteria table lamp. Courtesy of Lillian Antonio Jacobsen (1850-1921), “An American Clipper,” oil on canvas, 22 by
— The Palm Beach Show Group Nassau. 36 inches, signed. Courtesy of Rehs Galleries.
announces the return of the
17th annual Palm Beach Jewel- ed chief operating officer of the rary art, objects and design. The cational programing, communi- Reverse serpentine chest.
ry, Art & Antique Show with a Palm Beach Show Group, initi- show group plans to supplement ty involvement and philan- Courtesy of Roberto Freitas
new name — The Palm Beach ated the show name and logo the Focus section with immer- thropic initiatives can be American Antiques and Dec-
Show. Returning February change. sive installations and observa- expected in 2020 and years to orative Art.
13-18 to the Palm Beach County tional performance art. come.” ter and are free to the general
Convention Center over Presi- “I am incredibly motivated to public, as well as to attendees of
dents’ Day Weekend, The Palm help lead the company to its “We would like to think that The show’s lecture series will the show.
Beach Show will return with a next phase of improvement,” this show is a cultural experi- feature presentations from a
new look. Kantor said. “I have high expec- ence, a financial experience and wide range of experts in their The show will be open to the
tations and I’m looking forward an entertainment experience for fields. All lectures will be locat- public Friday, February 14,
The Palm Beach Show remains to refining and developing both collectors and exhibitors,” ed in Room 1DE at the Palm through Monday, February 17,
the area’s only high-end show- impactful changes to the Palm stated Diament. “Increased edu- Beach County Convention Cen- 11 am to 7 pm and Tuesday, Feb-
case, offering items spanning Beach Show – aiming for a truly ruary 18, 11 am to 6 pm.
every genre, juxtaposing many innovative 2020.”
periods and movements. The The Cancer Alliance of Help &
new show name and a refreshed In addition to renaming, re- Hope will be the benefiting char-
logo emphasize its all-inclusive branding and redesigning the ity partner of the show’s private
nature as well as reaffirm the logo, the Palm Beach Show preview. The preview, with its
show’s prominent presence in Group team plans to elevate the invitation-only guest list, will
the Palm Beach market as the exhibitor and patron experience. welcome attendees on the eve-
most prestigious cultural event A noticeable change will be obvi- ning of February 13 for a very
of the season. ous from the moment attendees special first look at the show.
enter the show. Plans are in
Over the years, attendees, col- place for enhanced entrances The Cancer Alliance of Help &
lectors and industry leaders and wow-factor backdrops to Hope is dedicated to helping
alike have nicknamed the annu- welcome visitors as they enter Palm Beach county residents
al event “The Palm Beach Show,” the show floor. Once inside, living with cancer by contribut-
so the management has followed guests will have the opportunity ing to their ordinary, day-to-day
suit. Using the shortened name to browse plushly carpeted expenses. Many of the organiza-
not only captures the show’s aisles through rows of custom- tion’s beneficiaries would not be
reputation, said the show’s pro- painted exhibitions, vs the tra- able to afford both rent and
ducer, but it also gives manage- ditionally European felted treatments, for example, with-
ment the opportunity to better vignettes, allowing exhibitors to out this assistance. For infor-
align its branding with the true customize and brand their spac- mation, www.cahh.org or 561-
luxury and sophistication of its es. 748-7227.
identity.
Among the enhancements is The Palm Beach County Con-
Scott Diament and Robert the expansion of Contemporary vention Center is at 650
Samuels, owners of the Palm Focus, a section within the fair Okeechobee Boulevard. For more
Beach Show Group, developed devoted to exhibitors specializ- information, www.palmbeach-
the concept for the flagship ing in postwar and contempo- showgroup.com.
show in 2001 and have estab-
lished it as one of the most pre-
eminent events in the United
States. “With recent shifts in the
industry from an emphasis in
antiquities to a concentration of
modern and contemporary
works, we recognize the show
can’t be what it once was, and
we celebrate that,” they said.

“We produce shows as a plat-
form to cultivate the industry,
therefore we are constantly pur-
suing new ways to provide expo-
sure for what is in demand,”
stated Diament, chief executive
officer and president of the Palm
Beach Show Group. “We antici-
pate 2020 to be an exciting and
transformative year.”

Jaime Kantor, newly appoint-

Gallery Talk With White Mountain Artist
Set For February 15 At NH Antique Co-Op
MILFORD, N.H. — On Feb- scapes from the Nineteenth ents wonderful opportunities
ruary 15, Erik Koeppel, a Century to Present.” and unique challenges for art-
nationally recognized painter ists, especially in the winter in
working in the traditions of All are welcome to this Valen- New England. From brisk
the Nineteenth Century White tine’s weekend gallery talk blue-sky days to blinding bliz-
Mountain School artists, will and champagne reception on zards, the invigorating snow-
present “Q&A with Erik Koep- Saturday, February 15, at 1 pm covered scenery holds tremen-
pel: Painting in the White in the Upstairs Gallery at New dous appeal for artists to
Mountains,” at New Hamp- Hampshire Antique Co-op. Vis- capture nature’s rugged beau-
shire Antique Co-op. This lec- itors can enjoy refreshments ty. Koeppel will discuss his tra-
ture is in conjunction with the while taking in the gallery talk ditional painting techniques
current exhibit on view at New and viewing the winter paint- and his strategies of painting
Hampshire Antique Co-op, ings exhibition. the White Mountains in the
“Snowbound: Winter Land- winter, both en plein air as
Painting en plein air, defined well as in the studio. He will
as outdoors and onsite, pres- also present some of his recent-
ly completed new works and
field questions from the audi- Erik Koeppel in his Jackson, N.H., studio.
ence.
Erik Koeppel, “A Fine Winter Day in Jackson,” oil on panel, his paintings have hung beside the White Mountains in Jack-
23 by 31 inches. Koeppel is a graduate of acclaimed historical art fig- son, N.H., where he maintains
Rhode Island School of Design ures such Thomas Cole, Win- a studio. Works by Koeppel are
and New York Academy of Art. slow Homer, Edgar Degas, always available in the
He has exhibited widely John Frederick Kensett and Upstairs Gallery at New
throughout New England, New George Inness. American Art- Hampshire Antique Co-op.
York City and beyond, receiv- ist, Plein Air magazine and
ing numerous awards and other publications have cov- New Hampshire Antique
accolades for his work. ered Koeppel’s progress. Co-op is at 323 Elm Street. For
information, 603-673-8499 or
Koeppel’s mastery of tradi- Koeppel lives in the heart of www.nhantiquecoop.com.
tional techniques has led him
to become one of a few contem-
porary artists whose work is
regularly exhibited with his-
toric masters of the Nine-
teenth and early Twentieth
Centuries. As a leader in a
movement of young painters
seeking to revive the methods
of the White Mountain School,

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 7

Puerto Rican Graphic Design To Lead
Vintage Posters At Swann

NEW YORK CITY — Swann co-inspired images for the 1935 Collection of more than 350 Puerto Rican Evelyn Rumsey Cary, Pan – American
Galleries’s biannual offering of and 1946 Juegos Deportivos graphic design posters, including prints and Exposition / Niagara, 1901 ($7/10,000).
vintage posters on Thursday, Centroamericanos ($800-$1,200 serigraphs, 1960-2013 ($20/30,000).
February 13, at 10:30 and 2 pm, each); and advertisements for
presents a banquet of designs, the 1948 World Series of Ama- one other copy found at auction heading the offering ($12/18,000). Flyer Splitkein / Smuggler’s
ranging from Art Nouveau works teur Baseball in Managua, Nica- in the last 20 years ($5/7,000), Dwight Clark Shepler’s sleek Notch, circa 1935 ($2/3,000).
of the late Nineteenth Century ragua by Jorge Ampié, as well as and Georges de Feure’s Le Jour- design for travel to Sun Valley,
to Puerto Rican graphic design an ad for the 1950 games ($800- nal des Ventes, 1898, scarce with Idaho, via the Union Pacific Rail- The exhibition opens February
from the 1960s to mid-2010s. $1,200 each). text ($4/6,000). road ($8/12,000), as well as his 8, noon to 5 pm, February 10-12,
The sale includes premier exam- image for travel to the ski desti- 10 am to 6 pm.
ples of sporting posters, cycling A showing of Art Nouveau Ski and winter destination nation via the Chicago and North
advertisements, as well as ski posters includes advertisements posters abound with Emil Car- Western Line ($4/6,000). Sascha Swann Galleries is at 104 East
and winter destination images. for cycling and standout works dinaux’s snowy advertisement Maurer is available with Flexible 25th Street. For more informa-
by the genre’s master, Alphonse Winter in der Schweiz, 1921, tion, www.swanngalleries.com or
Leading the sale is a collection Mucha. Bicycle images feature 212-254-4710.
of more than 350 Puerto Rican Orient Cycles / Lead the Lead-
posters by a veritable who’s who ers, circa 1895, by Edward Pen-
of Puerto Rico’s most renowned field, a rare large poster for the
painters, designers and graphic artist ($8/12,000); Henri de Tou-
artists. Showcasing works by louse-Lautrec’s Cycle Michael,
Rafael Tufiño, Lorenzo Homar, 1896, the first of two posters
José Rosa, Analida Burgos and designed for the British cycling
Antonio Matorell, among a bevy company Simpson ($7/10,000);
of others, the collection was and Adrien Barrère’s A, Bros-
amassed by a studio assistant of sard / Le “3 Vitesses” / l’Idéal du
Tufiño, Homar and Rosa in the Touriste, 1903 ($3/4,000). Mucha
1970s and features posters dedi- designs include Cycles Perfecta,
cated to a number of subjects, 1897, and The Flowers, a group
and a spectrum of typographic, of three decorative panels, 1898
geometric and figurative styles. (both $15/20,000). Also by Mucha
The offering is expected to bring are two variations of his highly
$20,000 to $30,000. popular image for Job rolling
papers in purple and lavender —
Following up on the Sergio Tru- ($12/18,000 apiece).
jillo Magnenat’s recent market
debut with posters for the first Additional Art Nouveau posters
Bolivarian Games in 1938, the of note include Evelyn Rumsey
house is poised to offer a run of Cary’s Pan – American Exposi-
posters for various Latin Ameri- tion / Niagara, 1901 — an Ameri-
can sporting events, including can Art Nouveau work based on
Magnenat’s Bolivarian Games Cary’s painting Spirit of Niagara
design featuring a basketball ($7/10,000). Arnost Hofbauer’s II.
player ($2,5/3,500). Additional Vystava Spolku “Manes” / Top-
highlights include colorful Gre- icuv Salon, 1898, of which only

Wesleyan Exhibits Diane Simpson’s EXCITING NEW 2012
‘Cardboard Plus’ PRE-BRIMFIELD EVENTS!
MIDDLETOWN, CONN. —
On view through Sunday, Milford
March 1, Wesleyan University’s Antiques Show
Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery Over 100 Dealers in
presents, “Diane Simpson: Quality Antiques and Collectibles!
Cardboard-Plus, 1977-1980,”
an exhibition of the artist’s Hampshire Hills Sports and Fitness Club
large-scale cardboard sculp-
tures and collaged construc- 50 Emerson Rd. (Intersection of Rtes. 101 & 13)
tions shown together for the Milford, New Hampshire
first time in 40 years and
curated by associate director of Four Great Buying Opportunities!
visual arts, Benjamin Chaffee. Sundays 10am to 2pm

Created soon after completing May 6 Pre-Brimfield Week
her masters in fine art at the July 8 Pre-Brimfield Week
School of the Art Institute of August 5 Antiques Week in NH
Chicago in 1978 at the age of September 2 Pre-Brimfield Week
43, these sculptural works
were last exhibited collectively Diane Simpson, “Cardboard-Plus,” 1977-80, Diane Simpson 10 AM to 11 AM – Admission: $5
in Simpson’s first two solo exhi- with her installation at Artemisia Gallery, Chicago, 1979. 11 AM to 2 PM – Free Admission
bitions at Artemisia Gallery,
Chicago (1979) and at Phyllis Cardboard was a pragmatic bitions above, expand the nar- No Sales Tax • All Indoors • Free Parking • Café
Kind Gallery, New York City solution to creating easily rative of Simpson’s career,
(1980). These early works are transportable works without a show the scale of her ambition Jack Donigian, Manager 781-329-1192
already emblematic of the art- studio space. Resembling a and illuminate her path into
ist’s mature style and show sewing practice, each cut piece sculpture. www.milfordantiqueshow.com
Simpson’s transition from her is an interlocking planar shape
studies in drawing and print- supporting each other to addi- Born in 1935, Simpson is a Our 36th Year of Quality Antiques Shows
making into sculpture, the tively compose a volume. Chicago-based artist who for
medium that would become the Works that at first glance the past 40 years has created
focus of her decades-long appear almost industrially sculptures and preparatory
career. produced upon closer reflection drawings that evolve from a
reveal slight moments of the diverse range of sources,
Although these works are presence of the artist’s hand including clothing, utilitarian
from early in Simpson’s career, and her idiosyncratic engineer- objects and architecture. Her
they are consistent with her ing solutions. artwork is in the permanent
enduring solutions to the chal- collections of the Whitney
lenges of sculpture. Already Most well-known is Simpson’s Museum of American Art, New
you can see her incorporation later work which contains ref- York; Art Institute of Chicago;
of a 45-degree rotation in her erences to the architecture of Institute of Contemporary Art,
sculptures, allowing a simulta- clothing and elements of fash- Boston; Museum of Contempo-
neous approach to the front ion; and has been the subject of rary Art, Chicago; Hessel
and the side views of the recent solo museum exhibitions Museum of Art, Annandale-on-
objects. This is a sculptural at the Institute of Contempo- Hudson, N.Y.; Illinois State
translation of a perspectival rary Art, Boston (2015), the Museum, Springfield, Ill.; Perez
drawing technique for render- Museum of Contemporary Art Museum, Miami, Fla.; and the
ing three dimensions in two. Chicago (2016) and the 2019 Kadist Art Foundation, San
Though static in nature the Whitney Biennial. In contrast Francisco, Calif., and Paris.
sculptures almost appear to the works in “Diane Simpson:
hover, suspended between each Cardboard-Plus, 1977–1980” Wesleyan University’s Ezra
perspective. The cardboard sur- are much more formal in and Cecile Zilkha Gallery is at
faces also host drawings, some- nature. These works, not 283 Washington Terrace. For
times of textural rubbed crayon included in the museum exhi- information, 860-685-2000 or
and others with intricate www.wesleyan.edu/cfa.
graphite lines describing other
geometric spaces.

Newtown Bee_February_2018_2x6.indd 1 10/25/18 2:53 PM

QA&8 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

( continued from page 1) six months trying to fake something and you — as it’s early, with a wonderful provenance and all the
a relative novice — think you can pick it up, you’ll charm in the world. The wood radiates beautiful
go beyond that, my assistant can provide a lecture. find out six months later, that the hand was faster red figuring along with claw and ball feet and a
Our rule is that everything that goes out is fully than the eye. The process requires looking at real magnificent shell. It has a chip in a rear pad foot.
insured for breakage. And there is always an inspection things upside down, time and time again with good Does that disqualify it? Of course not. It depends
before. When 1stDibs sells a piece, they take on the lighting to see how “clean” a piece is. As for style on the rarity, its provenance, etc. Its assets far
delivery responsibility, and we have never had an issue. and form, it brings to mind a Queen Anne bonnet outweigh the negative, but there are definite limits.
top walnut-veneered Boston highboy with a shell, We would suggest Sack’s guidelines as spelled out in
Do you mourn the passing of classic which came up at auction in New York. Sounds Sack’s Good, Better, Best. I recall Sack’s bill of sale,
volumes of furniture scholarship even great, but the pad feet were wimpy and the bonnet which would always state “no alteration or replace-
as you bring a more dynamic facsimile top over-proportioned to the case compounded with ments” and then go on with the exceptions, i.e.
online? a somewhat wider width than is customary. Well, brasses, or glue blocks, etc. It’s a balance between
how does one know this? It comes from looking at the assets and liabilities and the heavy finger on the
Yes, but there is still currently work being done in comparative examples, and that’s all part of develop- scale is often one’s pocketbook.
the field, and people like Brock Jobe, Phillip Zim- ing an eye for form and style. And that’s also why
merman, etc, are continuing to publish in this spirit. we published the catalog, because our material will, Since your website was established in the
therefore, have a provenance with the Stanley Weiss late 1990s, how many pieces of furniture
An auction conundrum noted of late — Collection coming from the catalog. Inclusion in have you sold through it?
often reproduction furniture by the likes our publication represents a piece that is absolutely
of Eldred Wheeler and others can bring right and which we stand behind. So, hopefully, our Many hundreds have been sold since our website
as strong if not stronger prices than pe- catalog will have some real shelf life.
riod pieces. Comment? premiered in 1998. A fairly complete list with our
When is it acceptable to handle pieces
I agree. It all depends on how screwed up the period of furniture that have replaced parts or archived pictures can be found at www.stanleyweiss.
piece is and the case one can make for the Eldred minor restoration?
Wheeler item. If I were offered a period Queen com/inventory/sold.
Anne candlestand with a plain, uninspired base and It depends how minor the restoration. For example,
a new top, I might prefer an Eldred Wheeler piece, I have a fabulous Newport bonnet-top highboy: What message do you have for the
especially with vibrant tiger maple. The Eldred millennial who is utterly satisfied with
Wheeler pieces I’ve seen with labels are excellent. We An early Chippendale mahogany bonnet-top furnishing his living spaces with Ikea
have some in our guest house in Wickford Village. highboy with original finial, Newport, R.I., furniture and big screen TVs?
circa 1765, by the Townsend/Goddard School
You describe your redevelopment of I’d tell them to “raid the icebox” when they are
the Tilden-Thurber building and of cabinetmakers. ready to settle in. I’d tell them to see what their
acquisition of the Halsey Mansion parents have, or their grandparents, and what
during the Providence Renaissance they can get for zero. Of course, you’re prob-
under the leadership of the city’s mayor ably not going to beat Ikea because those young
“Buddy” Cianci. What is Cianci’s people in dense urban areas are not settling in,
greatest legacy for Providence? nor should they, necessarily. Furniture is seen as
disposable to them, and strictly utilitarian. That’s
I knew Buddy from the beginning and have a couple the situation when what you’re buying has to be
of delightful personal letters from him to me. Buddy transportable. When one seeks permanence, in a
chose me the winner of a competition to develop residential setting, then assembling or collecting
Grace Park in the center of the Arts and Enter- takes root. Aside from raiding the icebox, if you
tainment district, across from the Tilden-Thurber love furniture, then scout out the local auctions,
building, my office and antique storage locker. I later consignment shops or even the Salvation Army.
restored the existing buildings surrounding the park When I went to Brown, I always stuck my nose
with an 80-room boutique hotel, four diamond, etc. in there, and once bought an oak Mission rocker.
I have a picture of Cianci and myself with Governor There is a balance between viewing your visual
Sundlun at the hotel’s grand opening: it took a lot of psychological lifespace from the window out, and
intestinal fortitude to build a hotel like that in the living within the confines of your window, replete
center of a number of empty buildings at that time. with treasures. However, today, most high rises
This is the area that RISD and others consider a bo- have floor-to-ceiling windows and open floor plans
hemian SoHo environment. Cianci later appointed with limited walls, so this trend is not conducive
me to the Port of Providence and later the Provi- to collecting and showcasing one’s treasures. Con-
dence Public Building Authority where I am cur- sequently, this trend has led to a desire for pieces
rently chairman of the board 20 years later. Buddy that are inconsequential and do not interrupt the
was a wonderful persona, and a great cheerleader for view, rather than great pieces that are themselves
Providence but he certainly had his demons. worth viewing.

Best source for developing an “eye”? How does one visit your collection?
A call to our gallery in Providence with a day’s notice
There are three very good elementary books by
Kirk. All are good starters, especially Early American is essential as we are always up to something. 212
Furniture: How to Recognize, Evaluate, Buy, and Care
For the Most Beautiful Pieces — High Style, Country, Fourth Street, Providence, R.I.; 401-272-3200.
Primitive and Rustic, as well as The Impecunious
Collector’s Guide to American Antiques and American The catalog, $55, can be ordered by phone at the
Furniture & the British Tradition to 1830. But after
you’ve done the reading, it’s only by going out and number above. — W.A. Demers
turning over a lot of furniture at auction and bring-
ing a strong light that you really develop a work-
ing sense of the material you are dealing with and
importantly, doing this with somebody that knows
what they’re looking at. In the beginning we worked
with one of the best pickers, who I eventually hired.
There’s no getting away from it. If someone spends

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 9

Feb. 22 Coin & Currency Auction—

DownEast Auctions To Sell Rare
Massachusetts Colonial Coin

SEARSPORT, MAINE — One 1955 doubled-die Lincoln cent. Oak Tree shilling authenticated by ANACS.
of the highlights of the more at 6 a penny for any sume under
than 200 coin and currency lots 12 d.” Wampum consisted of Modern “Ghost” chairs.
at DownEast Auctions Febru- shells of various colors, ground
ary 22 estate and coin and cur- to the size of kernels of corn. A and graded by the American There will also be a collection Searsport. The estate also has a
rency auction is a rare 1652 hole was drilled through each Numismatic Association Certi- of ancient coins from Judea selection of high-end modern
Massachusetts Oak Tree shil- piece so it could be strung on a fication Service (ANACS), one from the time of Christ. “Mites” furniture, including “Ghost”
ling. leather thong for convenience. of America’s leading grading is mentioned in the Bible as the chairs, as well as guns, antiques,
Corn, pelts and bullets were fre- services. “Widows Mite.” The collection art and collectibles.
The coin has been owned by quently used in lieu of coins, also contains early Islamic
the same local Waldo county which were rarely available. Another highlight is a rare coins and bronze coins from the Previews will be conducted
family (originally from Massa- 1955 doubled-die error Lincoln Roman period. the day before the sale, 2 to 6
chusetts) for more than 100 The Massachusetts General cent in mint condition. The pm. The auction will be con-
years. It is one of earliest coins Court in 1652 ordered the first error, caused by improperly pre- One of the highlights of the ducted at the Searsport Lions
minted in what would become metallic currency, known as pared dies, shows a fully dou- estate portion of the auction is a Club, 42 Prospect Street. The
the United States. Before 1652, “New England” coinage. The bled outline of the date and leg- 2003 limited edition Ford Thun- estate auction will begin at 11
foreign coins circulated in mint, located in Boston, minted end on the obverse side. The derbird 007 hard top convert- am; the coin and currency auc-
America. The largest quantity silver three pence, sixpence and coin was minted at the Phila- ible sports car with 67,000 tion will start at 2 pm. The sale
of coinage consisted of English shillings. The coins were crude delphia mint. The auction house miles. The automobile has been day preview starts at 9 am.
crowns, shillings and pence, and invited counterfeiting. They said it is the nicest example it garage-kept in the South. The
and Spanish and Spanish- were soon replaced by the Wil- has ever sold. family has a summer home in For information, 207-548-2393
American silver pieces of eight, low, Oak and Pine Tree series. or www.downeastauctions.com.
all of which circulated through-
out colonial settlements until The Oak Trees were minted
being sent back to England for from 1660 to 1667. They were
critically needed supplies. Addi- all dated 1652, the date of the
tional quantities of coins came metallic currency law. The Unit-
from trading furs, lumber and ed States would not mint its
other exports that provided a first coins until 1793. DownEast
limited but much-needed sup- Auctions has had the coin
ply of hard currency. authenticated, encapsulated

The popular Spanish-Ameri-
can silver eight reales, Pillar
dollar, or piece of eight was cut
into pieces to make small
change. The American quarter
dollar, which was similar in size
and value to the Spanish two-
real coin, took on the nickname
“two bits,” a term still used
today. In 1637 the General
Court of Massachusetts ordered
“that wampamege should passe

Gordon Parks, Muhammad Ali Exhibition At Nelson-Atkins

KANSAS CITY, MO. — The young champion’s public ure of politics and religion and
charismatic and controversial image was in tatters,” said cultural icon — was, it later
American heavyweight cham- April M. Watson, photography emerged, standing at an impor-
pion Muhammad Ali, as photo- curator at the Nelson-Atkins tant crossroads in his own
graphed by Gordon Parks, is and curator of the exhibition. inspiring evolution. Parks’ pho-
the subject of an exhibition “Ali’s affiliation with the tographs capture this impor-
now open at the Nelson-Atkins Nation of Islam, and his public tant early chapter in the life of
Museum of Art and continues statements against the Viet- the fighter we still call “the
through July 5. “Gordon Parks nam War, did not sit well with greatest of all time” as he con-
x Muhammad Ali: The Image many Americans. Parks him- fronted his challenges, inside
of a Champion, 1966/1970” was self was uncertain of Ali when and outside the ring.
organized by the Nelson- they first met. Through these
Atkins in collaboration with Life assignments, however, The Nelson-Atkins is at 4525
The Gordon Parks Foundation Parks grew to trust and Oak Street. For information,
and features approximately 55 respect the young fighter, www.nelson-atkins.org or 816-
photographs Parks took of Ali understanding they shared a 751-1278.
while on assignment for Life similar challenge as highly
magazine. In conjunction with Gordon Parks, (American, visible public figures.”
the exhibition, the museum 1912-2006), “Muhammad Ali
has recently acquired approxi- in Training, Miami Beach, Parks’ esteemed position at
mately 13 works, including Florida,” 1966. Gelatin silver Life gave him a vast influential
selections from the American print, 16 by 20 inches. Cour- platform. Parks had privileged
Champion portfolio, which will tesy of and copyright The access and pictured Ali in
be on view. Gordon Parks Foundation. unguarded moments, devoid of
tumultuous period in Ali’s the chicanery or bravado that
The photographs in the exhi- career. The majority of works in had come to define his public
bition derive from two in-depth the exhibition were never origi- persona. He photographed Ali
assignments for Life, the first in nally published. as he trained in Miami and
1966, and the second in 1970. London for an overseas fight
“Image of a Champion” empha- “Parks met Ali at a contro- against Henry Cooper, meeting
sizes the way Parks (1912-2006) versial moment, when the with fans, practicing his reli-
and Ali (1942-2016) came gion and navigating throngs of
together for these projects, reporters.
transcending their roles as pho-
tographer and athlete to shape The Muhammad Ali por-
a sympathetic public image of trayed in Parks’ photographs in
the young champion during this 1966 and 1970 — the athlete,
private man, controversial fig-

NYBG’s Winter Lecture Series, ‘The Garden Came First’

BRONX, N.Y. — The New designer, author, and Chelsea acre property on Sauvie Island
York Botanical Garden’s 20th Flower Show gold medal win- near Portland. Both lectures
Annual Winter Lecture Series, ner, who co-designed the Brit- will begin at 10 am.
“The Garden Came First,” ish 9/11 Memorial Garden in
spans styles and settings to New York City and Sean The lecture series will take
showcase the distinctive home Hogan, curator, Lan Su Chi- place in the NYBG’s Ross Hall.
gardens of two celebrated gar- nese Garden, Portland, Ore., Registration is required, with
den designers. These signa- who is a plantsman, collector individual lectures $32 for
ture spaces reveal their key and designer specializing in NYGB members and $35 for
influences and demonstrate rare and underused plants. nonmembers; registration for
that, even in the early plan- the series is available at $85
ning stages of their homes, the On Thursday, February 27, for members and $95 for non-
garden always came first. Isabel Bannerman presents, members.
“Trematon,” her Norman cas-
The featured speakers are tle in England; on March 26, The NYBG is at 2900 Southern
Isabel Bannerman, garden Sean Hogan presents his five- Boulevard. To register, 718-817-
8747 or www.nybg.org/AdultEd.

10 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

Copley’s Winter Sale—

Auction To Showcase Four Collections Of Bird Carvings

CHARLESTON, S.C. — On Ogden M. Pleissner (1905-1983), “Western Pheasant Hunt- “Dust-Jacket” yellowlegs by A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952)
Friday and Saturday, February ing,” watercolor, 27 by 37 inches ($40/60,000). ($100/150,000).
14-15, Copley Fine Art Auctions
will make its annual sojourn to coln (1859-1938) swimming art masters include paintings
the Southeastern Wildlife Expo Canada goose. and works on paper by Frank
(SEWE) with its Winter Sale This year’s sale catalog will W. Benson (1862-1951), Rich-
2020. The sale will offer the feature a “Dust-Jacket” yellow- ard E. Bishop (1887-1975),
opportunity to see and take legs by A. Elmer Crowell (1862- David Hagerbaumer (1921-
home world-class paintings and 1952), carved circa 1910 2014), Aiden Lassell Ripley
bird carvings. The auction will ($100/150,000). The term “dust (1896-1969), William Goadby
be conducted at the Charleston jacket” was coined by collectors Lawrence (1913-2002) Carl
Marriott at SEWE’s bustling because carvings from these Rungius (1869-1959), Wilhelm
riverfront venue. early rigs were chosen for the Kuhnert (1865-1926) Ken Carl-
covers of William J. Mackey Jr’s son (b 1937) and David A.
Returning to South Carolina American Bird Decoys and Maass (b 1929).
for the sixth year in a row, this John and Shirley Delph’s New
year’s sale will showcase four England Decoys. Additionally, six bronzes by
collections of bird carvings: the Another top New England lot contemporary sculptor Walter
Dr Peter J. Muller Jr collection will be a Charles Safford (1877- Matia will be available, includ-
of American bird decoys, Ses- 1957) Canada goose from the ing “Curlew Pair” ($1/1,500)
sion II of the Dr Morton D. maker’s personal rig and a pair of avocets, which was
Kramer collection, decoys from ($30/50,000). This decoy is the artist’s first sculpture
the William J. Butler Jr estate related to the Safford sleeping Mackey-Muller swan by Charles Birch (1867-1956) ($1/1,500). Two works by rising
and a collection of carvings by goose. One more decoy bringing Dutch artist Ewoud de Groot,
A. Elmer Crowell. together iconic form and impor- 1927) of two setters joined with the three Quadru- one depicting a curlew and the
tant provenance is the feeding ($16/24,000). Also set to cross peds of North America volumes, other a group of oystercatchers,
Muller is known for assem- yellowlegs by Fred Nichols the block is a significant work which the famed artist put are included ( $8/12,000). Fur-
bling one of the very first curat- (1854-1924), which hails from featuring an English springer together with his son John and ther contemporary artists
ed collections of premier Ameri- the Dr James M. McCleery col- spaniel with a pheasant by Dr John Bachman of Charles- included in the sale are Chet
can bird decoys. He was lection ($65/85,000). Thomas Blinks (1860-1912), an ton, S.C. ($30/50,000). Reneson, Luke Frazier, Kent
introduced to the field in the The paintings are led by a English artist who flourished Ullberg, John Kobald, Mike
1960s and his early mentor was rare watercolor depiction of during the Victorian era Copley will offer items from Stidham, Rod Serbousek, and
William J. Mackey Jr, the western pheasant hunting by ($18/24,000). Watercolors by the estate of Alfred F. King III. Thomas Aquinas Daly, among
author of the seminal book noted sporting artist Ogden M. Edmund H. Osthaus (1858- King was the owner of the others.
American Bird Decoys. After Pleissner (1905-1983) 1928) and Arthur Wardle (1864- Sportsman’s Edge gallery in
the collector’s sudden passing ($40/60,000). The sale will also 1949) round out the offering of New York City for many years. Items will be available to pre-
in 1973, Muller participated in feature dog art, perfect for the paintings depicting working Works from his collection view on Friday, February 14,
all eight of the Mackey auction SEWE crowd, including an dogs. include two drawings and an from 3 to 5 pm and Saturday,
sessions, acquiring many of his atmospheric Percival Rosseau acrylic by Bob Kuhn (1920- February 15, from 8:30 to 10
iconic works. Following this (1859-1937) oil portrait depict- Leading the works on paper 2007) and paintings by father- am. The live auction will begin
summer’s release of the A. ing a setter and pointer slated for the sale is a bound son wildlife artists Tom (1926- at 10 am on February 15.
Elmer Crowell book and Har- ($30/50,000) and a masterwork set of seven octavo volumes of 2000) and Greg Beecham (b
mon collection catalog, Copley’s by Gustav Muss-Arnolt (1858- Birds of America by John 1954). The Charleston Marriott is at
decoy specialists, Stephen B. James Audubon (1785-1851) 170 Lockwood Boulevard. For
O’Brien Jr, Chelsie Olney and Exemplary works by sporting information, 617-536-0030 or
Colin S. McNair, have been www.copleyart.com.
writing a dedicated Muller col-
lection catalog in addition to
the main Winter Sale catalog.
The standalone Muller collec-
tion catalog will feature several
Mackey collection stars, several
of which are expected to bring
six figures, including a swan by
Charles Birch (1867-1956),
carved circa 1920; a rare hood-
ed merganser pair, circa 1935,
by Chincoteague Islander Ira
D. Hudson (1873–1949); a long-
tailed drake by Harry V.
Shourds (1861-1920), a rare
Mason Decoy Factory long-
tailed drake; and a Joseph Lin-

Lelands Scores Steelers’
Game-Worn Jerseys For Spring Auction
MATAWAN, N.J. — Lelands team has provided.
has secured 20 high-quality jer- For the past several years,
seys directly from the Pitts-
burgh Steelers for inclusion in Lelands has been the exclusive
its spring auction, which will auction house for vintage game-
end May 15. A sneak peek of used jerseys and other memora-
some of the items include game- bilia consigned directly from
worn jerseys from Jack Lam- the Pittsburgh Steelers. Some
bert (1977), Andy Russell of these latest jerseys have been
(1975), Mel Blount (1976) and in safe-keeping by the team for
Rod Woodson (1992). over a half a century and are
just being offered to collectors
One of the big stories of this now.
collection is a 2004 Troy Pola-
malu game-worn jersey, which Lelands President Michael
is the first jersey worn by the Heffner appreciates the Steel-
future Hall of Famer that the er’s foresight noting, “Thank
Steelers have ever offered in goodness the franchise had the
public auction. There are also thoughtfulness to save these
more than half a dozen other precious pieces of sports history
items of memorabilia that the for collectors who will cherish
them.” Past jerseys that Lelands
has obtained from the Steelers the fact that the jerseys come authentic game-worn jerseys.
have proven to be top-notch directly from the team have Established in 1985, Lelands is
game-worn examples. increased their value dramati-
cally and have given collectors at 435-H State Highway 34. For
There are good reasons why an opportunity to acquire more information, 732-290-8000
Steelers memorabilia is some of or www.lelands.com.
the most sought-after in the
hobby. First, the Steelers are
rich in football history and have
assembled some of the finest
and most colorful teams ever.
Secondly, their fan base is and
always has been one of the tops
in the NFL, and the Steeler
fans are active bidders for the
franchise’s memorabilia. Final-
ly, and specific to this collection,

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 11

Auction Of ‘Firsts’ At Old World Auctions On February 12

RICHMOND, VA. — Old John Arrowsmith, The London Atlas of Universal Geogra-
World Auctions’ first sale of phy, 1835 ($5/6,500).
2020, an online timed auction,
presents a number of “firsts” — Herman Moll, A New and Exact Map of the Dominions of
the first printed chart of Hud- the King of Great Britain on ye Continent of North Ameri-
son Bay, the first edition of Tan- ca, 1715 ($17/20,000).
ner’s Universal Atlas, the first
official map of Colorado, the Carta del Atlantico (1943), was William Stokes ($1,6/2,000); MacDonald Gill, La Carta del Atlantico, 1943 ($3,250/4,250).
first edition of Adrichom’s plan published by George Philip & Edward Wallis’ game map Euro-
of Jerusalem, the first printed Son to commemorate the Atlan- pean Travellers, an Instructive available online beginning Jan- www.oldworldauctions.com/reg-
map of Wales and the first tic Charter and help boost Game ($1,2/1,500); and a docu- uary 29 at www.oldworldauc- ister or call 804-290-8090 for
American edition of Lyell’s morale during World War II. In ment signed by American Revo- tions.com. Register to bid at more information.
Travels in North America in the addition to this map lutionary officer Aaron Ogden
Years 1841-2, to name a few. ($3,250/4,250), the auction will regarding the Quasi-War
The sale will also feature more include plans of Paris, Washing- between the United States and
than 125 items that are making ton, DC, and Quebec City in the France ($400/500).
their first appearance at Old style of MacDonald Gill.
World Auctions, a remarkable In addition to these items, the
feat considering the auction Other notable items making sale will feature more than 750
house has listed more than their first appearance at Old antique maps, atlases, books,
100,000 maps and atlases over World Auctions are John Arrow- prints, historical documents
the last 40 years. smith’s 1835 London Atlas of and illuminated manuscripts
Universal Geography ($5/6,500); spanning seven centuries of his-
One item making its debut a mnemonic teaching globe by tory. The auction catalog will be
with Old World Auctions is the
highly sought-after, so-called
Beaver Map by Hermann Moll.
A New and Exact Map of the
Dominions of the King of Great
Britain on ye Continent of
North America (1715) is widely
considered to be one of the earli-
est and most important maps to
depict the emerging boundary
dispute between the French and
British colonies in North Ameri-
ca. The map’s nickname comes
from the striking vignette
engraved in the North Atlantic
depicting Niagara Falls with
dozens of beavers constructing a
dam ($17/20,000).

Another premiere for Old
World Auctions is British artist
MacDonald Gill’s Time & Tide
map of the Atlantic Charter.
This rare Spanish edition, La

Nantucket Historical Association Launches New Online Collections Catalog

NANTUCKET, MASS. — The through a single search. information both from the data- collection. The functionality es based on collection types, cre-
Nantucket Historical Associa- For 125 years, thousands of base and via the NHA website. available to the public now ators, dates ranges, digital
tion (NHA) has announced the donors have built the NHA’s col- The website has hundreds of includes a simple search of the materials and objects on exhibit
launch of a new way of search- lection one donation at a time. articles on Nantucket history, entire collection, including arti- throughout the NHA campus.
ing their collections of books, This new search function allows which when combined with the facts, manuscripts, logbooks, There is the ability to create
manuscripts and artifacts. The for a visitor to search by donor online catalog provides the stu- books, images and audio/visual and print lists of materials of
NHA has committed $250,000 name. The NHA encourages all dent a much greater resource. materials. Quick access to pop- interest.
over two years to this major those who have given items and History topics can be searched ular searches have been creat-
initiative. Connie and Tom artifacts to the organization to at https://nha.org/research/nan- ed, as well as advanced search- The Nantucket Historical
Cigarran of Nashville, Tenn., rediscover and survey their con- tucket-history/. ing for researchers, which Association is at 15 Broad
and Nantucket spearheaded tributions. Most artifacts have allows for more targeted search- Street. For information, 508-
the fundraising efforts. The thumbnail photographs The catalog has been carefully 228-1894 or www.nha.org.
online catalog contains more designed for the casual visitor
than 70,000 collection records attached so that donors can see interested in learning more
which are now accessible an image of their donation. about Nantucket history
Students can easily access through the NHA’s extensive

Artists For Animals
HUDSON, N.Y. — With more letter and create an original to rescue and care for abused,
than 40 rescued farm animals in piece of art that will subse- neglected and surrendered
their care, the owners of Cha- quently be auctioned off on farm animals. They provide
tham Animal Haven (CAH) have behalf of the benefit. safe shelter, food and veterinary
their hands (and barns) full. So care so that the residents can
much so that they are hunting “Animals A-Z,” an art show live out their lives in a peaceful
for a new, larger property and, and auction, is currently on dis- and loving environment. A non-
not coincidentally, trying to raise play in the Kaaterskill Gallery profit eager to continue their
funds for that purpose. in the main building at Colum- mission, The Haven currently
bia-Greene Community College houses both mini-pigs and the
Enter 25 regional artists (and from through February 28. full-sized variety as well as a
at least one from overseas) Online bidding began February flock of chickens and several
with hearts of gold. The indi- 5 at www.biddingowl.com/Cha- goats. In addition to donations
viduals, solicited by CAH co- thamAnimalHavenInc. and grants, some of the animals
founder Colleen Carpenter- are sponsored by generous indi-
Rice, have agreed to “adopt” a Chatham Animal Haven was viduals. All their stories are
formed in 2014 and is dedicated told on the website www.cha-
thamanimalhaven.org.
“T is for Tortoise,” an oil on board by Jacquelyn Rogers, is
one of 26 original pieces of art that will be for sale to raise “The minute I was approached
funds for sick and injured farm animals. by Colleen, I knew I’d say yes,”
said Kim Bach, an artist and
creator of “Q,” an oil stick rendi-
tion of a quail. The owner of
Verdigris Tea, who has received
a Yaddo Fellowship Grant and
has works in the M.H. de Young
Memorial Museum in San
Francisco, was happy to con-
tribute. “How could I not help
make life easier for those ani-
mals? It’s great that a place like
Chatham Animal Haven exists.”

Kaaterskill Gallery is at 7950
Main Street. For a complete list
of participating artists, and more
information about the event, go
to the organizations’ facebook
page https://www.facebook.com/
events/2424909007552663.

12 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

The Nashville Show To Offer Many Treasures, Feb. 12-15
linens, quilts, jewelry, pottery, china, hol- home decorators, collectors and novices 9 am o noon, $25; includes readmission
NASHVILLE, TENN. — The Nashville iday memorabilia and unusual items alike will be thrilled with the treasures for three days; general admission is $12
Show, an antiques show and sale of more galore. they find at the Nashville Show. on Thursday, noon to 5 pm; Friday 9 am
than 30 years, will be bustling with to 5 pm; and Saturday 10 am to 4 pm.
activity February 12-15, according to its More than 140 dealers have saved Early Bird tickets can be purchased on
organizers. They say sold signs will be their best and freshest merchandise for the show’s website, allowing holders to The Fairgrounds Nashville is in the
going up on all types of merchandise, customers from all parts of the United get in ahead of the crowds and enjoy new building at 625 Smith Avenue. For
including country and formal furniture, States, according to the show organizers. unfrenzied shopping. information, www.thefairgrounds.com or
folk art, primitives, industrial artifacts, Interior designers, antiques dealers, 269-716-3106.
Show hours are Thursday, Early Bird,

Call For Papers: ‘Living With Disabilities In New England, 1600-1900’

DEERFIELD, MASS. — The ties experienced disability in tionship between medical the conference.
Dublin Seminar for New Eng- everyday life. history and disability history? The Dublin Seminar will be
land Folklife has announced The seminar encourages
the subject of this year’s confer- Proposals might address the papers that reflect interdisci- conducted in the Deerfield
ence, “Living with Disabilities following questions: How was plinary approaches and original Community Center (DCC), His-
in New England, 1600-1900,” to disability defined during this research, especially those based toric Deerfield’s public lecture
be conducted at Historic Deer- period? How did gender, race on material culture, archaeo- facility. The DCC is wheelchair
field in June. The purpose of and class intersect with the logical artifacts, letters and dia- accessible via a ramp and has
the Dublin Seminar is to serve experience and meaning of dis- ries, vital records, federal and an accessible restroom. For
as a meeting place where schol- ability? What was the relation- state censuses, as well as news- information or questions
ars, students and committed ship between the law and dis- papers, visual culture, business regarding accessibility and/or
avocational researchers who ability? How did people with records, recollections, autobiog- the program or requests con-
share an interest in a specific disabilities interact with insti- raphies and public history prac- cerning other forms of accom-
subject can pool their knowl- tutions ranging from religious tice or advocacy at museums, modation, call Julie Orvis, spe-
edge and exchange ideas and organizations to state-spon- archives and elsewhere. cial events coordinator,
methods. sored hospitals to schools? The seminar is scheduled for 413-775-7179 or email jorvis@
What is the history of disability the weekend of June 19-21 and historic-deerfield.org.
The Dublin Seminar is now within the context of military will consist of approximately
accepting proposals for papers or industrial settings? How did 17 lectures of 20 minutes each. To submit a paper proposal
and presentations that address people with disabilities interact Professional development for this conference, submit (as a
the history of people living with with material culture and tech- points will be available for single email attachment, in
disabilities in New England nology, including but not limit- public school teachers. Selected Word or as a pdf) a one-page
and adjacent areas of New York ed to assistive technologies papers will appear as the 2020 prospectus that describes the
and Canada from 1600 to 1900. Image from private collec- such as artificial limbs and Annual Proceedings of the paper and its sources and a
The principal topic examined tion. Courtesy of Nicole hearing aids, clothing, land- Dublin Seminar to be pub- one-page vita or biography by
by this conference is how chil- Belolan. scapes and buildings and ser- lished about 18 months after March 10. Send proposals to:
dren and adults with disabili- vice animals? What is the rela- dublinseminar@historic-deer-
field.org

Balthazar At The Getty:
Black African King In Medieval & Renaissance Art
LOS ANGELES — Early medi- coincided with the increased only though costume or attri-
eval legends report that one of interaction between Europe and “The Adoration of the Magi” bute.
the three kings who paid hom- Africa, particularly with the sys- by Georges Trubert (French,
age to the Christ Child in Beth- tematic enslavement of African active Provence, France Trade was an essential way
lehem was from Africa. Written peoples in the Fifteenth Centu- 1469-1508), circa 1480-1490, people knew the world during
accounts sometimes describe ry. tempera colors, gold leaf, the Middle Ages and Renais-
Balthazar, the youngest magus, gold and silver paint, and sance. African elephant ivory
as having a dark complexion. “This exhibition examines the ink on parchment. Leaf: 4½ and gold circulated across the
Nevertheless, it would take illuminated manuscripts and by 3-3/8 inches. Accession Sahara Desert and up the Swa-
nearly 1,000 years for European paintings in the Getty’s collec- No.93.ML.6.59. The J. Paul hili Coast into the Mediterra-
artists to begin representing tion that tell the story of Baltha- Getty Museum, Los Angeles, nean and Europe. Commerce in
him as a black man. zar, placing this artistic-reli- Ms. 48, fol. 59. gold brought inhabitants of both
gious narrative in the context of continents into frequent contact,
“Balthazar: A Black African the long history of material Despite further written and black African soldiers
King in Medieval and Renais- trade networks between Africa descriptions of Balthazar as a served in the courts of medieval
sance Art,” an exhibition at the and Europe,” says Timothy black African, European artists European rulers. Diplomacy
Getty Center Museum on view Potts, director of the Getty continued for centuries to repre- offered yet another point of con-
to February 16, examines how Museum. “By exploring how his sent him as a white king. Such tact. In the Fifteenth Century,
representations in European art representation coincided with treatment was not exclusive to Ethiopian rulers sent church
of Balthazar as a black African and was furthered by the rise of the magi. Medieval European delegations to Italy in an
the slave trade, we can begin to artists typically —and potential- attempt to forge alliances, both
understand the works of art in ly inaccurately —represented religious and military, with
our collection, and the broader biblical figures as white, indicat- Rome.
historical and cultural phenom- ing cultural or racial difference
ena they reflect, in new ways.” In the 1440s, with the Portu-
guese incursions into West Afri-
According to the Gospel of ca, the slave trade escalated in
Matthew, “magi from the East” unprecedented ways, industrial-
paid tribute to the newborn izing the practice and bringing
Christ with offerings of gold, thousands — ultimately mil-
frankincense and myrrh. Magos lions — of subjugated Black
is an ancient Greek word for a Africans into Europe and the
Persian priest-astrologer or Americas. It was at precisely
dream interpreter. Revered as this historical moment that art-
wise men, they came to be ists began representing Baltha-
known as three kings because of zar as a black African with some
the number and richness of their frequency. European artists also
gifts. European writers later often alluded to his African iden-
assigned names to these indi- tity by depicting him as white
viduals, Caspar, Melchior and but with a black attendant.
Balthazar, and specified that the
kings came from the three then- The Getty Center is at 1200
known continents of the world: Getty Center Drive. For more
Europe, Asia and Africa. information, 310-440-730 or
www.getty.edu.

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 13

NY Antique Ceramics Fair
Offers Great Material In Small Package

NEW YORK CITY — With 1800 and illustrated inside personal collection of the late (northern Germany) slipware, an important American col-
just a few additions, the New with a farm scene. Jonathan Horne.” “both with important paral- lection based on archaeologi-
York Antique Ceramics Fair, lels to archaeological exam- cal parallels,” said Hunter.
January 23-26, at the Bohe- “I bought several things That wasn’t all, however. ples from Seventeenth Cen-
mian National Hall, main- from Martyn and Sheila — Hunter, for his own inventory, tury Virginia archaeological Also returning was Lee
tained its boutique character they had an amazing assort- purchased from Atkins what sites; these will end up with Bradshaw with the Austra-
as a small and focused exhibi- ment — for personal invento- he believes was among the lian firm Etruria Antiques
tion and sales event. ry, including a wonderful most important ceramic
Eighteenth Century cream- objects at the fair — a Twelfth This large dish, called a comport, Worcester, circa 1800, is
The show used to be known ware teapot with the saying or Thirteenth Century Brit- illustrated with a view of the Flight & Barr Porcelain Facto-
as the New York Ceramics and ‘Solitude is My Choice,’ per- ish baluster jug in what ry. Although a transfer print, the hand painted platter is rare,
Glass Fair, and it was revived fect for the introverted teapot Atkins himself described as according to Etruria Antiques Gallery, Melbourne, Australia.
in 2019 by a small band of collector,” Hunter continued. “amazingly wonderful condi-
dealers who, stunned by the “I’m still considering the fan- tion.” Such rare medieval
sudden announcement in June tastic King William III West- jugs are icons of early British
2018 that show managers Liz erwald portrait mug, circa ceramic history and can be
Lees and Meg Wendy had 1690-1700. found in the collections of the
decided not to continue the V&A and the British Muse-
show, coalesced into a plucky Hunter said he also pur- ums.
vanguard aiming to present a chased a number of things
smaller edition of the New from early English pottery Returning exhibitors to the
York Antiques Week staple. specialist Garry Atkins — “A fair included Antiques LPC
Ideally placed within a short wonderful early Eighteenth van Geenen with specialty in
walk or cab ride from the Art, Century Staffordshire slip- Dutch delftware. Here, Hunt-
Design and Antiques Show at ware cradle — ex-Longridge er said he was able to fill his
Wallace Hall, the Winter Show, Collection — for a Midwest- shopping bag with several
Sotheby’s and Christie’s and ern collector/client and sever- things, including a rare 1630s
the many events and exhibi- al rare Eighteenth Century Portuguese majolica dish and
tions that have Manhattan in mugs that had come from the a circa 1610. Weser Ware
their thrall, the fair offered
yet one more compelling incen- Last Year’s ‘Pioneers’ Add A Few More
tive — admission was compli- Dealers For Successful Three-Day Show
mentary.
First-time exhibitor at the fair, Sam Herrup hoists a large
Just as last year, the small- redware jar.
er show was set up on the
third floor of Bohemian Ceramics scholar and dealer Rob Hunter showcased some
National Hall rather than the of the treasures he picked up at the show on his Facebook
fourth and fifth floors as page, including the rare 1630s-40s Portuguese small dish,
before. There were no lectures upper left, and rare Weser ware handled jar with rouletted
or special exhibitions, just a slip decoration. “The Ceramics Fair was fantastic! I could
focused gathering of 11 spe- have spent days going through all the materials,” he said.
cialists (three more than
2019’s show) with some great
material.

Opening with a well-attend-
ed private preview on January
22, it was, by most accounts, a
successful four days, and it
was not just the dealers who
were delighted — this from
ceramics scholar and dealer
Rob Hunter, who found sever-
al treasures to add to his own
and Chipstone’s collection:
“The Ceramics Fair was fan-
tastic! I could have spent days
going through all the materi-
als. Good energy and great
objects from a more diverse
range of dealers! Congratula-
tions to them!”

Chipstone purchased a large
Staffordshire presentation
punch bowl from Martyn
Edgell, a showstopper if there
ever was one, measuring 19
inches across, dated circa

Review and Photos by
Antiques and The Arts Weekly
W. A. Demers, Senior Editor

Mark Allen said there are not many Seventeenth Century
English double money banks like the one he is holding —
probably ten. The reason? The only way to get the money
out is to break it open.

Another money bank, this one available
from Antiques LPC van Geenen, Delft, Robert Walker, Polka Dot Antiques, Waccabuc, N.Y., with a
The Netherlands Samuel Herrup Antiques, Sheffield, Mass. historic “Makin Mill” creamware jug, circa 1790-1800.

14 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

Leon-Paul van Gennen with a whiteware horse. Maria & Peter Warren Antiques, Monroe, Conn.

Gallery. “Numbers were up, out of interest and just begin- ers next year, expanding into
and there was much interest, ning on the path to collecting. one of the other rooms on the
particularly in the Wedg- There was also a number of same floor. “Overall, I think
wood, which sold well,” said modern potters, interested in the quality was improved on
Bradshaw. “It was also inter- learning the technical aspects last year and a comment I
esting to note the number of of the earlier wares.” heard a number of times was
younger people, some with that it was good to see the
knowledge and others there Bradshaw added that he fair growing at such an early
hopes there will be more deal- stage in its new life.”

Harwood A. Johnson of Circa1775, Wallingford, Penn., was on With a vast antique and contemporary paperweight collec- Robert Walker, Polka Dot
a mission — to educate fairgoers about Josiah Wedgwood and tion in his showcase, Leo Kaplan assists customers. Antiques, Waccabuc, N.Y.,
his importance not only in the manufacture of the historical Léon-Paul van Geenen of Delft, The Netherlands, had some also noted an influx of more
pieces for which his pottery is known, but in the dispersion wonderful objects, including this pair of Delft candlesticks, youthful attendees. “One
of English ceramic arts worldwide, including China of the 1710-20. noticeable addition to the vis-
Xianlong emperor. “This selling exhibition can be thought of itors was the number of mil-
as ‘blue and white,’ noted the dealer. “All the objects have lennials that were looking to
been chosen in those colors, a bit of playfulness versus the furnish their apartments
meaning of blue and white in the world of porcelain.” with antique furniture and
“I like this because it confirms the Eighteenth Century accessories, such as ceramic
practice of enjoying tea in solitude,” said Rob Hunter of table lamps, vases and bowls.
this creamware teapot he purchased from Martyn Edgell. Something their grandmoth-
er might have had. Talking to
several such visitors, part of
the concern was to reuse or
repurpose antique furniture
rather than buy something
new that meant more trees or
chemicals had to be used to
make such new furniture.”

In his showcase, Walker had
the most interest in a Weil-
don-type guglet, 1745-55,
which was displayed in a con-
temporary and rare tooled
leather traveling case with
brass hooks and iron hinges.
Equally ogled was a Liverpool
creamware jug inscribed
“Makin Mill” below a colored
transfer print of a mill and
“Success to the Cotton Manu-
factory” below initials H,
R&M.

“Sales were across the board
from early salt-glazed stone-
ware, including a very rare
large Admiral Vernon ‘Porto-
bello’ mug; another salt-
glazed molded panels mug; a
creamware mug with an
amusing colored transfer
print signed by John Aynsley,
Lane End, ‘The Pig & the Pot
a Tale’; a rare early Stafford-
shire Lion and Unicorn spill

Not a pig in a poke, but a naïve Sussex Pottery jug and cover in the form of Lee Bradshaw of Etruria Antiques Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, holds a
a pig being shown by Paul Vandekar. It’s from the Bell-Vue Potter, Freder- Worcester dinner plate, circa 1790, from the Hope Service, commissioned
ick Mitchell, Rye, England, circa 1870. by HRH The Duke of Clarence, later King William IV.

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 15

Martyn Edgell with large Staffordshire AJ Warren with early Ralph Wood lion, impressed with the
bowl, a clear showstopper, which was maker’s name and date 1770.” I met new collectors, sold to
purchased by Chipstone. A presentation them and sold to my old collector clients, so all in all a great
piece, it measures 19 inches across, dated show,” said Warren. “ I can’t wait until next year. And, of
circa 1800 and is illustrated inside with a course, it is always a wonderful opportunity to catch up
farm scene. “The show gets better year by with old friends.”
year and having it in those rooms is so
much better than the hall before,” said
Edgell. “I sold my mocha ware particu-
larly well and sold antislavery ceramics
to three separate museums in the United
States, roll on 2021.”

vase and a pair of late 1960s Garry Atkins with a Thirteenth Century tall vase. “It’s amaz-
Wedgwood black basalt ‘Bru- ing that it’s so old but has no damage,” said the dealer as he
talist’ vases,” said Walker. carefully removed it from the shelf. It sold to Rob Hunter.

His collection of eight Barber’s bowl at Garry Atkins. NY Antique Ceramics Fair
Charles Vyse figures of “The
London Gypsy Street Sellers” in the stories, not only with No need for a wide-angle lens yet. There were just 11 dealers in this year’s show, an inti-
also drew much interest. collectors, but with museum mate affair in a third-floor gallery at Bohemian National Hall that did not require large
professionals, academics, stu- numbers to produce good energy and great objects.
As befits a scholarly area dents, potters and people just
like antique ceramics, not all interested in history. Selling
of the fair was about com- was not a key goal, but it
merce. It also saw the launch looks like we will sell enough
of Circa1775, an endeavor by to cover the costs of the fair.
first-time exhibitor Harwood
“Woody” Johnson that shared The fair’s other two new
original research in the form dealers were Mark and Mar-
of three stories using Wedg- jorie Allen, Laconia, N.H.,
wood pottery as a character best known for English and
in each story. “The first story Dutch delftware of the Seven-
was about Wedgwood vases teenth and Eighteenth Cen-
that Lord Macartney took as turies, and Samuel Herrup
gifts for the Xianlong emper- who, since 1971, has been
or of China in 1793,” said the dealing in American redware
dealer. “The second story was and stoneware. Allen said he
about the birth of Australia had a number of sales to
told in a single object. The museums, plus much follow-
third story was about the up communication, providing
birth of neoclassicism, also additional details to potential
told in a single object, supple- customers. “I was blown away
mented by the books that by the quality of the show,” he
spread knowledge of the clas- said, adding, “liked it better
sical world in the 1760s–70s. than a number of other shows
We showed just nine pieces of I have done.”
Wedgwood, each one, if I may
say, extraordinary. Prices For additional information,
ranged from $2,600 to www.nyceramicsfair.com.
$110,000.”

Business goals were all met
successfully, said Johnson.
“The first goal was to launch
the business — to make it
well-known rapidly in the
well-publicized and exciting
ambiance of the fair. The sec-
ond goal was to find if the sto-
rytelling approach created
interest among people who
are not typically collectors of
Wedgwood. The third goal
was to begin relationships via
email with people interested

A shelf at Earl D. Vandekar of Knightsbridge, Downingtown, Penn., includ- Polka Dot Antiques, Waccabuc, N.Y.
ed a Proskau faience jug in the form of a parrot, circa 1770, and French
creamware.

16 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

How A Hat Put The Lincoln Museum And Its Own Foundation At Odds Since 2012—

Weaponizing Lincoln’s Top Hat: Part II

(This report series is continued from the artifact and soon issued a directive requir- ALPLF for not agreeing to bring in a textile Elbert was the third husband Clara had
February 7, 2020 issue.) ing all direct communications between expert. lost. As she made plans to move to Florida
ALPLM staff and ALPLF to cease and On June 5, 2019, Director Lowe sent an to be closer to her daughter, she was tasked
D. Responding To Doubts instead go through ALPLM Chief of Staff email to Deputy Governor of Illinois Jesse with disposing of her husband’s posses-
In response to the doubts about the Nadine O’Leary. Ruiz, which stated, “It appears from my sions. Elbert had been an avid collector of
stovepipe hat’s provenance, ALPLM The controversy over the provenance of discussion with the state historian that he antiques, maintained a large book collec-
issued a press release detailing how much the stovepipe hat even became a campaign and his team have found no evidence con- tion and even owned some historical mem-
care went into the Taper acquisition, issue in October 2018, when Congressman firming the hat belonged to President Lin- orabilia. In 1929, for instance, the Illinois
emphasizing that historians at ALPLM, Rodney Davis’s (R-Illinois) campaign coln.” The email was obtained by Dave State Journal praised his “large collection
“including the official Illinois historian [Dr debuted an attack ad that tied his Demo- McKinney, the reporter who broke the story of Lincoln relics” and announced he had
Thomas Schwartz], carefully examined cratic challenger, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, in 2012 that questioned the provenance of recently acquired a commission signed by
the collection.” The press release stated to the stovepipe hat because she had once the stovepipe hat, via FOIA. He used Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Presumably, a
the ALPLM and ALPLF worked closely worked for ALPLF. Lowe’s quote to produce an article titled, lifetime worth of possessions were disposed
together on the Taper acquisition. It On November 13, 2018, the Illinois House “State Historian Finds ‘No Evidence’ Dis- of in many different ways. Some were
acknowledged that ALPLF was a “private, Tourism, Hospitality and Craft Industries puted Hat Belonged to Abraham Lincoln.” thrown out, perhaps others were given
nonprofit organization, operating in sup- Committee held a hearing in the state- Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker fired Direc- away or sold. Clara also took several of her
port of” ALPLM, but “the presidential house on whether or not to recommend tor Lowe on September 20, 2019, due to a husband’s possessions to the Tregoning
library, its executives and historians state funding to ALPLF to retire the Taper recommendation from the Office of the Antique Shop in Carterville, Illinois. She
helped the foundation evaluate and debt. Issues regarding the provenance of Executive Inspector General (OEIG). The heard there were people associated with
acquire the [collection].” In addition, the stovepipe hat and the troubled rela- OEIG had investigated an anonymous the store who were interested in southern
ALPLM produced a document titled, “Lin- tionship between Lowe and ALPLF were complaint and concluded that Lowe had Illinois history and might even have inter-
coln Stovepipe Hat: The Facts,” a list of topics of testimony. The hearing ended with violated museum procedures in June 2018 est in starting a museum. One of the items
nine statements about the hat intended to a chastisement from Representative Tim when he loaned ALPLM’s copy of the Get- she sold to the storeowners was a stovepipe
quell doubts about the object’s provenance. Butler (R-Springfield), who expressed frus- tysburg Address, handwritten by Lincoln, hat with a particularly compelling story.
In the wake of the controversy, the ALPLF tration over the public split between Lowe to a “pop-up museum” in Dallas run by Mrs Waller claimed it once belonged to
formed an Independent Committee to take “and ALPLF. “What has happened over the Mercury One, a nonprofit organization tied Abraham Lincoln.
another look at the Taper acquisition to see On November 4, 2013, at the committee’s
if the board had done its due diligence and request, representatives from the Smithso- B. James T. Hickey
determine what steps could be taken to nian National Museum of American History James Hickey was born in Elkhart, Illi-
examine the stovepipe hat to confirm its and the Chicago History Museum collabo- nois in 1922 and by the time of his death in
provenance. On November 4, 2013, at the rated on an assessment of the stovepipe 1996, he had established himself as one of
committee’s request, representatives from hat, which concluded that the artifact’s the foremost authorities on the life of Abra-
the Smithsonian National Museum of provenance rested on Clara Waller’s 1958 ham Lincoln. While still in grade school,
American History and the Chicago History affidavit, but in the absence of additional Hickey befriended Lawrence Stringer, an
Museum collaborated on an assessment of evidence, the affidavit alone was “insuffi- Illinois judge, congressman and avid Lin-
the stovepipe hat, which concluded that the cient to claim that the hat formerly belonged coln collector. Inspired by Stringer, Hickey
artifact’s provenance rested on Clara “to President Abraham Lincoln.” began building his own Lincoln collection,
Waller’s 1958 affidavit, but in the absence which he maintained for the rest of his life.
of additional evidence, the affidavit alone last several months is absolutely a shame. to radio personality Glenn Beck. In He befriended local families who boasted of
was “insufficient to claim that the hat for- To have front-page stories in The New York exchange for the loan of the historical arti- a Lincoln connection and sometimes
merly belonged to President Abraham Lin- Times making light of this great institution fact, Beck had promised Lowe he would acquired their relics to add to his collection.
coln.” The report encouraged ALPLM to should not have happened,” he said. “I don’t fundraiser and help retire the Taper debt, He also became familiar with courthouses
“take a less defensive position” regarding know if you’re going to get state funding. I which at the time stood at approximately throughout central Illinois and established
the hat, conduct further research on the have a hard time going to bat for state $9 million. In the end, Beck’s organization friendships with the court clerks who
object and even consider “asking the seller funding in the current environment,” But- sent Lowe a donation of $50,869 to help policed the buildings. Hickey often used
to take back the hat if greater documenta- ler concluded. pay down the debt. The OEIG concluded their files for research and was even
tion is not found.” With the research effort ordered by Direc- that an anonymous tip claiming Lowe had allowed to search courthouse archives for
ALPLF’s Independent Committee also tor Lowe still ongoing in May 2019, Dr “pimp[ed] out” the ALPLM’s most precious Lincoln documents, some of which he
reached an agreement with the FBI in Wheeler requested the assistance of a tex- artifact was accurate and called for his acquired for his personal collection.
March 2015 to conduct DNA testing on the tile expert to conduct a stylistic analysis of immediate dismissal. In 1954 George Bunn, Marine Bank pres-
stovepipe hat. On two separate occasions, the stovepipe hat. At Director Lowe’s ident, asked Hickey to go through the
ALPLF worked with Dr Cornelius to bring request, Dr Wheeler made the request in Part II. Historical Analysis bank’s voluminous records and search for
FBI agents into the ALPLM to collect sam- writing to ALPLF. In response to Dr Wheel- At the beginning of this research inquiry, Lincoln items. After days of searching,
ples for testing. However, senior ALPLM er’s request, ALPLF Chairman Ray McCas- ALPLM’s research file for “Stovepipe Hat, Hickey discovered bank ledgers with Lin-
administrators were not made aware the key sent a letter to Director Lowe explain- TLR 001” consisted of approximately a coln’s name in them. His discovery was fea-
testing was taking place, nor were they ing that the Foundation was unaware any dozen newspaper articles chronicling the tured in Life magazine, where he was
aware the Lincoln Curator was bringing research was taking place. McCaskey Taper acquisition and the controversy over described as a “farmer turned detective.”
FBI agents into the building. There is also asked Lowe to meet with the ALPLF board the object’s provenance, as well as an affi- Soon after Hickey’s discovery, Clyde Wal-
evidence the Lincoln Curator told security to update them on the research and work davit signed by Clara Waller in 1958 that ton, the State Historian of Illinois and
guards the FBI agents were simply a news with the board “collaboratively” to “make detailed a nearly century-old story of how Director of the Illinois State Historical
crew doing a story on Lincoln. In the end, an informed decision as to how best to she came to possess a stovepipe hat that Library (now ALPLM), created a new posi-
the FBI found DNA consistent with the move forward” with the research. An purportedly once belonged to Abraham tion in the library, and hired Hickey to fill
profile of an individual who recently han- ALPLF spokesperson later told a reporter Lincoln. From August 23, 2018 to May 22, it. In early 1958, Hickey became the first
dled the objects, most likely Dr Cornelius, that the foundation was open to further 2019, Dr Wheeler conducted a historical Curator of the Lincoln Collection at ISHL.
but failed to recover any relevant Nine- research into the stovepipe hat’s prove- analysis to determine if the family legend Hickey came to the ISHL with more than
teenth-Century DNA on the stovepipe hat. nance, but they wanted to be part of the was plausible and verifiable. 20 years of collecting experience, was
process, as they were the owners of the knowledgeable about manuscripts and
E. New Leadership artifact. The spokesman said Lowe never A. The Wallers handwriting, and had scores of contacts
Following Eileen Mackevich’s resignation responded to McCaskey’s letter. When Elbert Waller died in Carbondale, with dealers and auction houses. However,
on October 16, 2015, officials conducted a In the midst of the spring session of the Illinois, on June 16, 1956, at the age of 85, while overseeing the state of Illinois’s most
nationwide search to find a new director of Illinois General Assembly, Governor J.B. he left behind his wife of seven years, precious items related to the life and times
ALPLM. Governor Bruce Rauner Pritzker’s spokeswoman Jordan Abu- Clara, as well as a son and grandson who of Abraham Lincoln, Hickey continued add-
announced that Alan Lowe, the founding dayyeh announced on May 21, 2019, that lived in Kansas. His obituary listed his ing to his personal collection of Lincolni-
director of the George W. Bush Presidential the governor and Senator Andy Manar numerous accomplishments, including his ana, a practice that is widely recognized
Library and Museum, had been selected agreed that it was not appropriate to use background as a newspaperman, teacher today as unethical.
and would start on July 11, 2016. state funds to retire ALPLF’s Taper debt. and school superintendent, multi-term Sometime in mid-1958, Hickey purchased
As with Director Mackevich, Director The next day, Director Lowe informed Dr member of the Illinois General Assembly the Waller stovepipe hat from the Tregon-
Lowe was soon in an oppositional relation- Wheeler to suspend his research into the and the author of several books on the his- ing Antique Shop for his personal collec-
ship with ALPLF. At the time ALPLF was stovepipe hat, citing his frustration with tory of Illinois. tion. Knowing the value of a historical arti-
lobbying the Illinois General Assembly to fact depended on its provenance, Hickey
secure an appropriation to help retire the wrote to Clara Waller and asked her to
remaining $9 million on the Taper debt, write him a letter, detailing everything she
Lowe was quoted in the New York Times knew about the object. Her reply has
accusing ALPLF of misleading him about recently been located and is cited here for
the provenance of the stovepipe hat, claim- the first time:
ing he had only been told about the DNA 711 Carico
test in January 2018 and only recently Carbondale. Ill
been made aware of the report written by July 22, 1958
representatives of the Smithsonian and Mr James Hickey
Chicago History Museum. Lowe promptly Elkhart. Ill.
dissolved his $25,000 annual consulting Dear Mr Hickey,
agreement with the ALPLF that was Today I received your letter saying you
offered to him when he was hired, telling bought the high top hat from Mr Tregoning
the Associated Press he had done so in Carterville. This is the history of the hat.
because he and ALPLF were “at odds on During the Civil War Elberts’ father held a
some issues” and “I don’t want there to be position we would now call (F.B.I). His
any question about my priorities.” name was Wm. Waller of Murphysboro Illi-
On August 23, 2018, Director Lowe nois. This position [brought] Mr Waller in
ordered Illinois State Historian Dr Samuel contact with Abraham Lincoln and one eve-
Wheeler to conduct research into the prov- ning finding they wore the same size hats
enance of the stovepipe hat and “the broad- they traded hats. He took Abe’s hat and Mr
er issue of the Taper purchase.” However, Lincoln took Mr Wallers hat. At Mr Wallers
Lowe apparently did not inform ALPLF death Elbert asked his mother if he might
that he had ordered further research on the lay claim to the stovepipe hat and she gave

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 17

her permission and if you ever knew Elbert Waller’s claims to be thoroughly investi- in a position to be involved in such activity. have worked with other military com-
you know how it pleased him. Elbert was gated to determine if they are plausible Southern Illinois was rife with internal dis- mands in Illinois. Though researchers have
an antique collector and had many such and verifiable. sent during the Civil War. Even a cursory searched the Provost Marshal records of
things when he passed away. I hope I have search of the papers of Richard Yates, gov- the 13th district in Illinois, other districts
given you all the information necessary. C. William Waller And The F.B.I.? ernor of Illinois during the Civil War, for such as the adjoining 12th and 14th should
Clara Waller’s most intriguing claim example, reveals scores of letters from con- also be examined, as well as the records of
Sincerely Clara D. Waller states, “During the Civil War Elbert’s cerned citizens in southern Illinois, claim- the 13th district in Missouri. Moreover,
(Mrs Elbert Waller) father held a position we would now call ing their neighbors were disloyal, rebels there was also a major command center at
Hickey used the details in Clara Waller’s (F.B.I). His name was Wm. Waller of Mur- were infiltrating the area recruiting dis- Cairo, Illinois, during the Civil War, the
letter to compose an affidavit, which he physboro, Illinois.” According to Clara loyal citizens and army deserters and indi- records of which are held at the National
enclosed in another letter to her, asking her Waller, it was this detail that brought Wil- viduals were planning an attack behind Archives.
to sign the affidavit and have it notarized. liam Waller into contact with Lincoln in Union lines. Similarly, newspaper columns
He explained that by doing so, she would Washington, D.C. However, is the claim were also filled with such fears, as well as There is also the possibility that Waller
“solve a problem” for him. Clara Waller plausible and, more importantly, verifiable? reports of the homes of loyal Union sup- did not work with the military, but instead
complied with his request and had her William Waller was born in 1823 and porters being vandalized, their crops being worked with civil authorities. David L.
daughter, Reva Frakes, serve as notary: grew to adulthood in Union County, Illinois. sabotaged, or in some cases, reports of Cop- Phillips, for instance, was a Republican
AFFIDAVIT He was married at 22, but lost his wife a perheads committing acts of physical vio- who lived in Jonesboro, Illinois before the
State of Illinois year later. He married his second wife in lence, including murder. No evidence has war. Phillips was one of only a handful of
Jackson County 1848 and had four children with her, rais- yet emerged connecting William Waller to Republicans in southern Illinois before the
I, Clara D. Waller, being duly sworn upon ing them on a farm just south of Murphys- organizations like the Union League, which war and enjoyed a good relationship with
my oath, say that I am the widow of Elbert boro, Illinois. Politically, he identified as a were devoted to suppressing anti-Union Lincoln. When Lincoln went to Jonesboro
Waller. Democrat and supported Stephen A. Doug- groups, though there were several such to debate Stephen Douglas in 1858, he
I further solemnly swear that I was the las in the election of 1860. When the war organizations in Jackson County, Illinois. stayed in Phillips’s home. Similarly, Lin-
owner of a certain stovepipe hat which had broke out, the 38-year-old Waller continued It would also not be uncommon for men coln’s incoming and outgoing correspon-
once belonged to Abraham Lincoln. to support Douglas, who encouraged Demo- like Waller to work directly with military dence includes several letters with Phil-
I further solemnly swear that this said crats to stay loyal to the Union cause, but authorities, as they attempted to quash lips. When the war broke out, Lincoln
hat had been given to William Waller by by 1864, Waller’s political outlook had shift- anti-Union sentiment throughout south- rewarded Phillips for his support by
Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War in ed and he voted for Lincoln. ern Illinois. In March 1863, for instance, appointing him U.S. Marshal of the south-
Washington. That on the death of said Wil- According to a biographical sketch pub- the U.S. Congress passed the Enrollment ern district of Illinois. After Lincoln sus-
liam Waller it passed to his son Elbert lished in 1912, possibly written by his son Act to provide for a national system of con- pended the writ of habeas corpus, Phillips
Waller. “Elbert, William Waller allegedly tried to scription for the army. Assistant provost made several high-profile arrests of promi-
I further solemnly swear that at the In 1954 George Bunn, Marine Bank presi- nent individuals suspected of disloyal
death of Elbert Waller the hat came to me dent, asked Hickey to go through the bank’s activity in southern Illinois, including in
as his widow. voluminous records and search for Lincoln Murphysboro and Carbondale. On occa-
I further solemnly swear that I disposed items. After days of searching, Hickey dis- sion, Phillips personally escorted prisoners
of the hat with other items to a Mr and Mrs covered bank ledgers with Lincoln’s name by train to Washington, D.C., where they
Tregoning of 115 East Illinois Avenue, in them. His discovery was featured in Life were jailed in the “Old Capitol Prison.” It is
Carterville, Illinois and that they in turn magazine, where he was described as a possible Phillips needed witnesses and/or
sold the hat to James T. Hickey, Elkhart, “farmer turned detective.” guards to accompany these prisoners to
Illinois. Soon after Hickey’s discovery, Clyde Wal- the nation’s capital. Though no evidence
I further solemnly swear that I believe ton, the State Historian of Illinois and Direc- has yet emerged tying Waller to Phillips,
the hat to have once belonged to Abraham tor of the Illinois State Historical Library there is a less organized, but still viable,
Lincoln. “(now ALPLM), created a new position in the trove of letters at the National Archives
I further solemnly swear that it was one between Phillips and Secretary of State
of my husband’s (Elbert Waller) proud pos- library, and hired Hickey to fill it. William Seward, as well as Secretary of
sessions during his lifetime because it had War Edwin Stanton, that discuss his
been given to his father by Abraham Lin- enlist in the Union army, but was “rejected marshals were appointed in every state. arrests in southern Illinois. These collec-
coln. on account of ill health.” Instead of fighting Lt. Col. James Oakes of the 4th U.S. Cav- tions, and others pertaining to the U.S.
Signed in the army, Waller stayed behind in south- alry Regiment was appointed in Illinois. Marshall’s office, need to be consulted.
Clara D. Waller ern Illinois and “looked after several fami- Every congressional district in Illinois also
(Mrs Elbert Waller) lies whose natural providers were away received a provost marshal, as well as dep- Though Clara Waller’s claim that William
711 Carico Street fighting for the Union.” uty provost marshals, a clerical staff, and Waller worked in a manner similar to the
Carbondale, Illinois On January 13, 1864, Waller’s wife an enrollment board. In addition to enroll- FBI agents of the 1950s is plausible, no evi-
Subscribed and sworn before me this 9th Lucinda died, leaving him with four chil- ing all able-bodied men for the draft, the dence has yet been found to verify it.
day of August 1958. dren between the ages of four and thirteen. provost marshals were authorized to hire
Reva Frakes Almost a month later, Waller signed his “special agents,” who were charged with However, it should also be noted that
My commission expires Feb 27, 1960. name as a witness on a document for a tracking down army deserters, disrupting there are several things that detract from
Clara Waller enclosed the signed affidavit widow’s pension for Martha Cox, who had cells of copperhead activity, and hunting Clara Waller’s story. For instance, the
together with another letter to Hickey that lost her husband Dennis while he was a down members of the Knights of the Gold- inability to thus far find any documenta-
contained additional information. Her let- member of the 81st Illinois, which was en Circle. In southern Illinois, Isaac N. tion from William or Elbert Waller that
ter was recently located and is cited here recruited entirely from southern Illinois. Phillips served as Provost Marshal of the illustrates they believed the stovepipe hat
for the first time: Before 1864 was over, Waller married for 13th District in Illinois, the district encom- once belonged to Lincoln is troubling.
711 Carico the third time, this time to Mary Ann passing Murphysboro. Unfortunately, the Elbert Waller’s name, for instance, appears
Carbondale. Ill. Hagler, a widow with four children of her existing Provost Marshal records for the hundreds of times in newspapers through-
August 9 1958 own who had lost her husband, also a 13th district in Illinois in the National out his life, but there is not a single men-
Mr James T. Hickey member of the 81st Illinois, in January Archives facility in Chicago contain no ref- tion that connects him with the stovepipe
Elkart Ill. 1863, a casualty of the Civil War. erences to Waller. hat, nor is there any mention of the relic in
Dear Sir, According to the 1912 biographical Nonetheless, Waller fits the profile of the hundreds of pieces of incoming and out-
I have filled out the statement, and hope sketch, Waller became a Republican sup- someone who would be useful in Civil War going correspondence in the Elbert Waller
it will solve a problem for you. porter during the war and ultimately espionage activities. He was a pre-war Papers at Southern Illinois University.
Of course Mr Waller and I had been mar- joined “an organization opposed to the Democrat who remained loyal to the Union Elbert Waller was also a prolific writer who
ried only 10 years, but he I am sure had Knights of the Golden Circle and all they during the war. He remained close to home published more than a dozen editions of a
told me all he knew about all his antiques. I represented and several times they tried and out of the army. Men like Waller would book on Illinois history, as well as several
certainly did not know the value of to take his life.” Similarly, in an unpub- have been aware of what was happening other books of non-fiction, including a book
antiques. I sold the hat to these people for lished manuscript written by his son with their Democrat neighbors and per- on Lincoln. Yet there is nothing in his pub-
$1.00 as they told me they were getting Elbert Waller in 1955, Elbert claimed his haps privy to information about anti-Union lished writings about the stovepipe hat.
ready to plan a nice museum for the old “father was in federal service, running activities in the area. Men in these posi-
southern Ill Relics. Any time I can be of ser- down disloyal organizations such as tions reported what they knew to the Similarly, a newspaper article appeared
vice I will be glad to do it. I spend 6 months Knights of the Golden Circle.” authorities, oftentimes becoming infor- in the Southern Illinoisan newspaper on
in Florida and summer 6 mo. in Illinois. I The claim that William Waller held a mants to local military officers or provost May 29, 1952, announcing that several
will return to 2327 Woodlawn Circle east position akin to the F.B.I. and was involved marshals. Many times, such reports were women in Carbondale were decorating
St. Petersburg, Florida Sept 1st. in hunting down members of the Knights of made verbally, and authorities did not storefront windows with “keepsakes from a
Sincerely Clara D. Waller the Golden Circle, a paramilitary organiza- always write down the names of everyone century ago” in celebration of the hun-
After receiving the correspondence from tion formed to disrupt the Union war effort who reported such activity. Perhaps that dredth anniversary of the town. Clara
Clara Waller, Hickey wrote to John W. Allen in northern states, is an intriguing one. explains Waller’s absence in official docu- Waller was among the ladies who prepared
in Carbondale, who served as curator of the Thus far, no evidence has emerged that ments consulted thus far. a window display. The newspaper made no
museum at Southern Illinois University, verifies this claim, but Waller was certainly It is also very possible that Waller may mention of a stovepipe hat in her window.
wrote the weekly newspaper column, “It Instead, Clara’s window reportedly fea-
Happened in Southern Illinois,” and was a tured “clocks from her collection along with
prolific collector of folklore and local histo- very old books, [and] a sewing machine
ry. Hickey apparently related the story con- made in Trondheim, Norway in 1840.”
tained in the Clara Waller affidavit and
asked Allen if he had ever heard the story. In addition, Clara Waller’s decision to sell
Allen replied on August 22, 1958, writing the stovepipe hat to a local antique store
that he heard the same story from Elbert for just $1 is concerning. If the stovepipe
Waller himself and was “inclined to give it hat was indeed one of Elbert Waller’s prized
full credence.” However, though Allen wrote possessions and was a tangible link con-
extensively about southern Illinois history, necting the Waller family to Abraham Lin-
folklore and local legends, his letter to coln, why did Clara not give the hat to
Hickey represents the only known time he Elbert’s surviving son Max or his grandson,
wrote about Lincoln’s stovepipe hat or the who lived in Kansas?
Waller family’s connection to it.
The previous three letters and affidavit I was also able to track down multiple liv-
represent the only historical documenta- ing descendants who had memories of
tion tying the stovepipe hat to William Elbert and Clara Waller. Several individu-
Waller and Abraham Lincoln. The earliest als could recall specific conversations they
letter dates to July 1958, 93 years after had with the couple, as well as vivid
the death of Abraham Lincoln and 61 descriptions of their house, which featured
years after the death of William Waller. Elbert’s large personal library. However, no
This chronological gap requires Clara one I spoke with recalled hearing anything
from them about a stovepipe hat that once
belonged to Abraham Lincoln.
(This report continues in the February
21, 2020 issue.)

18 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

Art, Design & Antiques Show Sees
Steady Flow At Wallace Hall

NEW YORK CITY — The much they enjoyed the quality, than it was at its inception five opportunity to learn from leau of period furniture, Twen-
fifth annual Art, Design & variety and relative accessibility years ago, 33 dealers this year, experts on a variety of topics, tieth Century design, works of
Antiques Show returned to the of the show, even going so far as but it remains an important everything from collecting dec- art, decorations, lighting and
St Ignatius Loyola Church to say they liked it more than bridge between dealers and orative carriage clocks, pre- curiosities supporting his per-
January 24-26. As with previ- the Winter Show! That’s a testa- buyers, and is regarded as an sented by first-time exhibitor sonal belief that beauty comes
ous shows, the three-day affair ment to the high standards and accessible, approachable mar- Scott Defrin of European Deco- in many forms. For example,
familiarly known as the Wal- hard work of Brad Reh. ketplace happening during rative Arts, to silver table art there was a compelling trio of
lace Hall Show due to its Antiques Week in New York and French fine art décor by giltwood mirrors on his booth
venue, the large, columned “Everything from the signage City. “This show has saved our Jasmine Doussiere of Silver wall that ranged from Nine-
basement in the church, con- to the advertising was great, butt,” said Trifles dealer Mat- Art by D&R. Ron Bassin of A teenth Century French rope
tinued its success, presenting and his team couldn’t be more thew Robinson from Wiscasset, Bird in Hand was one of the twist to an exceptionally large
an eclectic bunch of exhibitors helpful. Brad has also assem- Maine. “In an age where many speakers, talking about Gren- French Nineteenth Century
showcasing everything from bled a really congenial group shows are disappearing, it’s fell rugs on Saturday. He had oval to Twentieth Century geo-
estate jewelry, Americana, dec- of dealers, which creates a one of the few shows left that some great examples of this metric. “As for sales, we were
orative furniture, fine art, good vibe. There were several presents so much variety at folk art tradition by people in pleased,” he noted afterwards.
sculptures to Oriental art, new dealers in decorative arts reasonable prices.” rural communities of northern “Among other things, we sold
handmade antique rugs, books, that really helped to raise the Newfoundland and Labrador lots of smalls, including a large
objets d’art and more. bar. Attendance was good. “Our show is unique because in his booth, including a rare green glazed English pottery
There was constant traffic on it offers visitors the opportuni- early bench cover, possibly for lion, various carved wood folk
“I thought it looked better than Friday. Heavy rain on Satur- ty to peruse and shop art and a piano bench, from the late art animal figures, Midcentury
ever,” said Andrew Spindler, the day had some impact, but Sun- antiques on a much smaller 1920s-30s depicting three Modern pottery and glass and
Essex, Mass., antiques and day was very busy. Overall, I scale and approachable atmo- polar bears on ice floes. “The a glass light house lens.” The
design specialist. “Many visitors am very grateful.” sphere,” said Brad Reh, show coloring makes it look very French Nineteenth Century
and customers told me how co-manager. His wife and co- contemporary,” he observed. gilt wood oval mirror found a
The show is just a bit larger manager Vandy Reh pro- Another piece was a mix of silk new home, as did a Louis XV
nounced it “a lovely show, with and chenille. Titled “Ambu- period marble top table, a Scot-
great turnout and dealers who lance Sled,” it was a lively tish gueridon in rosewood with
left happy. The energy was scene of husky dogs pulling a septarian stone top, circa 1830,
wonderful. Several people tell sled and two medics en route a pair of Italian art pottery
me that they put it on their to an apparent emergency. lamps and a railroad lantern.
calendar.” “Subsequently, we received
Always interesting, always calls and have made two more
Booth chats were a new fea- eclectic, Andrew Spindler sales of items people saw at
ture to the show’s program- Antiques & Design returned the show,” said the Essex,
ming this year. The 20-minute this year with a pleasing tab- Mass., dealer.
talks provided patrons with an
There were exceptional silver
Quality, Variety & Good Accessibility items this year. Silver Art by
Are Hallmarks Of Fifth Annual Fair D&R, Marseille, France, and
New York City, and Greg Pepin,
An interesting, eclectic mix of things drew interest at the Danish Georg Jensen spe-
Andrew Spindler Antiques & Design, Essex, Mass., that cialist, had great presenta-
included a compelling trio of giltwood mirrors that ranged tions. At Silver Art by D&R, a
from Nineteenth Century French rope twist to French oval choice piece was a rare antique
to Twentieth Century geometric. silver and vermeil drageoir, or
ceremonial sugar bowl, 1810,
Show managers and jewelry exhibitors Vandy and Brad Reh. by Maitre Orfèvre Pierre Bour-
guignon. It was decorated in
the Louis XVI style, featuring
a vine garland with three
heads of Pan, associated with
wine and mirth, and the lid
was topped by a cupid as finial.
“It was a good show for us,”
said co-owner Jasmine Doussi-
er. “We saw a steady flow of
customers over the three days.
We had some repeat clients
that came and purchased
antique drawings and a few

Review and Photos by
Antiques and The Arts Weekly
W. A. Demers, Senior Editor

Imperial Fine Books and Oriental Art, New York City

Danish-American silver expert and owner of Denmark- Jonathan Tung of Lotus Gallery, Austin, Yannis Gaitis (1923-1984) was a Greek paint-
based Greg Pepin Silver, Greg Pepin said one of his favorite Texas, explained that the oranges placed er and sculptor, best known for his paintings
pieces is this sterling silver Georg Jensen Art Deco pitcher around his booth were in honor of the Chi- of repeating men dressed identically in hats
with removable lid and horn handle, designed by Johan nese Lunar New Year that was ushered in and plaid jackets, representing the homoge-
Rohde from circa 1930. over the show’s weekend. Behind this neity of modern society. Glen Leroux
orange is an early Seventeenth Century Antiques, Westport, Conn.
Buddha of joined wood and lacquer.

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 19

Shaia Oriental Rugs of Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Va.

From the atelier of Hyacinthe Rigaud (1659- T.J Antorino Antiques & Design, Oyster Bay,
1743) was a bust view portrait of the Cardi- N.Y.
nal de Rohan at age 36, circa 1710-13. In a
gilded and carved wood frame, it was on offer
by Magne Antiquaire, Charlottesville, Va.

decorative bronze sculptures One of these Chinese ceramics couples is unlike the others. Simon Barton of Potterton Books, North Yorkshire, Eng-
by Ferdinand Barbedienne. We Can you guess which? Four are court scenes and one is a land, with what is possibly the best and most famous furni-
also sold several antique “courting” scene with a bare-chested male and leg-reveal- ture pattern book, produced by Thomas Chippendale in the
French silver pieces, such as ing courtesan. They were shown by Santos, London. Eighteenth Century showing patterns and designs of the
lamb chop holders and melon furniture for which Chippendale has become renowned.
forks by Odiot as well as oys- Rarities in jewelry offered by London dealer Sue Brown The firm specializes in sourcing vintage and out-of-print
ters sets and menu holders. We included the brooch, circa 1850, comprising ancient reference books on Twentieth Century design, fine and dec-
met quite a few new clients, 2,000-3,000-year-old scarabs, left, and the “Doge’s Crown,” orative arts, jewelry and textile design.
and sold a gorgeous silver and studded with rubies, emeralds and diamonds. Jasmine Doussiere of Silver Art by D&R, Marseille, France,
crystal table centerpiece by and New York City, holds a rare antique silver and vermeil
Limousin & Souche. All in all, Art, Design drageoir, or ceremonial sugar bowl, 1810, by Maitre Orfèvre
a lovely show.” & Antiques Show Pierre Bourguignon. Decorated in the Louis XVI style, the
piece features a vine garland with three heads of Pan, asso-
At Danish-American silver ciated with wine and mirth, and the lid is topped by a cupid
expert Greg Pepin, it was as finial. “It was a good show for us,” said Doussier. “ We
Georg Jensen from A to Z, saw a steady flow of customers over the three days.”
including a sterling silver Jen-
sen Art Deco pitcher with
removable lid and horn handle,
designed by Johan Rohde from
circa 1930. Creator of the icon-
ic Acorn pattern flatware,
Rohde’s Jensen items combine
elements of both Art Nouveau
and Art Deco while adding a
Bauhaus look, according to the
dealer.

There was a bit of mild panic
on the part of show manager
Brad Reh just before the show
opened on Friday when Austin,
Texas, Asian arts dealer Lotus
Gallery had not shown up. In
the nick of time, though, Jona-
than Tung and his staff
appeared, placing oranges
among the items showcased in
his booth. We learned that
oranges are a popular symbol
of good luck in the Chinese
Lunar New Year, and this
being the new year’s eve, the

Ron Bassin of A Bird in Hand Antiques, Flor- Fine art dealer Betty Krulik, left, chats with In commemoration of his late partner, Douglas Warriner,
ham Park, N.J., gave a talk about Grenfell Dana and Catherine Tillou in her booth. and to differentiate the fine art in his collection, Paul Doug-
rugs as part of a new booth chat feature in las, owner of Galena, Md-based Firehouse Antiques, was
the show’s programming. The intimate, showing as Paul Douglas Gallery. His booth was a lively col-
20-minute talks provided patrons with an lection of mixed media art, including the large homage to
opportunity to learn from experts on a vari- Balanchine on the wall and a collection of mannequins and
ety of topics. The Grenfell example shown at polychrome papier mache masks, 1939-41, by Disney Stu-
the top is unique, according to Bassin, depict- dios artist George Roether.
ing three bears on ice floes. He believed it was
an early bench cover, possibly a piano bench,
from the late 1920s-30s. “The coloring makes
it look very contemporary,” he observed

20 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

Betty Krulik Fine Art, New York City, with Leon Kroll’s A pair of Sioux beaded moccasins, circa
large painting, “Ice Harvest on the Hudson,” 1919. “I loved 1880s-90s, at Marcy Burns American Indian
doing this fair. I was pleased to be in the company of such Arts, New York City.
fine dealers in a broad variety of disciplines,” said Krulik.
“The quality of the fair was so good, and with a broad range J. Gallagher Antiques, North Norwich, N.Y.,
of price points, it made the fair very accessible. And, it was showed an American mahogany chest of
great time to be showing in New York, with the Winter drawers with original brasses from New
Show, Master Drawings and the Ceramics Fair; we had alot York City, circa 1800. It was topped by a
of knowledgeable constituents.” Bluebird racer by Kingsbury and a fire horn
that had been converted into a lamp.

Scott Defrin of European Decorative Arts, New York City,
was one of several new dealers in decorative arts that
helped to raise the bar at the show. Here he stands with a
pair of French ten-light candelabra, silver, gilt and patinat-
ed bronze, circa 1876-77, by Christofle & Cie and highly
influenced by Japanese metalwork.

The carved English or Scottish Highlander Calamander is a strikingly grained wood
snuff and tobacco countertop figure from from Southeast Asia. It made a commanding
the early Nineteenth Century, 24½ inches statement in these two Twentieth Century
high, was one of the best Jeffrey Tillou, the mirrors shown by Trifles, Wiscasset, Maine,
Litchfield, Conn., antiques dealer has ever and the mirrors paired nicely with the rare
seen. After the “Act of Union” between Eng- form club chairs from Boston, circa 1830.
land and Scotland in 1707, Glasgow became
one of the chief ports for the importation of Art, Design &
American tobacco. These figures often held Antiques Show
up a snuff-mull to proffer a pinch of snuff.
New York City dealer
Show patrons browsing the fine art at Framont Fine Art, Michael Pashby takes the
Greenwich, Conn. long view down this monu-
An energetic crowd of shoppers assembled in the hall’s ves- mental (12 feet 3 inches
tibule before the show opened. long) single plank table
made of Spanish walnut.
Spanish furniture makers
tended not to use stretchers
at the base of their tables, so
this one easily accommo-
dates the English neogothic
chairs around it. “I must say
that I am impressed with
the show, “ said Pashby. “It
attracted record attendance
with a constant flow of high-
ly qualified visitors, includ-
ing top decorators and col-
lectors. I think that the
range of dealers was very
good, and there really was a
‘buzz’ surrounding the
event. I had the best fair of
the last couple of years, sell-
ing a number of things from
a couple of thousand to
more than $50,000.”

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 21

Evolving styles by the French artist Raymond
Thibesart (1874-1968) were on view at Carole
Pinto Fine Arts, Paris and New York City. “Under
the Orange Tree,” 1908, (below) captures a
moment of youthful “far niente,” while a view of
Santa Margherita Raffaello, Italy, (right) alludes
to the effect of sunlight on the water and the
walls of the picturesque town.

Sundial Farm, Greenlawn, Left, “L’Eglise et le Pont” (Moret sur Loing), 1916, by Henri Le
N.Y., showcased the circa Sidaner (1862-1939), oil on canvas, 25 by 32½ inches; and “57th
1885 French Three Graces Street” by Guy Carleton Wiggins (American, 1883-1962), oil on
annular clock, 25½ inches canvas, 30 by 25 inches. Schillay Fine Art, New York City
high, by clockmaker Etienne
Maxant and bronzer Eugene
Hazart. The late Nineteenth
Century ormolu and white
marble clock featured
exceptionally detailed ormo-
lu castings paired with an
equally exceptional skele-
tonized movement.

fruit did its part to convey a Clinton Howell Antiques, New York City Cliff Lee with one of his newest ceramics designs, a triple drag-
good result for Tung’s gallery. Sheila Parish, owner of Tutto dal Mondo, Philadelphia, on vessel featuring ruby-eyed dragons on a celadon vessel.
“The show was much stronger assists a customer. Earle D. Vandekar of Knightsbridge, Downingtown, Penn.,
this year in terms of dealers David Smernoff of Cheshire, Conn., and Buenos Aires, was straddling two shows over the weekend — the Wallace
and material,” said Tung. Argentina, said, “Had an extremely positive show, new cli- Hall show and the New York Antique Ceramics Fair. Deir-
“Brad always does a superb job ents as well as reestablishing relations in deals with old cli- dre Healy managed the booth at Wallace Hall and show-
in hand selecting the dealers. ents and dealers.” He even sold four paintings after the cased many of the firm’s staple woolies, Fornasetti items
And all the dealers in turn do show, “which is always an added bonus,” he said. and prints. A quartet of large hand colored copper plate
an amazing job of editing and engravings of seabirds by Prideaux John Selby, often called
displaying their objects. The the “British Audubon” for his life-size depictions of birds,
result is a wonderfully curated were published in Edinburgh and London in 1834.
show with something for just
about everybody. We had a
good number of our clients
from previous years stop by the
show, the majority of whom
continued to grow their collec-
tions with purchases from us
and other dealers at the show.
We also met several new cli-
ents and potential clients,
ranging from novice to
advanced collectors. Overall,
we were happy with the results
of the show. Our sales were
diverse, ranging from Asian
works of art, to antiquities and
jewelry.”

Once again, Earle D. Vandek-
ar of Knightsbridge, Downing-
town, Penn., was seemingly in
two places at once over the
week. Here at the Wallace Hall
show, his wife Deidre Healy
represented the firm with the
usual woolies and botanical
prints, Fornasetti items, as
well as a quartet of large hand
colored copper plate engrav-
ings of seabirds by Prideaux
John Selby, published in Edin-
burgh and London in 1834.
Another interesting thing in
the booth was the juxtaposi-
tion of two woolies, both
depicting the same ship, the
HMS Hero, but by different
artists and apparently at dif-
ferent periods in the ship’s life,
as the smaller depiction
included a smokestack conver-
sion, Healy pointed out. Paul
Vandekar was set up at the
Bohemian National Hall rep-
resenting the firm at the New
York Antique Ceramics Show.
[See separate review else-
where in this issue.]

For information, 203-920-
1755 or www.rehshows.com.

22 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020 Compiled by
Antiques andThe Arts Weekly
Notable Prices Recently Achieved At Various Auction Houses
Staff and Correspondents
Across The Block
All prices
include buyer’s premium.

Centerpiece Does Heavy Lifting Babe Ruth Baseball Lands Tiepolo Takes Top Honors At Sotheby’s
At Fontaine’s Heritage Auction At $183,500 At Grey Flannel Master Paintings Evening Sale
CANAAN, N.Y. — Five phone bidders battled it SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — A baseball Babe Ruth
out for a Nineteenth Century solid bronze center- autographed the night before he died sold for NEW YORK CITY — Sotheby’s annual Masters
piece when it crossed the block at Ralph Fontaine’s $183,500, which PSA confirms is a world-record Week sale series kicked off January 29 with 142
Heritage Auction’s unreserved estate sale on Janu- price for a single-signature personalized baseball. paintings and drawings sold across two auctions
ary 26. Described as “museum-quality,” the sculp- The ball was the top lot in Grey Flannel’s January for an overall total of $76.2 million. The Master
ture, depicting full-bodied women and men and 22 auction. In extraordinary condition, the baseball paintings evening sale celebrated Italian artists,
intricately cast with marble medallions inserted in was PSA/DNA authenticated, with the signature as Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s monumental altar-
the base, ultimately brought $13,000, a significant graded a perfect 10. The story behind the ball adds piece Madonna of the Rosary with Angels sold for a
premium above its $5,000 high estimate. Extremely an endearing footnote to Ruth’s life story. In 1948, record $17.3 million, nearly triple the artist’s pre-
heavy, the piece measured 17 inches wide by 24 inch- when his health was failing, Ruth was at a restau- vious auction record. The results of the evening
es tall. For information, www.fontaineheritage.com rant where a waiter approached him with a special sale, which totaled $61.1 million, were up 16 per-
or 413-442-2537. request. The man asked if Ruth would autograph a cent over the same sale in 2018 and marked the
ball for his daughter’s birthday. At first Ruth highest total for any Master paintings sale in New
declined, but later on he returned and asked the York since 2012. For information, 212-606-7000 or
waiter for the girl’s name, which was “Loraine.” www.sothebys.com.
Ruth signed the ball, then left. He passed away the
very next day. For information, 631-288-7800 or
www.greyflannelauctions.com.

Tropical View Triples Artist’s Record Vladimir Kagan’s Daughter Buys His Mid- Canaletto View Leads Christie’s Sale Of
At Helmuth Stone Century Chair At The Benefit Shop Auction Old Master & British Drawings
MT. KISCO, N.Y. — At the Benefit Shop’s January
SARASOTA, FLA. — Helmuth Stone conducted a 15 Red Carpet Auction, a Vladimir Kagan chrome NEW YORK CITY — Christie’s January 28 sale of
fine art, antiques and jewelry auction as its winter and leather chair sold for $1,088. The final price was Old Master and British drawings, including works
feature on January 26 with more than 275 lots not a surprise considering the tag underneath the from the collection of Jean Bonna, totaled
gathered from private collections worldwide. Nota- 36-inch-high, light beige leather chair reads, “Vladi- $5,540,750, with 83 percent sold by value and 73
ble was a Harold Sleichter Etter (1911-1972) paint- mir Kagan Designs,” and it is a classic 1970s, Mid- percent sold by lot. The top lot of the sale was
ing of figures in a tropical coastal setting, likely century Modern style. The surprise came when the Canaletto’s View of the South front of Warwick Cas-
Bahamas. The oil on canvas, 29¾ by 39¾ inches, buyer turned out to be the designer’s daughter, Jes- tle, from the Collection of J.E. Safra, which realized
surpassed its $2,5/5,000 estimate to realize $7,440. sica Kagan-Cushman, who saw the chair online and $915,000. Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697-1768),
That prices tripled the artist’s previous high auc- bought it from her Long Island, N.Y., home. For infor- better known as Canaletto, was a Venetian artist
tion record of $2,440, according to the auction mation, 914-864-0707 or www.thebenefitshop.org. famous for his landscapes, or vedute, of Venice. He
house. For information, www.helmuthstone.com or was also an important printmaker in etching. For
941-260-9703. Andrew Jones Serves Up Tasty information, 212-636-2000 or www.christies.com.
Tiffany Flatware Service
Auction Surprise Sheds New Light John Ford Clymer’s ‘Belgian Horse Farm’
On Crystal Cut Lamp LOS ANGELES — A Tiffany & Co. sterling silver Climbs To $187,500 At Skinner’s
DANIA BEACH, FLA. — A Hampton pattern flatware service for 12, Twenti-
lot described as an early eth Century, set the table for Andrew Jones Auc- BOSTON — At Skinner’s January 23 and 24
mid-Twentieth Century tions at its Downtown Los Angeles Collections and American and European works of art auction, a
bohemian crystal cut lamp Estates Sale on January 26. Bid to $7,500, the ser- painting by the American artist John Ford Clymer
turned out to be a big sur- vice comprised 12 luncheon forks, 12 luncheon (1907-1989), “Belgian Horse Farm,” had a
prise for Akiba Antiques at knives, 12 salad forks, 12 butter spreaders, 12 des- $40/60,000 estimate. The 38-by-30-inch oil on can-
its January 21 estates sale. sert forks, 12 round bowl soup/dessert spoons, 12 vas was a cover illustration for The Saturday Eve-
“It came from a warehouse cocktail forks, 12 iced teaspoons, 24 teaspoons and ning Post and a label from the Curtis Publishing
in Miami,” said company seven serving pieces. Total weighable silver was Company, owner of the magazine, was affixed to
representative Alexander approximately 163 troy ounces. For information, the frame backing. From the collection of Robert
Anapolsky. “It appeared to 213-748-8008 or www.andrewjonesauctions.com. Fuoss, former editor at The Saturday Evening Post,
be just a regular bohemian then by descent within the family, it sold at
vase, but it turned out to be $187,500, tripling its high estimate. For informa-
something completely differ- tion, www.skinnerinc.com or 508-970-3000.
ent. We had five telephone
bidders and multiple bid-
ders across several plat-
forms.” What sold for
$10,000 was not a run-of-
the-mill bohemian lamp but
a lamp that had been made
by the storied Boston and
Sandwich Glass Company.
Standing 29 inches high, it featured a crystal body
in an overall blue tint fitted atop a three-tier bronze
and marble base; the top was inserted with a wick
light. The Boston and Sandwich Glass Company
was incorporated in 1826 to hold the glass factory
built a year earlier in Sandwich, Mass., by Deming
Jarves. The factory was closed in 1888. For informa-
tion, 305-332-9274 or www.akibaantiques.com.

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 23

Call For Consignments—

Annual Art Auction Has March 7 Consignment Deadline

ROCKPORT, MASS. — The Last year’s feature consignment: “Winter Scene” by Aldro T. Last year’s feature consignment: “Fishermen at Pigeon
Rockport Art Association & Hibbard (1886-1972), oil, 9 by 12 inches, sold for $4,600. Cove” by Emma Fordyce MacRae (1887-1974), oil, 25 by 30
Museum (RAA&M) is current- inches, fetched $9,775.
ly accepting consignment sub-
missions of works by historic Ann artists, and has been the PO Bo x 2 90 ; Wh i te P l a in s , N . Y. 1 0 6 0 5
American artists, highlighting RAA&M’s major annual fund-
the Cape Ann School, for its raising event ever since.
annual art auction. The con-
signment deadline is Satur- For more information about
day, March 7, and the auction the Rockport Art Association &
will be conducted on Saturday, Museum and its annual art
May 2, in the RAA&M’s Hib- auction, www.rockportartassn.
bard Gallery. org/auction.

Each year, this prestigious To make an appointment or to
fundraising event attracts inquire about consigning, con-
serious collectors from across tact Margaret Redington at
the United States, as well as 978-546-6604 or auction@rock-
those just starting an art col- portartassn.org.
lection. The auction features
works by master Cape Ann Last year’s feature consign-
artists of the past such as: ment: “South Street Rain by
Aldro T. Hibbard, Anthony Anthony Thieme (1888-
Thieme, Emile Gruppé, Harry 1954), oil, 20 by 24 inches,
A. Vincent, W. Lester Stevens, realized $6,900.
Max Kuehne, Marguerite Pear-
son, Antonio Cirino, Carl
Peters, Frederick Mulhaupt,
Jane Peterson, Emma Fordyce
MacRae and many more.

The RAA&M auction special-
izes in Cape Ann art but is not
limited to this region and also
includes works by numerous
other prominent historic Ameri-
can artists.

The auction, now in its 35th
year, began with a bequest by
founding member Antonio
Cirino (1888-1983). Cirino left
his artwork to the association
with the stipulation that the
art be auctioned to help sup-
port the organization. The
auction quickly evolved to
include other historic Cape

South Carolina’s Confederate Relic Room Ponders Name Change

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South alter any historic names or mon- flag. He thought it was a political Union in the Civil War.
Carolina’s military museum cov- uments. item that didn’t need to be in a “A lot of these flags have gun-
ers 250 years of artifacts and sto- military museum beside flags
ries of brave soldiers fighting for Once the Confederate flag came that went into battle, including powder, blood, bullet holes —
their country, from men with down permanently in 2015 — one from an unit of African they were what 18- and 19-year-
muskets facing the British before with Roberson delegated to put American soldiers from South old boys died fighting under,”
the United States was even a on white gloves and take the Carolina who fought for the Roberson said in June 2017.
country to troops who fought in final flag to his museum as part “This is not the same thing.”
Afghanistan. of the quickly put together cere-
mony — House speaker Jay
But the museum’s official name Lucas issued a statement saying
— the South Carolina Confeder- the House wouldn’t take up any
ate Relic Room and Military other discussion over Confeder-
Museum — is stuck in the four ate monuments and names while
years that South Carolinians did he is speaker.
not fight for the US.
The Daughters of the Confed-
And when anything involving eracy helped raise the money to
the Confederacy comes up, it open the museum in what was
drags on fund raising and even then one of the poorest states in
admissions at the museum, the county in 1896.
executive director Allen Rober-
son said. When Roberson made his
15-minute budget presentation
The American Alliance of Muse- Tuesday to a handful of South
ums Accreditation recently sug- Carolina House members, he
gested the museum could make mentioned the Civil War just
it easier on itself by eliminating once, answering a question from
“Confederate” from its name. a representative about a project
to conserve its existing collection
Roberson has his own reason of uniforms.
for suggesting the change. “The
name right now is too long. And Instead, Roberson spent most
what do you think about when of his time talking about a full
you hear relic? I prefer artifacts,” bottle of whisky the museum
said Roberson, who said a relic obtained from the final survivor
would be a small bottle of sand of a group of three friends in
from a desert battle while an World War I and a huge Vietnam
artifact would be the pen a pres- War exhibition planned to open
ident used to sign a declaration Labor Day,
of war.
Roberson told lawmakers Tues-
Right now, the suggestion to day that attendance at the muse-
drop “Confederate Relic Room” um was finally back on the rise.
is just a part of the long-term It dropped 5,000 people — about
strategic plan for the museum 20% — in the year after the
Roberson is writing, based on museum handled that final Con-
suggestions from the accredita- federate flag with a vague,
tion group. It was also discussed unfunded mandate to display it
at a recent meeting of the muse- properly. The first proposal was a
um’s board. $4 million multimedia display
that included massive renova-
But any change in the name tions. It was roundly criticized.
will have to come from lawmak-
ers, and that would be an uphill After years of wrangling, the
fight. A law passed in 2000, when flag was quietly put in a $1,400
the state moved the Confederate viewing case hanging between
flag from atop the statehouse two offices amid a display of
dome to a pole by a monument on other historical South Carolina
the capitol lawn, requires a two- flags in November 2018.
thirds vote of the legislature to
Roberson never wanted the

24 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

Does Sotheby’s Marvelous Mario Buatta Sale
Foretell The Return Of Antiques?

Auction Action In New York City

Sotheby’s recreated the 1984 Kips Bay Show House bed- NEW YORK CITY — “To friend and biographer. Repre- gan years, Buatta had recently
room that made Buatta famous and earned him the sobri- flourish, pretty people and senting the estate, Eerdmans, decorated an apartment for
quet “the Prince of Chintz.” Three pairs of curtains sold for pretty things need to be seen.” intent on honoring a man newswoman Barbara Walters
just over low estimate, $6,875. The pair of George II mahog- Thus Thatcher Freund begins whose contributions to design when in 1984 the media
any hall chairs realized $8,750 ($1,2/1,800); the Gothick style his 1993 book on collecting, are in her view not yet fully dubbed him the “Prince of
mahogany torcheres, $4,375 ($6/900). Objects of Desire, opening with recognized, lobbied hard for Chintz,” a moniker he cheer-
a vivid description of then Win- the blockbuster sale, complete fully embraced and did much
ter Show chairman Mario with its two-volume, library- to promote.
Buatta (1935-2018) and the worthy catalog and sweeping
social world he inhabited, from exhibition. He “designed interiors for a
the luxe interiors of New York, certain kind of American roy-
Palm Beach and Beverly Hills Its contents drawn from alty — for Doubledays, Forbes
to glittering opening nights at Buatta’s residences in New and Newhouses, two presi-
the Park Avenue Armory. York and Connecticut, plus five dents and Mariah Carey,”
storage units, the sale acknowl- wrote The New York Times.
Buatta’s sense of life as a edged the designer’s devoted “Mario could charm anyone,
stage and his own role on it — and far-flung following. “People from Malcolm Forbes to young
part mercurial artist, part forget how famous Mario was, society women,” says New York
courtier, part brand ambassa- the most famous designer in designer Ralph Harvard, who
dor — underlie the stunning America in the 1980s and worked for Buatta in the 1980s.
success of Sotheby’s January 1990s. While he wasn’t the
23-24 auction of the late deco- first interior designer to This is not to understate
rator’s personal collection, license products, he did it in a Buatta’s talent. “He had a
which garnered nearly $7.6 big, successful way. He once great eye for beauty and a ter-
million on 922 lots sold. The told me he made a million dol- rific sense of color. Mario could
sale’s triumph is a credit to lars on his sheets,” Eerdmans pick up beautiful things —
Sotheby’s masterful presenta- recalls. maybe you didn’t look at them
tion, orchestrated by specialist too closely — but they were
in charge Dennis Harrington A great popularizer of the fantastic objects. People want-
and design historian Emily English country house style, ed them,” says Harvard, unsur-
Evans Eerdmans, Buatta’s which swept the United States prised by the sale’s robust
during the excess-is-best Rea- results. Comfort, exemplified

Review and Onsite Photos
by Laura Beach, Editor At Large
Additional Images Courtesy Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s impeccable staging plumped the sale’s $7.6 mil-
lion bottom line. An opening vignette shows the young soci-
ety decorator. Right is a Tuscan Neoclassical giltwood mir-
ror, $17,500 ($4/6,000). The pair of seven-tier earthenware
pagodas flanking the mirror went for $4,750 ($5/700).

“These paintings are my ancestors. Seriously, I love dogs,” The sale’s top lot, at $212,500 ($40/60,000) Buatta’s circa 1730 Chinese export lac-
the ever jocular Buatta, left, said. The top selling dog por- was the oil on canvas “Deux Maisons” by quered bureau cabinet sold for $162,500
trait, right, was Frances C. Fairman’s “The Boxer Rebel- Yuri Pavlovich Annenkov (1889-1974), a ($50/80,000), making it the sale’s most expen-
lion,” $50,000 ($10/15,000). The 1902 oil symbolizes the Boxer Russian painter whose portraits have sive piece of furniture. The interiors of the
Protocol, a peace treaty signed by Great Britain and France fetched as much as $6.2 million publicly. cabinet doors were probably once mirrored
in 1901. The Regency mirror above the painting fetched The work originally belonged to Philadel- and the hardware is replaced. The pair of
$25,000 ($4/6,000); the pair of George III giltwood wall lights, phian Maurice J. Speiser and later fashion Chinese-style glazed earthenware pagodas
$3,750; the delft tobacco jars, $3,750; and the George III gilt- designer Norman Norell. The chairs are made $6,000.
wood oval-back armchairs, $5,625. from a set of four in the manner of Ince and
Mayhew, $2,500. The table is from a George
II-style pair, $11,875 ($2/3,000).

“A screen is a decorator’s best friend. It can hide a multitude of sins, it creates atmosphere,
and it makes a dramatic statement,” Buatta liked to say. This Twentieth Century, eight-
panel Chinese example trounced its $2/3,000 estimate to bring $56,250.
“Pattern on pattern, pillow on pillow,” is how one contemporary designer described the
Buatta look. The pillows shown here were part of two lots sold for $10,000 and $3,250. The
George III-style painted garden bench is from a pair, $13,750 ($4/6,000). Right, the George
III giltwood mirror reached $6,000; the circa 1820 Staffordshire pearlware portrait bust of
Caroline of Brunswick, $13,750. The small painted bench is one of pair that made $6,000.

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 25

Sotheby’s hosted a luncheon for decorators and designers, This pair of George II-style cabinets incor-
many longtime friends of Buatta. Here, Adrienne Vittadini porate earlier Chinese lacquered panels.
and Martha Stewart share a word. Amy Fine Collins and Auctioned as part of the collection of CBS
Hilary Geary Ross, wife of Commerce Secretary Wilbur chairman William S. Paley in 2004, they
Ross, are glimpsed behind them. Photo courtesy Sotheby’s. resold for $50,000 ($6/9,000).

The sale was brilliantly orchestrated by
Buatta biographer and design historian
Emily Eerdmans and specialist in charge
Dennis Harrington.

A late Twentieth Century silver and bamboo flatware service Buatta embraced the moniker “Prince of Prices for porcelain vegetables staggered
by the Italian manufacturer Buccellati sparked the most Chintz,” even preserving the cape that sold the imagination, as when this late Eigh-
competition, with 28 bidders vying for the 174-piece set. The for $1,500. The late Eighteenth Century teenth or early Nineteenth Century aspara-
lot brought $93,750 ($5/7,000). A new three-piece setting in the George III carved and painted fireplace gus box and cover realized $35,000
“Tahiti” line retails on the Buccellati website for $1,600. surround and overmantel with matching ($1,5/2,500).
architectural elements in the form of palm
by the cushiest of sofas and fronds achieved $47,500 ($15/20,000). The
well-placed lighting, added to Dutch delft mantel garniture reached $6,875
the interiors’ appeal. ($3/5,000); the George III mirror, $6,000; and
the Chinese jardinieres, $9,375.
“Pattern upon pattern, pillow
upon pillow” is how one lead- Souvenirs included three Estimated at $2/3,000, this Regency pen-
ing dealer recently described Buatta chintz teddy bears, work table chest of drawers of circa 1815
the Buatta look. The decora- $2,250, and a group of Louis left the room at $52,500. It had previously
tor’s freely given style advice, Vuitton cases with “MB” belonged to society doyenne Brooke Astor.
collected in the catalog, offers monogram, $4,000 ($1,2/1,800).
further insight: “Color is a Yuri Pavlovich Annenkov. This pair of Chinese blue and white tulip
mood setter. It can make you vases made for export fetched $68,750
feel great. But people have a The best performing catego- ($15/20,000). Sold by Mallet at Bourdon House
fear of color. They’re afraid of ries were lacquered and in London in 1983, these Kangxi examples
what their friends will say or japanned furniture and ceram- are inspired by Dutch delft originals.
not say. White is glum and ics. Buatta owned 20 ceramic
beige is boring. I’m Italian.” services, plus garnitures, jardi- thing I’ve ever bought has 20s and low 30s who are loving is offering 1,500 lots from the
Three perfect colors, the deco- nieres and other accent pieces. always reminded me of some- all this stuff. I see it on Insta- decorator’s estate in two sales
rator insisted, were “lemon- Eerdmans says, “The ceramics thing I’ve already seen, some- gram all the time. The Buatta split between March and April.
yellow, leaf-green and Prus- were a revelation to me. I place, sometime,” noted the preview was packed. I have a Virginia dealer Kinsey Marable
sian-blue.” hadn’t realized what a porce- decorator, who lived long feeling that this is a turning & Co. has meanwhile acquired
lain junkie he was. The quality enough to regret what he saw point, that it’s really slamming Buatta’s library and will be
Apricot, evoking the walls of was probably the highest of as dwindling interest in “brown home. I wouldn’t call what’s offering highlights for sale.
Buatta’s parlor-floor Neo-Geor- any category.” furniture and old silver,” things, emerging the English country
gian apartment on East 80th he said, “give a room warmth.” look, but people are hungry for Prices as reported by the auc-
Street, and the famous “buttah Buatta often said that heir- beautiful, colorful objects,” tion house include buyer’s pre-
yella” of English decorator looms made a room. “Every- Does the marvelous Mario says Harvard. mium.
Nancy Lancaster, of whom Buatta sale portend an end to
Buatta was a disciple, had star minimalist conformity in inte- Sotheby’s sale of Buatta prop- Sotheby’s New York is at 1334
turns in the enticing rooms rior design? “There is a hard- erty was only the beginning. York Avenue. For further infor-
Sotheby’s created in partner- core group of people in their Stair Galleries of Hudson, N.Y., mation, www.sothebys.com or
ship with Rush Jenkins of WRJ 212-606-7000.
Interior Design. In all, 4,000
visitors toured the galleries.
Eerdmans’ insistence on
installing a monumentally
scaled backdrop that Buatta
had fashioned for a San Fran-
cisco designer showhouse pro-
vided “the Instagram moment”
of a sale shared online in an
almost cult-like fashion.

Eight auctioneers presided
over the 22-hour sale, which
drew more than 1,200 bidders,
many of them online. The top
lot, at $212,500, was the
uncharacteristically understat-
ed “Deux Maisons,” a Parisian
street scene by Russian painter

26 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

INTERNATIONAL Compiled By
Antiques and The Arts Weekly

Madelia Hickman Ring

Historic Royal Palaces Acquires Queen Victoria’s Boots, Royal Outfit

ETWALL, DERBYSHIRE, beloved Prince Albert, and The remarkable collection,
U.K. — Queen Victoria’s cloth- highlight how— in an era of treasured through generations
ing and boots have been saved black and white photography of the same family for more
for the nation and are set to — she exploited clothing’s than 100 years, belonged to
join a world-famous collection capacity to communicate, using 63-year-old electrical engineer
of royal dress. The historical it as a potent visual symbol of Roderick Williams from Colt-
treasures — found in a Norfolk her undying love for her hus- ishall, near Norwich, Norfolk.
wardrobe — went under the band.” He was in the saleroom to
hammer at Derbyshire’s Han- watch lot after lot sell to both
sons Auctioneers on January Charles Hanson, owner of international and UK bidders
21 and sold for a total of more Hansons, said, “I’m delighted via telephone and internet bids.
than $22,000. Hansons has been able to play After the sale, Williams said,
its part in helping these impor- “I was pleased with the result.
Bids came from around the tant historical treasures find a Some items sold for more than
globe for Queen Victoria’s new home. In fact, some of I expected, others for less. I
boots, bodices, skirt, chemise, them are going home. Queen thought Queen Victoria’s
stockings, parasol and bloom- Victoria was born in Kensing- bloomers may have sold for
ers. Though some international ton Palace in 1819. Her cloth- more but most of the items did
buyers were successful in ing and boots have been saved very well. They are all family
obtaining items, two pairs of for posterity for all to see and heirlooms which were original-
leather boots by J Sparks-Hall enjoy for years to come.” ly given to my great-great-
of London, a black taffeta skirt Hansons’ staff member Emma Carberry with the royal grandfather, Alexander
and two bodices were secured clothing. Mark Laban photo courtesy Hansons. The highest individual prices Lamont Henderson. He worked
for a total of $18,000 by His- achieved were for a pair of as a royal photographer for
toric Royal Palaces, an inde- Ceremonial Dress Collection, our understanding of both the brown kid leather boots, two Queen Victoria up to her death
pendent charity which looks an internationally significant public image and private life of Victorian bodices, circa 1880- in 1901. We think the clothes
after London’s Kensington Pal- collection of more than 10,000 one of Britain’s most instantly 90, and, from the same period, were probably given to him by
ace, Victoria’s place of birth, items of royal and court dress recognizable monarchs. As well a black taffeta skirt embel- servants in the royal house-
alongside five other former cared for by Historic Royal Pal- as being included in future dis- lished in lace and jet. Each of hold, perhaps in return for tak-
royal residences. aces. As the definitive collec- plays, these items reveal that, these three lots sold for $5,200. ing photographs of them.”
tion of clothing relating to contrary to popular belief, A second pair of Queen Victo- Hansons Auctioneers and Val-
Claudia Alcott Williams, col- Queen Victoria’s long widow- Queen Victoria did not aban- ria’s leather boots, circa 1880, uers, Ltd, are at Heage Lane.
lections curator at Historic hood, these objects will make don all interest in her appear- sold for $2,600 and a pair of For information, www.hanson-
Royal Palaces, said, “These an important contribution to ance after the death of her large silk bloomers bearing a sauctioneers.co.uk.
acquisitions are an incredibly crown stitched into the fabric
exciting addition to the Royal made $850.

Tilda Swinton Backs Public Appeal New Bedford Whaling Museum Opens
To Buy Derek Jarman House Maritime Exhibition In Cape Verde

Academy Award-winning actress Tilda Swinton is photographed at Slade School of Fine TARRAFAL DE SAO NICOLAU, CAPE VERDE — The New
Art, London, Wednesday January 22, 2020, during the launch to urge art-lovers to contrib- Bedford Whaling Museum has opened a collaborative exhibition
ute to an appeal to save the home of late British artist and filmmaker Derek Jarman for at the recently inaugurated Museu da Pesca in São Nicolau.
the public. (Ian West/PA via AP). Titled “A caça à baleia nos mares de Cabo Verde” (Whaling in Our
Cape Verdean Seas), the exhibition highlights Cape Verdeans’
By Jill Lawless AIDS-related illness at 52, leav- eral Jarman films, including The involvement in the global whaling industry with the introduction
LONDON (AP) — Academy ing the house to companion Garden and Edward II, said the of Yankee whalers to Cape Verdean shores. Curators at the Whal-
Award-winning actress Tilda Keith Collins, who died in 2018. “small, black-painted wooden ing Museum assisted the Museu da Pesca in designing and
Swinton has urged art lovers to house with yolk-yellow window installing the exhibition after the museum’s inauguration last
chip in and help save the home Britain’s Art Fund has until frames” would be “inspirational November. The exhibition is a permanent installation.
of the late British artist and March 31 to raise 3.5 million medicine” for future artists.
filmmaker Derek Jarman for pounds ($4.6 million) to avoid The new exhibition was mounted under a 2015 agreement
the public. the house being sold on the open She said Jarman would be between New Bedford Whaling Museum and the government of
Jarman, whose radical and market. That sum will buy the “extremely enthusiastic” about a Cabo Verde. Under this agreement, objects gifted or on loan from
experimental films included property, pay for its upkeep and plan to preserve it, even though the whaling museum have been on display at the Museu do Mar
Caravaggio and The Last of allow it to be opened to artists he once said he wanted his work in São Vicente since 2016. The whaling museum also agreed to
England, lived for eight years in and the public. Half the money to “evaporate” after his death. provide the Museu da Pesca — which was still under construction
Prospect Cottage, a former fish- has already been raised from at the time — with objects and exhibit panels after its inaugura-
erman’s hut on a pebble beach at public bodies and charities, and Swinton said opening the cot- tion.
Dungeness in southeast Eng- the fund launched a crowdfund- tage to the public would allow
land. He filled the house with ing appeal Wednesday for the “future artists, thinkers, activ- The inauguration was a historic marker of the diplomatic rela-
art and created a colorful garden rest. ists, gardeners to gain from it tionship between the United States and Cabo Verde, which has
that still draws visitors to the the practical and spiritual nour- lasted for more than two centuries. Historic ties go back even fur-
stark headland, which is over- Leading artists, including Jer- ishment it lent him.” ther: Eighteenth Century Cape Verdean mariners joined the
shadowed by a nuclear power emy Deller, Tacita Dean, Isaac crews of American whaleships in pursuit of opportunity and over
plant. Julien and Wolfgang Tillmans The plan also calls for the Tate time, friends and family followed. The Port of New Bedford served
Jarman died in 1994 of an have given works to reward Britain gallery to receive Jar- as a veritable “Cape Verdean Ellis Island.” Successive waves of
donors who give to the appeal. man’s archive of notebooks, immigration from Cabo Verde and other Portuguese-speaking
sketches, drawings, letters and countries have made the region home to the largest Lusophone
Swinton, who appeared in sev- photos. community in the United States.

Dignitaries in attendance at the Museu da Pesca inauguration
included the Mayor of Tarrafal, José Freitas de Brito; Prime Min-
ister Dr Paulo Veiga, Cabo Verde Secretary of State for the Mari-
time Economy; and the US Ambassador to Cabo Verde, Jeff
Daigle.

Among the objects on display is a model of the packet ship
Ernestina, which the museum gifted to the Museu da Pesca to
highlight Cape Verdean migration to the United States via the
packet industry after the decline of whaling.

Dr Akeia Benard, New Bedford Whaling Museum curator of
social history, played a pivotal role in mounting the new exhibi-
tion. Benard traveled to Cabo Verde in December 2017 to take an
inventory of objects and panels and monitor the progress of the
Museu da Pesca. After the inauguration, she returned to assist
the museum’s curatorial team with the design and installation of
the new exhibition.

In 2018, Benard learned that her great-grandfather was a whal-
er from the island nation who arrived in New Bedford in 1917 on
the packet Indiana and then was a boat steerer aboard the bark
Wanderer in 1918 and 1921. When installing the new exhibition,
she and her colleagues in São Nicolau included a photograph of
her great-grandfather standing at the bow of the Wanderer and
readying his harpoon. “It was quite an experience to be able to
‘return’ him and his story to Cabo Verde as part of the celebration
of the enduring connections between our two countries,” she said.

The Museu da Pesca is at Avenida Assis Cadório. For informa-
tion, http://sucla.cv/.

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 27

Van Eyck’s Optical Revolution

GHENT, BELGIUM — On view cess. The restoration also of mobile merchants, created the Anonymous (Southern Low Countries), after Jan van Eyck
through April 30 at the Museum inspired the MSK to create this ideal climate in which Van Eyck’s (circa 1390-1441), “The Triptych of Petrus Wyts,” first half
of Fine Arts, Ghent (Museum exhibition. revolution could take place. Seventeenth Century (central panel), first half Sixteenth
voor Schone Kunsten, MSK) is Century (outer panels), oil on panel, 67¾ by 39 inches (172 x
the exhibition, “Van Eyck. An For one time, and with the After this contextualizing of the 99 cm), shutters 67¾ by 16-1/8 inches (172 x 41 cm),
Optical Revolution.” There are utmost exception, the eight Fifteenth Century environment Groeningemuseum, Bruges, ©www.lukasweb.be — Art in
only about 20 paintings and restored panels of the closed and the origin of Van Eyck’s Flanders vzw. Hugo Maertens photo.
drawings by Jan van Eyck (circa altarpiece, along with the presen- work, the visitor delves into the
1390-1441) preserved worldwide. tation of Adam and Eve that are richness and masterly detail of optical revolution in a broader based tempera. While Van Eyck
More than half of them will be on not yet restored, are being dis- his optical revolution. In an out- perspective, his works are carried out his innovations, the
view in the MSK, along with played as separate paintings out- right impressive ensemble of brought together with exception- Italian painters experimented in
works from his studio, copies of side the walls of St Bavo’s Cathe- some 140 panel paintings, minia- al loans of Italian contemporaries turn with space and introduced
lost works by the master and dral in Ghent. Moreover, they are tures, drawings and sculptures, such as Fra Angelico, Paolo mathematical perspective.
more than 100 other masterpiec- being exhibited at eye level so Van Eyck himself steps into the Uccello, Pisanello, Masaccio and
es. The “optical revolution” that that the splendid colors, the bril- foreground. Benozzo Gozzoli. In contrast to The Museum of Fine Arts,
Van Eyck brought about 600 liant details and the nearly tan- Van Eyck, who painted in oils, Ghent, is at Fernand Scribedreef
years ago continues to fascinate gible rendering of materials can The exterior panels of the the Italians worked with egg- 1. For additional information,
to this day. Never before has the be admired up close by everyone. Ghent Altarpiece guide the visi- www.mskgent.be.
art lover come so close to the It will be the first and last time tor through the exhibition and
mastery of van Eyck in what is that a visitor can come this close are the anchors for various
the largest exhibition that has to the hand of van Eyck. The themes such as “Sin and Salva-
ever been dedicated to this MSK is extremely grateful to the tion,” “Space,” “Mother and
genius. cathedral for this generosity. Child,” “Saints in a Landscape,”
“The Divine Portrait,” “The Word
The core of the exhibition con- The exhibition, which is spread of God,” “Architecture,” “The
sists of eight exterior panels of out over 13 museum halls, opens Painted Sculpture” and “The
the closed “Ghent Altarpiece,” with a sketch of the luxurious Individual” with Van Eyck’s
done in 1432 by Hubert and Jan and ambulatory Burgundian famous portraits of contempo-
van Eyck. Between 2012 and court life in the Low Countries. raries.
2016, the Royal Institute for Cul- In the introductory halls, Van
tural Heritage (KIK) restored Eyck emerges as the chamber- The route carries the visitor
these panels in the MSK. The lain and court painter of the Bur- from panoramic vistas to
results of the restoration, where- gundian Duke, Philip the Good enclosed, contemplative spaces; it
by after the removal of old layers (1396-1467), and as an important evokes the interchange between
of varnish and overpainted por- player in the urban network. The the material and the spiritual;
tions the original masterpiece interchange between the court zooms in on the macro and the
came into full view, provided a and flourishing cities such as micro-cosmos and evolves from
new “look” into Van Eyck’s pro- Ghent and Bruges, with their late-medieval society to the indi-
artisanal environment and circle vidual.

In order to place Jan van Eyck’s

Coins Of Islam: Louvre Permanently Installs
History Revealed Elias Crespin Kinetic Work

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — “Coins of Islam: His- PARIS — To mark the 30th anniversary of the “L’Onde du Midi” by Elias Crespin © Elias
tory Revealed” which will be on view at the Sheikh Zayed Pyramid, the Musée du Louvre has commissioned Crespin. Pascal Maillard photo.
Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC) in Abu Dhabi until April 28, another major public artwork, inviting Venezuelan decorative artworks by Charles Le Brun and
underlines the history and cultural legacy of Islamic coins contemporary artist Elias Crespin to design a new Eugène Delacroix (Galerie d’Apollon), Georges
across centuries. The exhibition was curated and organized by permanent piece for the museum. Consisting of 128 Braque (The Birds, a ceiling painting executed in
Dr Alain Baron, founder of Numismatica Genevensis SA and metal tubes hanging from motor-powered cables, 1953 in Salle Henri II) as well as, more recently,
features more than 300 coins from one of the world’s most sig- the artist’s kinetic creation, “L’Onde du Midi,” will Anselm Kiefer (Athanor, 2007, northeast staircase
nificant collections of Arab and Islamic coinage ever assem- perform its subtle choreography at the top of the of the Cour Carrée), François Morellet (L’Esprit
bled. The exhibition, taking place following the 2019 “Year of Escalier du Midi in the southeast corner of the Cour d’Escalier, 2010, Lefuel staircase) and Cy Twombly
Tolerance” in the UAE, is the first to be held in the Sheikh Carrée. Crespin thus follows in the footsteps of lead- (The Ceiling, 2010, Bronzes room).
Zayed Grand Mosque Centre’s new permanent galleries and ing contemporary art figures who have created
reflects the m osque’s status as a leading platform for cross- works for the Louvre, such as Anselm Kiefer (2007), Born in Venezuela in 1965, Crespin studied com-
cultural and intellectual dialogue and exchange. François Morellet (2010) and Cy Twombly (2010). puter engineering in Caracas. The son of mathema-
ticians and grandson of artists, his approach brings
“Coins of Islam: History Revealed” aims to provide the public An example from the artist’s “Plano Flexionante” together the twin worlds of science and art. The art-
with a new perspective on the past, while giving them a richer series, the sculpture is made up of parallel rows of ist’s mobile sculptures have since entered presti-
understanding of the present and of the historical forces that 128 cylindrical tubes suspended in midair by invisi- gious institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts,
continue to shape our world today. Starting in the pre-Islamic ble cables. When still, the ethereal mobile becomes a Houston; El Museo del Barrio in New York; and the
period, the exhibition takes visitors on a journey across space rectangular horizontal plane some 32 feet in length. MALBA in Buenos Aires. The artist has been living
and time, shedding light on the achievements of individual In perpetual motion, the piece seems unaffected by and working in Paris since 2008.
civilizations while highlighting the commonalities between gravity, moving through space at a height of 10 to 15
them. Through the medium of coins, it charts the emergence feet in sequences regulated by numerical algo- The Louvre is at Rue de Rivoli. For information,
and spread of Islam and the Arabic language and explores the rithms. This non-linear, undulating mechanical www.louvre.fr.
religion’s long history of engaging with other cultures and dance invites visitors to slow down and contemplate
faiths. This exhibition celebrates women’s role in assisting the enchanting work. The motor turning the piece
and supporting the growth of societies and building civiliza- will make a full rotation in 30 minutes.
tions across history through dedicating an entire section that
highlights their presence and prominent role across various As though hypnotized, the spectator is drawn into
civilizations and cultures of the world. the slow, graceful interplay of shapes, with its unex-
pected and infinite variations. The mobile’s spatial
Dr Alain Baron, the founder of Numismatica Genevensis, configurations are endlessly surprising: the shapes
said: “One of the world’s most significant collections of Arab expand, become level, and diffract, substituting
and Islamic coinage ever assembled, the exhibition will cele- chaos for order, complexity for simplicity. As the
brate the splendors and achievements of the Islamic civiliza- stage of a mute ballet, the Escalier du Midi serves
tion across centuries and the unique perspective on that his- as a “rest area” for museum visitors.
tory afforded by its coins. It is our absolute honor to
emphasize the SZGMC’s mission as a center of learning and Combining science and art, Crespin’s creations
knowledge and to highlight the unique and profound role dialogue with the spectator, examining the concepts
that numismatics plays in our understanding of history and of shape, space, movement and time. Creative intu-
culture.” ition and scientific rigor meet in his display of the
laws of the universe – “L’Onde du Midi” — reflecting
His Excellency, Abdurrahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, the former computer engineer’s interests.
chairman of the board of trustees of Sheikh Zayed Grand
Mosque Centre, stated that “Islamic history and culture The artist commented: “I have always been inter-
inspired this exhibition in line with the SZGMC’s vision. Since ested in shapes and logic. I am also intrigued by sen-
its establishment, the Centre has become a leading cultural sory pleasures and perception; I enjoy beautiful sun-
destination, serving as a beacon of intellect and reason sets, for instance. On the other hand, I also
through its various activities. By displaying historical arti- appreciate more complex ideas, such as the func-
facts, like these extraordinary coins, SZGMC aims to under- tions and properties of circles and triangles, and
line the rich history and cultural legacy of successive Islamic drawings that can generate certain mathematical
eras across centuries.” relations.”

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre is at Sheikh This project continues a longstanding tradition at
Rashid Bin Saeed Street. For information, https://www.szgmc. the Louvre, which has since its inception been an
gov.ae/en/. architectural setting for painted and sculpted com-
missions from living artists. The building features

28 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

Koppel & Laffi Drive Heritage
Silver Auctions Over $1.77 Million In 2019

Auction Action In Dallas

DALLAS — A Henning Kop- This Henning Koppel silver fish dish and cover no. 1026 for Georg Jen-
pel silver fish dish and cover sen, “Cod Fish,” Copenhagen, designed 1954, was the top silver lot of
sold for $87,500, claiming top- 2019, selling at $87,500.
lot honors for the year and lead-
ing Heritage Auctions’ silver Graziella Laffi, a large and important silver snake bowl, Lima, Peru,
department to $1,771,421 in circa 1970, sold at $12,500.
total sales in 2019.
1052: The Swan for Georg Jen- snake bowl, circa 1970 ($12,500); dinner plates, London, 1737, designed 1907, manufactured
“This has been an exciting sen, Copenhagen, designed a silver necklace and cuff, circa which sold for $15,000. circa 1949 ($11,875); a 489-
year, with strong interest span- 1956, which drew $17,500. 1960-70 ($4,500); and a large piece Stieff Co. repoussé pat-
ning the best of well-known silver vase, circa 1970 ($3,000). In addition, silver steadily tern flatware service, Balti-
designs by Henning Koppel for Demand was high for silver by gained popularity in Heritage more, introduced in 1828
Georg Jensen to the little- Graziella Laffi, who came from Interest thrived for early Auctions’ fine and decorative ($7,500); and a 24-piece Puifor-
known works by the Peruvian- a family of artists and designed American silver, such as a rare arts monthly online auctions. cat Royal pattern silver flat-
Italian silversmith, Graziella and made extraordinary jewel- Francis Richardson Sr silver The department’s annual total ware service for six, Paris,
Laffi,” Heritage Auctions silver ry and hollowware that inter- tankard, Philadelphia, circa also included $112,602 in the designed in the Eighteenth
and decorative arts director mingled pre-Columbian imag- 1710 that sold for $23,750; a department’s weekly sales. Century ($6,875).
Karen Rigdon said. “Strong bid- ery and techniques with modern Gorham Mfg. Company partial Among the 2019 highlights
ding has been seen across cate- design concepts. gilt-silver wine cooler made for from monthly auctions were a Heritage Auctions is at 3500
gories from Early American sil- Charles M. Schwab, Providence, seven-piece Reed & Barton Maple Avenue. For further
ver to contemporary design. We Just some of the top Laffi lots 1906, which brought $16,250 or Francis I Pattern silver tea and information, www.ha.com or
continue to seek the best and from Lima, Peru, included a 12 David Willaume II silver coffee service, Taunton, Mass., 877-437-4824.
rarest works to feed the inter- large and important silver
ests of our growing clientele.”

Heritage Auctions’ November
7 fine silver and decorative arts
auction amassed $978,864 in
total sales, and the April 24 fine
silver and objets de vertu auc-
tion realized $697,955.

The silver fish dish and cover
that became the year’s top lot
was not the only piece by Kop-
pel for Jensen that fared well;
the list also included a Henning
Koppel silver water pitcher no.

Antoine Blanchard’s Nostalgic Parisian
Street Scenes At Rehs Galleries

NEW YORK CITY – Rehs Antoine Blanchard (1910-1988), “Place de la Concorde,” oil Antoine Blanchard (1910-1988), “La Madeleine,” oil on can-
Galleries is presenting an on canvas, 13 by 18 inches, signed. vas, 13 by 18 inches, signed.
exhibition of Parisian street
scenes by French artist his studies in drawing at Blois, returned to his art in 1942, Paris at the turn of the centu- strokes to create a distinctive
Antoine Blanchard (1910- continuing at the Ecole des but a short time later his ry; the scenery may be almost haziness that enveloped his
1988). On view through Febru- Beaux-Arts, Rennes, where he father passed away and the same, but daily life… has scenes. Amy Rehs, a recog-
ary 28, the exhibit features was awarded the school’s high- Blanchard felt compelled to totally changed. In his paint- nized world expert on the art-
examples of the artist’s work est honor, Le Prix du Ministre. return to his hometown and ings, Antoine Blanchard ist, said, “Over the past few
dating from the 1950s-70s, run the family business. By invites us to relive this period decades, we have seen mount-
with views of Place Vendôme, To continue his studies, the end of the decade, and fol- by showing us pleasant strolls ing interest in authentic
Place de la Concorde, Notre- Blanchard left Rennes and lowing the birth of his second along embankments, squares paintings by Blanchard.
Dame, Théâtre du Vaudeville, traveled to Paris — a city that daughter, Blanchard turned and boulevards at a period in Today, more than ever, collec-
the Arc de Triomphe and many would consume his oeuvre. He the family business over to his Parisian life when time did tors are looking for a chance
others. developed a love for the city younger brother and ventured not count, when one had all to escape the hustle, bustle
and its street life, but that fas- back to Paris. one’s time to idle, to stroll and ‘social’ noise of the Twen-
Blanchard was born Marcel cination was put on hold as along streets, to window-shop, ty-first Century. Blanchard’s
Masson in a small village in World War II broke out, and Contemporary life in Paris to walk quietly along the bou- work gives them the opportu-
France just after the turn of Blanchard was called up for had changed, and Blanchard levards or spend the afternoon nity for some well-deserved
the century. From an early service. longed for the bygone days — in a sidewalk café.” quiet time.”
age, Blanchard exuded artistic he began to research the Belle
talent — in those formative The following years were a Époque (1870-1914). That Unlike many of his peers, Rehs Galleries Inc is at 5 East
years, he spent time watching tumultuous period — he period, named in retrospect, Blanchard often spent weeks 57th Street, eighth floor. For more
his father work as a carver in was considered to be the “gold- or months on a painting until information, www.rehs.com, info@
his small carpentry and furni- en age” in Western history. he felt it was complete. Larde rehs.com or 212-355-5710.
ture shop. Blanchard began Much of Blanchard’s subject goes on, “He has always spent
matter would be scenes con- much time on his work. This GREENWICH, CONN. — Sea
structed from images he col- explains why his production serpents crushing ships. Seven-
lected of Paris from those has always been rather limit- foot-tall giants. A mummified
years as he rebuilt the city he ed…Delicate touches of lumi- Porsche. What other oddities
fell in love with in his paint- nous and shimmering tones might you find in the 2D curios-
ings. produce a marvelous impres- ity cabinet at the Bruce Muse-
sion of harmony, brightness um’s exhibition, “Collecting Rei-
In Antoine Blanchard, His and light.” magined: A 2D Curiosity
Life His Work, author A.P. Cabinet,” on view to March 29
Larde wrote, “Although a large While many others portrayed at One Museum Drive. For
number of historical monu- similar views, Blanchard information, 203-869-0376 or
ments remain, today’s Paris developed his own unique www.brucemuseum.org.
has little in common with style utilizing small, elegant

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 29

Auction Action In New York City

“Joshua Johnson is enjoying a moment,” said John Hays, after selling Achieving the top price of any lot offered during Americana Week 2020 was
this pair of portrait — a boy with a squirrel and a girl with a dog — for this version of Edward Hicks’ “Peaceable Kingdom,” which brought
$495,000 to Leigh Keno, bidding over the phone on behalf of a client $4,575,000 from a private collector bidding on the phone ($1.5/3.5 million).
(($100/150,000).

American Furniture, Folk Art, Silver and Chinese Export Nets $9.5 Million—

Fine Art — Folk & Formal — Dominates At Christie’s
NEW YORK CITY — Chris- The top-selling lot of the sale has been the subject of scholar- group; a bidder in the room paid acquired by a phone bidder for
tie’s sale of Important American — of any sale conducted in New ly research on not only the $175,000 for a figure of “Punch” $125,000 and an Indian chief
Furniture, Folk Art and Silver York City during Americana works by Gilbert Stuart but attributed to Samuel Anderson Hays deemed “magnificent” that
on Friday, January 24, achieved Week — was Edward Hicks’ also the paintings of George Robb that nearly doubled its made $62,500 from an absentee
$9,559,813 and capped a week “Peaceable Kingdom,” which Washington. high estimate. Of the eight bidder. “It is apparent that the
of sales that also saw Outsider handily beat its $1.5/3.5 million examples on offer, four sold more interesting and unusual
Art and Chinese export works of estimate to bring $4.5 million “These were wonderful nice while four did not, with other ones do better,” said Hays.
art sell for a cumulative total of from a private collector on the examples and had such a lot notable results achieved for a
$14,795,313. Christie’s reported phone who prevailed against going for them,” said Leigh figure of a “Moorish Queen” A large component of the
the American furniture sale was another phone bidder and a Keno, bidding on the phone on roughly 165-lot section of
89 percent sold by lot, the Out- trade buyer in the room. It had behalf of a client, who bought
sider sale to have been 99 per- been consigned to Christie’s by the pair of portraits of a boy Recent sales have seen strong results for works depicting
cent sold by lot and the Chinese a private New York collector, and a girl by Joshua Johnson America’s founding father’s; this example of “The Death of
export sale was 79 percent sold who had acquired it in 1980 for $495,000. “We had been General Wolfe” after Benjamin West continued that tradi-
by lot. from Sotheby’s. The work had looking for years for a great tion, selling for $100,000 to private collectors in the room
been illustrated in several example of his works.” Hays ($20/40,000).
Commandeering the first part early monographs on Edward acknowledged that “Joshua
of the sale was John Hays, Hicks, as well as Carolyn Week- Johnson is enjoying a moment,”
Christie’s deputy chairman and ley’s “The Kingdoms of Edward recalling not just the pair in
expert in American furniture. Hicks (Williamsburg, 1999),” this sale but also three lots of
Hays is as much a cheerleader which many consider to be one portraits of children painted by
as he is auctioneer, dispatching of the most definitive scholarly Johnson (African American,
lots with efficient and unflappa- works on the artist. circa 1763-1824) that Christie’s
ble good humor while never fail- had sold a year earlier that
ing to convey his passion for the Of similarly esteemed prove- brought a total of $584,000.
material at hand. After the sale, nance and publication history This reporter would also remind
Hays said, “When you have the was Gilbert Stuart’s “Portrait readers of a pair of portraits of
lead lot, which we’ve now had of George Washington,” which the family of Dr Andrew Aitkin
for two years, well, we are grate- brought the second highest that Sotheby’s sold in January
ful. The market is particularly price in the sale when it more 2019 for $675,000.
resilient for paintings, for the than tripled its high estimate
great folk ones, and we are try- and brought $975,000 from a The sale prominently featured
ing to address what we perceive phone bidder. Likely originat- several carved and polychromed
is a particular interest in this ing in the family of Colonel cigar store figures, all from the
market. The unusual things Thomas Lloyd Moore (1759- collection of Gary Dubnoff. The
excelled, and there seems to be 1813) of Philadelphia, the work first to cross the block also
no lack of interest in the things has been in the hands of only brought the highest price of the
that are considered to be the one family since it was painted
artist’s best work.” between 1796 and 1803 and

“There seems to be no lack of interest Review and Onsite Photos by
in the things that are considered to be Madelia Hickman Ring, Assistant Editor
the artist’s best work.” —John Hays
Catalog Photos Courtesy Christie’s

Auctioneer John Hays early in the bidding on the “Peaceable The price of $212,500 a phone bidder paid Charging into the lead at the Chinese export
Kingdom.” Shown here at $1.4 million, the lot would take a for this Classical carved mahogany work sale was this pair of famille rose soldier vases
few minutes with competition from the room and phone table attributed to Duncan Phyfe “was and covers, Qianlong period (1736-1795), that
lines before Hays could bring the gavel down on the final bid such a nice surprise,” said Hays ($25/35,000). stood 56¼ inches tall. They brought $250,000
of $3.8 million, $4,575,000 with premium ($1.5/3.5 million). ($100/150,000).

30 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

This was one of two examples of a parcel-gilt The top price for a work from the collection of Ralph Car- This portrait of George Washington by Gil-
silver and enamel musical carousels by Tiffa- penter was $150,000, paid for by Rob Hunter bidding on bert Stuart achieved a strong result,
ny offered during Americana Week (the other behalf of a private client. After the sale, John Hays said, bringing more than three times its high
offered at another auction house) but both “It was — in many ways — a showstopper.” ($30/50,000). estimate when a phone bidder paid
realized $52,500 ($50/80,000). $975,000 ($200/300,000).

“An emerging trend we are noticing is
that our clients are looking for things
they can live with 365 days a year.”

—Jill Waddell

The low estimate of this large ruby and famille rose five-piece garniture, Yongzheng/early American furniture and folk head of European ceramics.
Qianlong period, circa 1730-40, was more than doubled when it realized $162,500 was nearly 60 lots from the col- She was referring to 16 lots of
($70/100,000). lection of the late Ralph Car- Seventeenth and Eighteenth
penter, who had worked for English ceramics from differ-
The top price paid for one of How often do you see one of Christie’s in the 1970s and ent sellers that crossed the
eight cigar store trade fig- these “Moorish Queen” cigar 1980s and to whom Hays paid block in the middle of the
ures was $175,000 for this figures? The right answer tribute from the podium as American furniture and folk
figure of “Punch,” which would be “not often” and well as in the catalog. The Car- art section to capitalize on
was the first of the group to when you do, they will proba- penter collection was particu- crossover interest. All but
cross the block ($70/90,000). bly bring a good price, as this larly strong in furniture and three of the lots sold, with the
Of the clocks in the sale, this William and Mary mahogany example did, selling for decorative arts from Newport, first lot — a Bartlam blue and
tall case clock with a dial signed by William Claggett $125,000 to a phone bidder, R.I., and highlights included white soft paste porcelain sau-
brought the most. It was from the Carpenter Collection and prevailing against a trade the Colonel George Leonard cer bringing $18,750 from an
realized $60,000 from a phone bidder against competition buyer in the room ($70/90,000). wool-on-canvas embroidered anonymous institution bidding
in the room ($30/50,000). coat of arms for the Fiennes on the phone. Hunter also con-
family of Boston, which was firmed acquiring for his Mid-
acquired by ceramics scholar western private collector a
and dealer Rob Hunter bidding London Delft polychrome fig-
in the room on behalf of a Mid- ural salt depicting a “sulking
western private collector for youth” for $56,250 and, buying
$150,000, prevailing over a for $7,500 for himself, a Lon-
bidder on the phone with don Delft armorial blue and
Christie’s Outsider art expert, white rectangular salt.
Cara Zimmerman.
The market for Charles
Other top lots from the Car- Wysocki (1928-2002) has been
penter collection included a improving recently and the
William and Mary tall case sale featured three works, all
clock with dial signed by New- consigned from a West Coast
port maker William Claggett collection and all three exceed-
(1694-1748) that ultimately ing expectations. The largest of
went to a phone bidder for the three also brought the larg-
$60,000 after outlasting a est price of the group: $60,000
trade buyer in the room and a was achieved for “Olde Bucks
married pair of private collec- County.” After the sale, Chris-
tors who were also bidding in tie’s announced that the result
the room. Another bidder in set a new auction record for
the room won a Newport Queen Wysocki. It was purchased by
Anne mahogany dressing table an Asian family, which includ-
for $81,250. The Christopher ed two sons — one a teenager,
Champlin pair of Chippendale the other younger — who sat
carved mahogany side chairs in front of their parents and
attributed to John Goddard or occasionally held the bidding
Daniel Goddard brought paddle. The family was also
$68,750 from the Preservation successful in buying an Arapa-
Society of Newport County. Not hoe ledger drawing for $4,375,
only did onephone bidder win a Chippendale carved mahoga-
two consecutively offered pairs ny marble slab table from Bos-
of Tillinghast family Queen ton for $21,250 and, coming
Anne walnut side chairs — the slightly later in the sale, a 14K
first pair bringing $37,500, the gold serving bowl marked Tif-
second realizing $30,000 — but fany that exceeded expecta-
they also prevailed on the tions to close at $30,000.
Newport Chippendale carved
mahogany high chest of draw- Not only were the Asian fam-
ers attributed to Benjamin ily among the underbidders on
Baker that finished at $17,500, Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of
just shy of its low estimate. George Washington but they
were the successful buyers of
“We were really pleased with “The Death of General Wolfe”
the results — strong interest after Benjamin West, which
from core buyers who have they acquired for $100,000.
supported the market for years After the sale, the father iden-
as well as from buyers new to tified himself as a private col-
the field,” said Jody Wilkie, lector. It is a welcome sight to
Christie’s senior vice president see increased bidder diversity
and international specialist among what has been a largely

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 31

This 14K gold serving bowl by Tiffany was placed at the
front of the saleroom during the sale, denoting its impor-
tance; it exceeded expectations, bringing $30,000 from a
private collector in the room ($18/22,000).

There was little late Seventeenth or early
Eighteenth Century furniture on offer in
any sale during Americana Week and this
carved oak “Hadley” chest with drawer
Rob Hunter was the underbidder of this attributed to the Hatfield, Mass., area, real-
London Delft polychrome flask modeled as ized $30,000 from a phone bidder against
a Turk. A phone bidder prevailed, acquiring competition in the room ($15/25,000).
it for $65,000 ($35/45,000).
Capping the silver section was this sil-
homogenous market and will ver, gold and enamel vase designed
be interesting to learn more by LC Tiffany for the 1915 Pana-
about this family as they con- ma-Pacific International Exposi-
tinue to collect. tion that realized $125,000
Christie’s sales are laid out ($100/150,000).
chronologically, with Nine-
teenth Century works general- the cupboard, objects that have
ly coming towards the end of character and color and are
the section. Highlights among fun. Tiffany mixed metals and
the Federal furniture offerings Japonesque are performing
were two tall case clocks, one strongly and we see a deep
by Aaron Willard (1757-1844) market for these works.”
that made $23,750, the other
by his son, Aaron Williard Jr Chinese Export
(1783-1864) that finished at Offered on Thursday, Janu- Christie’s
$21,250. A phone bidder bought ary 23, Christie’s “Chinese
a Federal eagle-inlaid mahoga- Export Art Featuring the
ny candlestand for $13,750. Tibor Collection, Part II” sale
After the sale, Colonial Wil- of 165 lots totaled $1.9 mil- A bidder in the room took this Queen Anne mahogany
liamsburg curator, Tara Chicir- lion. Commenting on the sale dressing table attributed to Christopher Townsend for
da said they had filled a gap in afterwards, senior specialist $81,250 ($20/40,000).
their collection when they Becky MacGuire said, “I was
acquired the Hooper family pleased to see the interest and
Federal inlaid mahogany and results. Today’s collectors tend
flame birch veneered work to be broader in their vision,
table for $11,875. they want to collect great piec-
However, one of the most es in each category, or the big
unexpected results in the sale classic pieces. Chinese porce-
came for a work table probably lain has always been where
by Duncan Phyfe that stood at there has been wealth, global
the front of the saleroom. The wealth continues to drive this
work table relates to one at the market. That taste is still a
Metropolitan Museum of Art part to some degree all around
and bore a paper label from the the world, with some varia-
1909 Hudson-Fulton Celebra- tion, and we are seeing a
tion exhibition at the Metro- growth in Chinese buyers in
politan Museum; it brought this category.”
$212,500 from a bidder on the Leading the sale was a pair of
phone with Martha Willough- famille rose soldier vases and
by, well ahead of its $25/35,000 covers from the Qianlong peri-
estimate. od (1736-1795) that realized
$250,000. The pair “were the
Silver best,” said MacGuire. “Those
Works by Tiffany were the are just such a classic, great
undisputed leader in a sale of thing.” After the sale, she said
approximately 100 lots of sil- bidding interest in the vases
ver that closed out the Ameri- came from the United King- Achieving $193,750 in the Chinese Another lot in the sale with history to a world’s
cana Week sales. Achieving the dom, China, Southeast Asia, export sale was this Mexican market fair — this time to the 1900 Exposition Univer-
highest price of $125,000 was a Mexico and Indonesia. A rare blue and white jar, Wanli period (circa selle in Paris — was this pair of silver vases by
silver, gold and enamel vase early Mexican market blue and 1600) ($30/50,000). Gorham that realized $30,000 ($15/20,000).
made by Louis Comfort Tiffany white jar, Wanli period (circa
for the 1915 Panama-Pacific 1600) was the second highest
International Exposition that price in the sale, achieving
sold to an absentee bidder. A $193,750 from a phone bidder.
bidder in the room paid the “These are very rare and this
next highest price — $52,500 one was in not great condition,
— for a Tiffany parcel-gilt sil- but it generated a lot of excite-
ver and enamel musical carou- ment, particularly for those
sel, designed by Gene Moore who follow the Hispanic mar-
circa 1990, which had been ket for Chinese export porce-
estimated at $50/80,000. A lains. We had interest on these
square-section mixed-metal from Indonesia, Southeast
and silver tea caddy by Tiffany Asia, Mexico, Spain, the Unit-
that more than doubled its ed Kingdom and Portugal.”
high estimate to finish at Sliding into third place was a
$50,000. circa 1730-40 large ruby and
Jill Waddell, senior specialist famille rose five-piece garni-
in the silver department, said ture, Yongzheng/early Qian-
afterwards “An emerging trend long period that finished at
we are noticing is that our cli- $162,500. MacGuire attributed
ents are looking for things they interest in part to the “gor-
can live with 365 days a year. geous” color that the Chinese
It’s no longer platters and had mastered in the 1720s.
plates that live in your butler’s Christie’s is at 20 Rockefeller A bid of $60,000 from a private collector in the room was enough to knock the socks off the
pantry — collectors are looking Plaza. For information, 212- world auction record for a work by Charles Wysocki (1928-2002). His “Olde Bucks County,”
for things that can live out of 636-2000 or www.christies.com. measuring 23¾ by 48 inches, had been estimated at $10/20,000.

32 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

Auction Action In New York City

Welcome Back To Americana Week:
Doyle’s Single-Owner ‘Cherished’ Sale Lays Joy On Bidders

NEW YORK CITY— About 50 and fashioned American folk art of toys split between seven cate-
people engaged the auctioneer in objects. In prior years, Doyle had gories: mechanical and still
the gallery on January 23 as schedule English furniture and banks, pull toys, bell toys, bal-
Doyle sold a 404-lot single owner decorative arts sales during ance toys, tin or metal toys and
collection in a dedicated sale Americana Week in New York, miscellaneous. At the top of this
titled “Cherished: American Folk and bidders seemed pleased for section was a Girl Skipping Rope
Art & Toys from the Estate of a the auction house to break back cast iron mechanical bank, J&E
Private Collector.” As the title into the Americana offerings. Stevens, that sold for $10,000 to
suggests, this collection was cen- an absentee bidder.
tered around historical childhood The sale would go on to produce
objects: theorems, samplers, folk $924,069, between estimate, with In tin toys, an American Tin
art watercolors featuring chil- a 91 percent sell-through rate Gig Broadway & 5 Avenue two-
dren, mechanical and still banks, and 90 percent sold by value. horse pull toy with stenciled
an assortment of tin and metal Phone, absentee and internet decoration sold for $4,063 to
toys, and a healthy dose of carved bidding were particularly active. dealers Steven and Leon Weiss.
The Weiss brothers, of Gemini
The auction began with 154 lots Antiques, Oldwick N.J., who
were exhibiting in a booth just
Selling at $100,000, earning the badge for top lot in the auc- A nicely stenciled American Tin Gig Broadway & 5 Avenue down the street at the Winter
tion, was this circa 1831 portrait of two children of the went out at $3,250 to Gemini Antiques. They had handled Show, were featured in a num-
Prescott family of Portsmouth, N.H., painted by Ruth Whitti- the work in the past. ber of provenance lines through-
er Shute and Samuel Addison Shute. It was bought by Steven out the catalog. And like any
and Leon Weiss of Gemini Antiques, who were purchasing on good dealers, the brothers did
behalf of a client. Leon said they had handled the work twice not miss the opportunity to buy
before and called it “an iconic image of American folk art.” up a storm from the collection
they sold into. The dealers would
Head of sale David Gallager, Doyle’s director of American buy 82 lots that day, about one-
furniture and decorative arts, stands before the top hooked fifth of the sale, in categories
rug in the sale, which brought $13,750. The pictorial rug was across the board.
dated circa 1810 and was illustrated in American Hooked
and Sewn Rugs: Folk Art Underfoot by Joel and Kate Kopp. Flying above its $1,500 esti-
mate was a Rocking Horse with
Trainer tin toy by Althof Berg-
mann, in excellent paint, that
sold for $3,125 to the trade. In
pull toys, a cast iron Model of a
Rowing Crew, featuring eight
rowers and a coxswain, the body
of the boat painted orange and
green, all on a chassis with red
wheels, sold for $3,125. At the
same price was a mechanical tin
platform toy with a girl behind
two large white swans that went
well above the $400 estimate.

“It was a nice group of Ameri-
can toys, some had some resto-
ration, but a lot of them didn’t,”
Leon Weiss told us. “There were
some opportunities in there. We
had been selling into the collec-
tion for more than 20 years. We
were very happy with what we
bought.”

The Weiss’ would also purchase
the top lot of the sale, a circa
1831 portrait of two children of
the Prescott family of Ports-
mouth, N.H., painted by Ruth
Whittier Shute and Samuel
Addison Shute, that brought
$100,000. Weiss related that they
bought it for a client. “This is the
third time we’ve owned it,” Leon
Weiss said. “It’s an iconic image

“Aurora,” by Eliza Ann Robeson, 21¾ by 27 inches, water- Review and Onsite Photos
color and gold collage on silk laid down on canvasboard, by Greg Smith, Editor
went out at $20,000 to a phone bidder. The work featured a
line of provenance that went back to the artist in the early Catalog Photos Courtesy Doyle
Nineteenth Century.

Landing between estimate at $23,750 was this silk-on-linen A “Cipher Book” of eight ink and watercol- Multiple bidders in the gallery, including
needlework picture from New England, circa 1780. It had ors by Adam Hodam, discovered and writ- both Pat Bell and Amy Finkel, had handled
provenance to M. Finkel & Daughter and the dealer bought ten about by dealer Steven S. Powers in The this silk-on-silk needlework picture, circa
it back again. Magazine Antiques, Vol. 175, issue 1 Jan. 1790. It sold for $34,375 to Finkel. The house
2009, sold at $8,750. believed it probably came from Fredericks-
burg, Va. It is a quaint farm life scene, a
man sitting on a pile of hay with his dog
nearby while the woman raises her rake
towards the willow tree where colorful
birds rest in the branches.

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 33

A yarn sewn and shirred pictorial hearth rug, depicting
two houses with a vine border, brought $11,250. It sold to a
phone bidder and was underbid by dealer Grace Snyder.

The gallery livened up when this silk-on-linen Specialist Norman Scrivener cataloged the
needlework sampler came across the block, toys in the sale. Scrivener is Doyle’s con-
with four gallery bidders pursuing it out of the sultant for coins, stamps and collectibles,
gate. The graphic piece was worked in 1785 by and he stands here with a figure and two
Polly Smith of Mary Balch’s School, Provi- small horses on tin bell toy, which nearly
dence, R.I. It brought $59,375 to Amy Finkel. tripled estimate when it brought $2,812.

of American folk art.” The top toy in the auction was this Girl Skipping Rope cast A paint-decorated sheet iron weathervane featuring a
Other dealers in the gallery iron mechanical bank, by J&E Stevens, which took $10,000 whaler riding a whale with a harpoon in his hand sold
to an absentee bidder. above estimate at $8,125.
included sampler and needle- “Street in Marblehead, Massachusetts,” a 20-by-31-5/8-inch
work dealers Carol and Stephen the high estimate. The highest selling example oil on board attributed to John Orne Johnson Frost would
Huber and Amy Finkel, both of Behind the Shute, folk portrai- of carved wood folk art was best its $30,000 high estimate to bring $37,500 to an absen-
which were often referenced in this owl on stand, that tee bidder. A larger harbor scene by the artist was estimat-
the provenance lines, in addition ture found a $13,750 result in a brought $3,438 to an online ed $3/5,000 and would sell for $6,250 to an internet bidder
to Pat Bell, Grace Snyder, Judy pair of oil on heavy paper paint- bidder. the lot prior.
Milne and Sandy Jacobs, among ings featuring a boy holding a
others. book and a girl with a flower, A well-documented cotton appliqué schoolhouse and rail-
attributed to Jane Anthony road quilt from York, Penn., took $8,750 to a trade buyer.
Nearly tripling its $20,000 esti- Davis. An oil on board attributed The work was illustrated in Folk Art in American Life by
mate was a silk-on-linen needle- to William Matthew Prior, “Por- Bishop and Atkins and Young America, A Folk History by
work sampler that was worked trait of a Young Child in a Red Lipman, Warren and Bishop.
in 1785 by Polly Smith of Mary Dress Holding a Hammer and
Balch’s School, Providence, R.I. It Tacks,” circa 1845, caught
brought $59,375. The mood in $12,500 to the Weiss brothers.
the gallery quickened with activ- The second highest estimate in
ity when this lot opened, four bid- the sale, placed at $30/50,000 for
ders actively pursuing it until it an American school portrait of
was hammered down to Amy twins in green dress, with exten-
Finkel. “The Polly Smith sampler sive exhibition history, would
was the best one in the collection pass at $12,000.
and, having owned it previously, I
was delighted to buy it again,” A number of hooked rugs would
Finkel told us. “Balch school sam- generate interest. Top among
plers — especially fully worked them was a yarn-sewn wool on
ones — rarely become available cotton pictorial rug, New Eng-
and the condition of this one is land, circa 1810, featuring a cen-
excellent.” tral basket of flowers on a tripod
table in a valley between hills
Other needleworks included a with a tree atop each and small
$34,375 result for a silk-on-silk lambs walking throughout, that
example, circa 1790, the auction took $13,750. It had been illus-
house writing it was probably trated in American Hooked and
from Fredericksburg, Va., and Sewn Rugs: Folk Art Underfoot,
that a needlework of similar by Joel and Kate Kopp. Also fea-
composition was wrought by Mil- tured in that book was a yarn
dred Gregory Washington (1777- sewn and shirred pictorial hearth
1805), the niece of George Wash- rug, circa 1835, depicting two
ington. houses with a vine border, that
brought $11,250.
The Hubers pulled in a few
lots they had owned in the past, For additional information,
including a silk-chenile, metal- www.doyle.com or 212-427-2730.
lic thread and paper on linen
pictorial sampler, worked by
Melancia Bowker, Rindge/Fitz-
william, N.H., dated 1817. They
paid $25,000, square between
the estimate. It was underbid by
the Weiss brothers, who had
also owned it in the past. Anoth-
er take for the Hubers was a
silk-on-linen pictorial sampler
worked by Martha Mortimer
Starr, Middletown, Conn., in
1791. It sold for $20,000 and
was depicted in the exhibition
and book With Needle and
Brush: Schoolgirl Embroidery
From the Connecticut River Val-
ley, 1740-1840.

Other folk paintings included
an Eliza Ann Robeson watercolor
and gold collage on silk laid down
on canvasboard work, titled
“Aurora,” that took its low esti-
mate of $20,000 to a phone bid-
der. Another phone bidder
snatched up another Robeson
work, “Major Jonas Robeson and
Family at the Tomb of his Wife,
Betsy,” for $11,250, right under

34 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

Transitions Museum Of Fine Arts, Houston,
To Open Nancy & Rich Kinder Building Nov. 1
Art historian and curator Amanda HOUSTON, TEXAS — The Museum
de la Garza has been named the of Fine Arts, Houston’s (MFAH) new Aerial view of the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building for modern and con-
director general of visual arts at the Na- Nancy and Rich Kinder Building will temporary art, opening November 1. Steven Holl Architects.
tional Autonomous University of Mexico open to the public on November 1.
in Mexico City and head of its University Designed by Steven Holl Architects ing the entire 1980-1994 archive port- building’s openness to its surround-
Museum of Contem- especially for the display of the impor- folio of Peter Blum Editions; and ings.
porary Art (MUAC). tant and rapidly growing MFAH collec- international decorative arts, craft and
As the university’s tions of Twentieth and Twenty-First design, in particular contemporary The redevelopment of the Sarofim
top cultural execu- Century art, to which it dedicates more work. Campus and off-site art-storage facili-
tive, de la Garza will than 100,000 square feet of gallery ties is the largest cultural project in
also oversee the op- space, the Kinder Building is the final The Kinder Building stands in com- progress in North America, with some
erations of both the component in the museum’s eight-year plementary contrast to the museum’s 650,000 square feet of new construc-
Museo Experimental project to expand and enhance its existing gallery buildings — the Caro- tion. Steven Holl Architects designed
El Eco, which was Susan and Fayez S. Sarofim Campus in line Wiess Law Building (designed in the master plan for the redevelopment,
designed by German the heart of Houston. the 1920s by William Ward Watkin, along with the Kinder Building and a
artist Mathias Goeritz with later extensions by Ludwig Mies new home for the Glassell School of
in 1953 and acquired by the university in A series of seven major site-specific van der Rohe) and the Audrey Jones Art. Lake|Flato Architects designed
2004, and the University Museum of Sci- commissioned artworks will be inaugu- Beck Building (designed by Rafael the museum’s new Sarah Campbell
ence and Art (MUCA-Roma), a research rated with the Kinder Building, serving Moneo, opened in 2000) — and in dia- Blaffer Foundation Center for Conser-
and exhibition space centered around as portals that connect this new struc- logue with the adjacent 1986 Cullen vation. Both the school and the conser-
design, architecture and contemporary ture with the other components of the Sculpture Garden, designed by Isamu vation center opened in 2018. Green
art. De la Garza has a BA in sociology and campus. Commissioned artists are El Noguchi. The trapezoidal concrete spaces by Deborah Nevins & Associ-
postgraduate degrees in anthropological Anatsui, Byung Hoon Choi, Carlos Kinder Building is clad in vertical glass ates, in collaboration with Mario Beni-
science and art history with a focus in cu- Cruz-Diez, Olafur Eliasson, Trenton tubes that will emit a soft glow at night to, will help unify the 14-acre campus
ratorial studies. She first joined MUAC as Doyle Hancock, Cristina Iglesias and in a pattern across its facades. Five and make it a walkable urban oasis in
an adjunct curator in 2012. Ai Weiwei. These commissions join rectangular courtyard pools are inset Houston’s increasingly dense Museum
additional recent acquisitions to be fea- along the perimeter, reinforcing the District.
The Nantucket Historical Association tured in the Kinder Building, including
(NHA) has appointed David Martin works by Magdalena Abakanowicz,
its chief of business development. Mar- Mark Bradford, Yayoi Kusama, Glenn
Ligon, Ursula von Rydingsvard and
tin’s previous position Kara Walker. In celebration of the
was as president and opening, the museum will offer free
chief executive offi- general admission to all three of its
cer of the Nantucket Sarofim Campus gallery buildings for a
Chamber of Com- full week, November 1-8.
merce. An internal
reorganization in 2019 With two floors of galleries radiating
identified the need for from a light-filled atrium and three
this position. In this gallery spaces at street level, the Kind-
newly conceived role, er Building enables the MFAH to pres-
Martin will focus on ent the first comprehensive installa-
growing the NHA’s earned income initia- tion of its international collections of
tives, including oversight of existing and modern and contemporary art. Particu-
development of new revenue models. lar strengths are postwar US painting;
postwar Latin American art; interna-
The author of The New York Times tional photography, including notable
bestseller The History of White Peo- concentrations in Japanese, Latin
ple and the 2018 National Book Critics American and Central European pho-
Circle Award finalist Old In Art School, tography; prints and drawings, includ-
Nell Painter, is the MacDowell Colony’s
new chairman of the board. She takes Dame Brigitte Kruse Becomes First Auctioneer
over from novelist and Knighted By A Royal Family
screenwriter Michael
Chabon, who has held ROME, ITALY — Brigitte Kruse, Courtesy GWS Auctions to get into the Guinness Book of World
the post of chairman founder of Los Angeles-based Kruse nominated by a member of the de’ Records, and now, the first to attain
of the contemporary GWS Auctions, has become the first Medici family and then win approval knighthood. The multi-lingual auction-
arts organizations auctioneer knighted by a royal family. from the rest of the House of Medici eer, who can conduct professional auc-
since December of and the Cavaliere board. Kruse was tions in five languages, is set to receive
2010. The board unan- In a ceremony filled with traditions selected because she has represented another honor — the Multicultural
imously appointed and poise, Principe Lorenzo de’ Medici 16 royal families. She is respected International Motion Picture Associa-
Painter at a meeting of the Italian royal family conferred on around the globe as a distinguished tion’s Lady in Red Diamond Rose
in January. Painter, a Kruse the title of Cavaliere — the Ital- lady in the auction business. Award — for her philanthropic works.
two-time MacDowell Fellow, is a distin- ian equivalent of an English knight- The organization’s 11th annual gala
guished and award-winning scholar and hood — and as an additional honor and An ambassador of the auction indus- will take place on February 21 at the
writer. A graduate of Harvard, she went distinction, named her an “Ambascia- try, Kruse is the first female auctioneer Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
on to become the Edwards professor of tore delle Arti” (Ambassador of the
American history at Princeton Univer- Arts). A fierce advocate for children with
sity and is the author of seven books and autism, she has raised millions of dol-
countless articles relating to the history The knighting took place at Rome’s lars to provide services and research.
of the American South. historic San Silvestro al Quirinale, Kruse and her husband have also
whose origins date back to the Elev- donated to St Jude’s Children’s
Expo Chicago, the international expo- enth Century. Church clerics and Prin- Research Hospital, Children’s Hospital
sition of contemporary and modern cipe Lorenzo de’ Medici presided over Los Angeles and MusiCares. Along
art, has announced the appointment of the ceremony. The church was also with her husband Mike Sislyan, Kruse
Eboni S. Gates as head of VIP relations filled with guests from around the regularly visits orphanages for dis-
world. The dual accolades recognize abled children in high conflict zones
and strategic initia- Kruse’s outstanding work globally on around the world, delivering food, toys,
tives in advance of behalf of charitable causes. Her distin- medications and clothing.
the ninth annual guished, forward thinking leadership
edition, returning to within the auction and appraisal indus- “I am beyond humbled by such an
Navy Pier’s Festival try has set a new global standard. honor,” said Kruse. “The de’ Medici
Hall September 24- royal family bestowed a monumental
27. The VIP relations As part of the ceremonial proceedings, honor upon me and for that I will
team provides col- Kruse read an oath where she prom- always be thankful. I am so very privi-
lectors, art advisors, ised to continue to give back and to leged to do the work I do and to be rec-
civic leaders, muse- uphold the highest standards. During ognized in such a magnificent ceremo-
um directors, board the ceremony she was anointed with ny and accolade in Rome was a moment
members, trustees, patrons and artists the blade of a ceremonial sword and I will truly never forget.”
with access to Chicago’s cultural scene. then adorned with the knight’s robe. To
In her role, Gates will cultivate the expo- earn this honor, Kruse had to first be For information, www.gwsauctions.com.
sition’s offerings for local, regional and
global arts patrons. Portland Art Museum Receives $10 Million Gift

PORTLAND, ORE. — The Portland director and chief curator. “This gift, dynasty to the museum’s permanent
Art Museum has received a landmark and the gifts it will inspire, will shape collection.
gift of $10 million from collector and the future of the arts in this communi-
philanthropist Arlene Schnitzer, mak- ty in ways we cannot foresee today.” In recognition of their generosity
ing it the largest donation from an Arlene and her late husband, Harold
individual in the institution’s 127-year Schnitzer, a former student of the Schnitzer, were named the first ever
history and one of the biggest invest- Museum Art School, and her family life trustees of the museum in 2007,
ments in arts and culture in the region. are longtime supporters of the muse- and the institution opened the Arlene
um. They have provided financial sup- and Harold Schnitzer Center for
“We are so grateful to the Schnitzer port of important acquisitions, exhibi- Northwest Art. When asked about
family for their leadership in continu- tions and capital campaigns, funded what drives her philanthropy,
ally reinforcing that the arts are essen- scholarships and the curatorial team Schnitzer said, “Enough is never
tial for vibrant, equitable communi- through endowments, and given their enough giving back. And Harold felt it
ties,” said Brian Ferriso, the museum’s collection of works from China’s Han as strongly as I do. And that’s it.”

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 35

CALENDAR OF ADVERTISING DEADLINES

February 2020 *Presidents Day • Feb 17
Mail Early

Issue Date All Color Ads Early Auction Display Regular Auction Mail Date
Thursdays Thursdays Fridays Mondays
10am 10am 10am 10am

Feb 7 Jan 16 Jan 23 Jan 24 *Jan 27 Jan 28

Feb 14 Jan 23 Jan 30 Jan 31 Feb 3 Feb 4

Feb 21 Jan 30 Feb 6 Feb 7 Feb 10 Feb 11

Feb 28 Feb 6 Feb 13 Feb 14 *Feb 17 Feb 18

March 2020

Issue Date All Color Ads Early Auction Display Regular Auction Mail Date
Thursdays Thursdays Fridays Mondays
March 6 10am 10am 10am 10am Feb 25

Feb 13 Feb 20 Feb 21 Feb 24

March 13 Feb 20 Feb 27 Feb 28 Mar 2 Mar 3

March 20 Feb 27 Mar 5 Mar 6 Mar 9 Mar 10

March 27 Mar 5 Mar 12 Mar 13 Mar 16 Mar 17

April 2020

Issue Date All Color Ads Early Auction Display Regular Auction Mail Date
Thursdays Thursdays Fridays Mondays
April 3 10am 10am 10am 10am Mar 24

Mar 12 Mar 19 Mar 20 Mar 23

April 10 Mar 19 Mar 26 Mar 27 Mar 30 Mar 31

April 17 Mar 26 Apr 2 Apr 3 Apr 6 Apr 7

April 24 April 2 Apr 9 Apr 10 Apr 13 Apr 14

36 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

Parts Of Indiana’s Amish Acres Getty’s Gauguin Attribution Reconsidered
Going On Auction Block
By Madelia Hickman Ring experts in the field, including
NAPPANEE, IND. (AP) — A 1800s. It also includes the 400- LOS ANGELES — Nearly 20 significant new evidence that
popular tourist attraction in seat Round Barn Theatre. years ago, the Getty Museum was not available at the time of
northern Indiana that provides acquired a carved horned head its acquisition.” The statement
a glimpse into the life and his- Richard Pletcher and other at one time attributed to Paul continues, “While we no longer
tory of the Amish is going on family members have built up Gauguin from Wildenstein Gal- attribute this work of art to
the auction block this week, a the brand to the point that it lery in New York City for an Paul Gauguin, it was clearly an
newspaper reported on Febru- draws 150,000 visitors each undisclosed amount estimated important object, known to him
ary 2. year. But he told the South to have been in the $3-5 million through photographs, that
Bend Tribune that keeping it range. The museum has now played a role in his artistic
It’s not clear if the February 5 going is “a year-round effort” pulled the head from view and practice. The sculpture is the
auction will mean that Amish and they’re “all exhausted.” withdrawn the attribution. subject of ongoing research,
Acres in Nappanee will contin- Is this a case of changing which will be published in 2021
ue in the form it has for the With no sure offers for the scholarship or outright fakery and 2022.”
last 50 years. whole complex, Pletcher chose that did not escape detection by
to auction parts and parcels of either the gallery or museum The Getty Museum is at 1200
It’s located some 30 miles Amish Acres off. Pletcher’s experts? Getty Center Drive in Los
southeast of South Bend and hope, and that of local busi- According to a story reported Angeles. For information, 310-
includes historical cabins, nessmen, is that even if there by Artnews.com, a statement 440-7300 or www.getty.edu.
barns and other structures, are different owners in the released by the museum “Head With Horns,” circa
most of which date from the future, it can continue to oper- explains the change in attribu- 1894, sandalwood with trac-
ate as a single entity. tion to be “based on scholarly es of polychromy on a lace-
Auction research over recent years by wood base. Courtesy the J.
Previews The South Bend Tribune says Getty professionals and other Paul Getty Museum.
Amish Acres as a whole has
been valued at about $5 mil-
lion.

Abell’s DATE LOCATION AUCTIONEER PG 16, Feb.............. East Meadow, NY..........World Auction Gallery........61
Fine Art, Antiques & 16, Feb................. New York City..................... Showplace.................8C
Jewelry..........................43 Every Tues............. Coventry, CT........................Weston’s..................56 17, Feb................ Saugerties, NY..................Donny Malone..............62
Benefit Shop Every Thurs........East Windsor, CT.................Golden Gavel...............52 17, Feb...............Scotts Valley, CA...............Robert Slawinski............57
Midcentury Modern & Now-11, Feb.... alderferauction.com............ Alderfer Auction............56 17-19, Feb...............Denver, PA.................. Morphy Auctions............2C
Abstract Art....................49 Now-25, Feb....... aarauctions.com..............Absolute Auctions...........53 18, Feb.................. Medway, MA...................Coyle’s Auction....... 54-55
Copley Art 8, Feb...................Glen Cove, NY................. Roland Auctions..............2 19, Feb................Dania Beach, FL............... Kodner Galleries..........15C
The Winter Sale 2020.....10 8, Feb...................Glen Cove, NY................. Roland Auctions............28 19, Feb..................Mt Kisco, NY.....................Benefit Shop...............50
Coyle’s 8, Feb...................Glen Cove, NY................. Roland Auctions............52 19, Feb................. Randolph, ME.......... Farrin’s Country Auctions.....62
Antiques & Estates 8, Feb...................Glen Cove, NY................. Roland Auctions............60 20, Feb................... Chicago, IL......................... Cowan’s...................7C
Auction...........................42 8, Feb.................... Seymour, CT...............Keystone Associates.........56 20, Feb............... East Dennis, MA......................Eldred’s...................63
DownEast Auctions 9, Feb.................... Coventry, CT...................Ingraham & Co.............62 20, Feb................. New York City...........Swann Auction Galleries......51
Coins & Currency.............9 10, Feb................... Beacon, NY...........Hudson Valley Auctioneers....58 22, Feb.................Columbus, OH....................... Garth’s....................63
Hudson Valley Auctioneers 10, Feb.................Pine Bush, NY.......... Flannery’s Estate Service......64 22, Feb................Middletown, NY................. EstateOfMind...............50
Rare & Eclectic Books, 13, Feb............. artemisgallery.com..............Artemis Gallery.............9C 22, Feb................. Northport, AL................Hal Hunt Auctions...........59
Toys & Trains.................42 13, Feb................... Hatfield, PA................... Alderfer Auction............56 22, Feb................Plattsburgh, NY................ Martin & Sons..............62
Lelands 14, Feb.................Jewett City, CT................ Leone’s Auction...............2 22, Feb................. Rockland, MA............. Willis Henry Auctions......11C
Steelers’ Game-Worn 15, Feb................... Copake, NY....................Copake Auction...........11C 22, Feb.................Searsport, ME...............DownEast Auctions........14C
Jerseys...........................10 15, Feb.................. Cranston, RI....................Bruneau & Co..............3C 22, Feb.............South Portland, ME............Barridoff Galleries.........15C
Morphy Auctions 15, Feb................. Plainfield, NH.................William A. Smith............60 22-23, Feb.............Litchfield, CT..................Litchfield County..............2
Field & Range Firearms....5 15, Feb................ Sturbridge, MA................... D.L. Straight...............58 23, Feb............... Los Angeles, CA......... Andrew Jones Auctions.....16C
Old World Auctions 16, Feb................... Canaan, CT.................State Line Auctions..........56 23, Feb................. New York City.............. Poster Auctions Int’l.........6C
Online-Only Auction 23, Feb.............. St Petersburg, FL............ Burchard Galleries...........52
Of “Firsts”......................11 25, Feb............... Portsmouth, NH.................Boyd Auctions..............61
Rockport Art Association 28, Feb.................Jewett City, CT................ Leone’s Auction...............2
Annual Art Auction.........23 28,Feb-1,Mar......Thomaston, ME........Thomaston Place Auction.....4C
29, Feb..............Cogan Station, PA............. Roan Auctioneers.........14C
1, Mar....................Bellport, NY..............Thos Cornell Galleries..........2
1, Mar................ Los Angeles, CA...............Abell Auction Co..........10C
4, Mar ................. Randolph, ME.......... Farrin’s Country Auctions.....62
29, Mar............Bedford Village, NY...... Butterscotch Auctioneers.......2
2, May.................. Rockport, MA.......... Rockport Art Association.....60
4, May..................... Dallas, TX.......................... Heritage...................57

Showplace VISIT US ON THE WEB AT
Fine Art, Furniture &
Jewelry..........................46 AntiquesandTheArts.COM
Swann Auction Galleries
Vintage Posters................7 EVENT 13-15, Feb...........Nashville, TN......................5 Sun....................Jewett City, CT....................2
15, Feb................ Quechee, VT......................9 Sun...................... Milford, NH.......................7
Show DATE LOCATION PG 15-16, Feb........ Lake George, NY.................12 Sun.................. New Milford, CT...................2
Previews 22-23, Feb..........Columbus, OH....................3
6-9, Feb................ Atlanta, GA.......................3 16-18, Apr............Newport, RI..................10C The Following Ads
Fiddlers At The Fairgrounds 14-16, May......... Brimfield, MA.................14C May Be Found
Antiques Show............... 48 16-18, July......... Brimfield, MA.................14C
Jeff Leatham’s Kaleidoscopic 10-12, Sept........ Brimfield, MA.................14C In Last Week’s (2/7) Issue
Orchid Show........................3 Weekly Events 6-9, Feb..................Atlanta, GA....................3
The 2020 Palm Beach Sat & Sun......... Farmington, CT..................12 9, Feb...................Hampton, NH................25
Show................................ 6 9, Feb................. Wallingford, CT...............53

ANTIQUES AND THE ARTS WEEKLY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS This is a free listing and therefore no credit will be given for any errors

The Nashville Show........ 12

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 37

Demand Drives 1952 Records Fall In Swann Auction Of
Mickey Mantle Card Johnson Publishing Co. Art

To $111,000 NEW YORK CITY — Swann $365,000. And a suite of seven offering. One of an edition of only
At Heritage Auctions Galleries opened the new decade framed photographs with etched three, the suite came to the block
in style, with a sale of African glass, 1996-97, by Carrie Mae estimated at $100/150,000 but
DALLAS — More than American art from the Johnson Weems, commissioned by the City finished at $305,000. Watch for a
a dozen bidders made a Publishing Company on January of Chicago Public Art Program, full review of this sale in an
play for a 1952 Topps 30. The collection — which hung marked another high point of the upcoming edition.
Mickey Mantle #311 in the publishing house’s historic
PSA NM 7, driving the offices at 820 South Michigan
final price to $111,000 Avenue in Chicago — featured
(with buyer’s premium) paintings, sculpture and works on
to claim top-lot honors paper from diverse periods over
in Heritage Auctions’ the last century, with 75 artists
1952 and 1953 Topps represented. Hung together in a
PSA set registry auction single exhibition for the first time,
on January 30. The hot- the Johnson Publishing Compa-
test card in the hobby ny’s art collection made a power-
has reached new heights ful statement, demonstrating the
with every auction cycle, company’s longstanding recogni-
and this example was no tion and support of visual artists.
exception. Relative pop- The earliest work in the sale was
ulations make it unlike- its top lot. From 1912, Henry
ly that the 1952 Topps Ossawa Tanner’s oil on canvas
Mantle ever will replace “Moonrise by Kasbah (Morocco)”
the T206 Honus Wagner depicting figures outside the
as the most coveted card stark, steep exterior walls of a
in the hobby, but the Moroccan kasbah, outperformed
relentless demand for its high estimate to sell for
this card suggests its popularity among serious collectors
is far from waning. For more information, www.ha.com or INDEX - 80 PAGES - INDEX
877-437-4824.

Ammi Phillips Portrait ANTIQUES SHOW REVIEWS
Shows Off At Showplace
(New York City) New York Antique Ceramics Fair Offers Great Material In Small Package.............13
NEW YORK CITY — (New York City) Art, Design & Antiques Show Sees Steady Flow At Wallace Hall..........................18
Topping Auctions at
Showplace’s February 2 AUCTION REVIEWS
sale was “Portrait of a
Lady” by Ammi Phillips, (New York City) Does Sotheby’s Marvelous Mario Buatta Sale Foretell The Return Of Antiques?..24
which realized $45,000 (Dallas) Koppel & Laffi Drive Heritage Silver Auctions Over $1.77 Million In 2019........................28
from a phone bidder (New York City) Fine Art – Folk & Formal – Dominates At Christie’s..............................................29
who prevailed against (New York City) Doyle’s Single-Owner “Cherished” Sale Lays Joy On Bidders..............................32
competition in the room, (New York City) Weathervanes, Hancock Manuscript Lead For Sotheby’s.....................................39
online and absentee bid- (New York City) Keno Offers Boutique Sale, Queen Anne Chair Makes $87,500............................44
ders. The painting,
which depicted a “digni- EXHIBITIONS
fied New England lady”
seated with her left (Washington, DC) Immersive Digital Exhibition Highlights Importance Of Cultural Heritage Preservation...5
hand on a book titled … (Middletown, Conn.) Wesleyan Exhibits Diane Simpson’s “Cardboard Plus”.................................................7
arman Voyage, had been (Kansas City, Mo.) Gordon Parks, Muhammad Ali Exhibition At Nelson-Atkins..............................................9
estimated at $30/50,000. (Hudson, N.Y.) “Animals A-Z” Art Show At Kaaterskill Gallery.......................................................................11
For more information, (Los Angeles) Balthazar At The Getty...............................................................................................................12
www.nyshowplace.com (Tarrafal De Sao Nicolau, Cape Verde) New Bedford Whaling Museum Opens Maritime Exhibition...........26
or 212-633-6063. (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) Coins Of Islam’s History Revealed.................................................................27
(Ghent, Belgium) Van Eyck’s Optical Revolution At Museum Of Fine Arts.....................................................27
American Birds Prevail (Paris) Louvre Permanently Installs Elias Crespin Kinetic Work.....................................................................27
At Freeman’s Sale (New York City) Antonine Blanchard’s Nostalgic Parisian Street Scenes At Rehs Gallery............................28
(Woodstock, N.Y.) Otto Bierhals At Woodstock Artists Association & Museum...........................................46
PHILADELPHIA — (New Paltz, N.Y.) Dorsky Museum Opens 12 Years Of Hudson Valley Artists...............................................46
Books, maps and manu- (New York City) Iconoclastic Artist Peter Saul’s First NYC Survey At New Museum.................................... 48
scripts were unfurled at
Freeman’s on January 30 AND ALSO...
with an exuberant showing
by the naturalists. Top lot in Across The Block...........................................................................................................................22
the sale was John James Estate Sales..................................................................................................................................49
Audubon’s “American White Historic Homes
Pelican” from The Birds of
America, London: R. Havell, NYC Parks Commemorates Black History Month With “Namesakes” Exhibitions.......................47
1836, which reached International.............................................................................................................................26-27
$62,500, including buyer’s Q&A: Stanley Weiss.........................................................................................................................1
premium. The hand-colored Real Estate....................................................................................................................................47
engraving with aquatint Transitions.....................................................................................................................................34
and etching was engraved (Medford, Mass.) Tufts University Art Galleries Receive National Endowment Of The Arts Grant....3
by R. Havell after J.J. Audu- (New York City) Olde Hope Welcomes Folk Art Fans To Manhattan.................................................4
bon’s watercolor. Sheet size (Milford, N.H.) Gallery Talk With White Mountain Artist At NH Antique Co-Op.................................6
was 37-3/8 by 24-5/8 inches. (Bronx, N.Y.) NYBG’s Winter Lecture Series, “The Garden Came First”............................................9
The pelican led but was not (Nantucket, Mass.) Historical Association Launches New Online Collections Catalog...................11
alone in the top tier. Selling (Deerfield, Mass.) Call For Papers: “Living With Disabilities In New England, 1600-1900”...........12
for $50,000 was Audubon’s (Springfield, Ill.) Weaponizing Lincoln’s Top Hat: Part II................................................................16
“Great Blue Heron,” Lon- (Columbus, S.C.) South Carolina’s Confederate Relic Room Ponders Name Change.....................23
don: R. Havell, 1834. Taking (Etwall, Derbyshire, U.K.) Historic Royal Palaces Acquire Queen Victoria’s Boots, Royal Outfit.....26
$46,875 was George Catlin’s “North American Indian Portfolio,” (London) Tilde Swinton Backs Public Appeal To Buy Derek Jarman House...................................26
London, 1844 and later, a nearly complete set, comprising 29 of (Houston, Texas) MFAH To Open Nancy & Rich Kinder Building....................................................34
31 hand-colored lithographs after Catlin. For more information, (Portland, Ore.) Portland Art Museum Receives $10 Million Gift...................................................34
www.freemansauction.com or 215-563-9275. (Rome, Italy) Dame Brigette Kruse Becomes First Auctioneer Knighted By A Royal Family...........34
(New York City) Wunsch Award Ceremony Fills House..................................................................................38
Correction (Greensburg, Penn.) Westmoreland Diversity Coalition Awarded Heinz Endowments, “Just Arts” Grant...43
(Lake George, N.Y.) Antiques Market Place Anniversary Celebration.............................................................48
WINDSOR, CONN. —The Windsor Historical Society’s lecture, (Newport, R.I.) Annual Colloquium Spotlights Young Scholars.....................................................................49
“Native Americans In Connecticut Before Casinos,” will be on
Wednesday, February 12, not on Thursday as it was stated in last
week’s paper. For more information or tickets, 860-688-3813 or
www.windsorhistoricalsociety.org.

38 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

The recipients of the 2020 Eric M Wunsch Award for Excellence in the American Arts, presented by the Wunsch Americana Foundation, were
Laura Beach, Lita Solis-Cohen and Mira Nakashima. From left, Eric Wunsch, Lita Solis-Cohen, Mira Nakashima, Peter Wunsch, Laura Beach
and Noah Wunsch. Photo courtesy Christie’s.

WunschAward Ceremony FillsHouse

For Laura Beach, Lita Solis-Cohen & Mira Nakashima

By Greg Smith for communicating with potential and the industry — it really is about more I experience, the more I learn,
NEW YORK CITY — More than future lovers in American design. the people.” and the more I can appreciate the
400 people filtered into a Christie’s This conversation reminded me that best. That’s why I like to cover
sales room on January 22 as The we frequently talk about innovation In her three decades of reporting, regional sales and small shows in
Wunsch Americana Foundation, led in the abstract, as an imperative in Beach has written for The Magazine gymnasiums, ice rinks, fairgrounds,
by Peter Wunsch with sons Eric and and of itself, but with ambiguous Antiques and contributed to Antiques firehouses, church halls, hotel ball
Noah, honored the 2020 recipients of goals and metrics for success. Inno- & Fine Art, The New York Times, rooms, tents, convention centers and
the Eric M Wunsch Award for Excel- vating with intent is an objective Architectural Digest, Art + Auction armories, I go to all of them. And
lence in the American Arts, given that we as an organization will pri- and Connoisseurs Quarterly, and January in New York is my favorite
this year to Laura Beach, Lita Solis- oritize in the coming years, evaluat- authored a book on artist Stephen week of the year, its where the cream
Cohen and Mira Nakashima. ing high-impact initiatives and plat- Huneck. rises. It’s great fun, and a great way
Eric Wunsch welcomed the crowd to forms for American design. Evolving to stay young.”
the 8th edition of this ceremony, ref- the narrative in traditions of Ameri- Lita Solis-Cohen has been writing
erencing the intrinsic qualities that can design has been a guiding princi- about antiques since 1973. The Mira Nakashima accepted the
the Wunsch Americana Foundation pal for tonight’s honorees.” 89-year-old senior editor at Maine award for her efforts in continuing
looks for in the recipients of its Antiques Digest (MAD) worked at the legacy of the Nakashima Wood-
award, while describing the attri- Indeed, two of the award recipients the Philadelphia Museum of Art in workers studio following her father
butes and initiatives that will guide were journalists, and both were the education department for 20 George Nakashima’s death in 1990.
the direction of the foundation mov- directly responsible for shaping the years before she picked up her pen, Mira spoke about the rise of the
ing forward. narrative in the antiques field in coming into the business of antiques international market for her contem-
“I’d like to think in some small way past decades. Both Laura Beach and market reporting as the flint snapped porary studio’s offerings as well as
this annual coming-together of the Lita Solis-Cohen have reported on down and the prices boomed. Solis- those made by her father earlier on.
American design community approx- landmark sales, research initiatives Cohen is known for her candidness She credited the secondary market
imates … an occasion to share ideas, presented through exhibitions and and determination to shine a light on for this — in establishing the
new initiatives and opportunities, notable publications, antiques shows the Americana market. Editor and Nakashima style among the highest
and to celebrate the accomplish- and discoveries. publisher of MAD S Clayton Pen- levels in the American design canon
ments of our friends and colleagues,” nington called her, “in a word, inde- of the Twentieth Century.
Eric Wunsch said. “Speaking with Upon accepting her award, Laura fatigable.”
one of our honorees last week, giving Beach, the editor-at-large of Antiques In conclusion, Peter Wunsch reiter-
an overview of what the foundation and The Arts Weekly, said, “I’ve In true-to-form fashion, Solis- ated his foundation’s directive in
is working on and moving ahead on always been interested in the people Cohen accepted the award by building a bridge between historic
in 2020, we talked about the need for that made this business what it is, embarking on her testimony of the American design and the very best
innovation, energy and disruption in this field what it is. Their passion for market, using single owner sales, from Twentieth Century and con-
American antiquities, and vehicles objects and their determination to landmark results and discoveries to temporary makers. The foundation
document objects in a scholarly way. illustrate the highlights of her career. plans to release word of its upcoming
That, to me, is what animates objects In addition to covering these impor- initiatives in the near future.
tant events, Solis-Cohen said, “The

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 39

Americana Week Achieves $12.4 Million, Sees Startling Uptick In New Bidders—

Weathervanes, Hancock Manuscript Lead For Sotheby’s

Auction Action In New York City

NEW YORK CITY — Taking sales had never before bid on ing Ring,” which was in the Janu- stown, N.Y.. It sold slightly below sale’s performance or that of
place on Saturday, January 25 Americana.” While they would ary 26 sale of various-owners presale expectations. Sotheby’s team. “Sotheby’s, Erik,
were two single-owner collec- not go so far as to directly attri- Important Americana and had Sarah, Caroline and their entire
tions and, on Sunday, January bute that increase to turnout for been placed prominently at the Collection of Barbara & team did an awesome job. My
26, the various-owners Impor- Buatta, one must assume the front of the saleroom. It brought Arun Singh wife and I could not have asked
tant Americana that included increased attendance had some $250,000 from a married couple for better. You have to be realis-
furniture, folk art, silver, Chinese impact on the sales. bidding in the room who identi- The first sale to cross the block tic considering the market. We
export and prints. A sale of man- fied themselves as “longtime pri- the morning of Saturday, Janu- did very well and are very
uscript and printed Americana The top lot achieved at Sothe- vate collectors.” It had been esti- ary 25 was “Triumphant Grace: pleased.” The Singhs, who were
followed on Monday, January 27. by’s of American furniture or folk mated at $200/300,000. Important Americana from the in New York City prior to the
Once the gavel fell on the final of art was a copper and zinc fire Collection of Barbara and Arun sale, did not attend but were
872 lots, a total of $12,485,875 pumper and horse-drawn weath- Another weathervane from the Singh,” which grossed a total of delighted at how well received
had been sold. ervane by Cushing and White “New Dimension of Tradition” $3,002,375 and was about 87 their collection was.
that brought $437,500 from a sale filled the third-place place at percent sold by lot.
Previous editions seemed larg- private collector bidding on the $237,500. A phone bidder won The top lot of their sale was a
er — not only in the number of phone in the Saturday afternoon the monumental copper and zinc Reached by phone at his Rhode Chippendale carved cherrywood
lots offered — but also in the session of “A New Dimension of “Cooperstown” Cow weather- Island home after the sale, Arun bonnet-top high chest from Col-
total prices realized so this Tradition: Important American vane, so named because it had Singh could not have been more chester, Conn., that a trade buyer
reporter took a closer look at how Folk Art” sold to benefit the once dominated the roofline of a complimentary of either the
the sales have shaken out. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. It barn (and later Singer Sewing
first year Sotheby’s coordinated had been estimated at Machine company) in Cooper-
American books and manu- $100/150,000 and, in the end,
scripts to sell alongside Ameri- competition came down to two Review and Onsite Photos by
cana was in 2017, when a total of phone bidders. Madelia Hickman Ring, Assistant Editor
1,261 lots were offered for a total
of $19.3 million. That volume Taking second-place honors Catalog Photos Courtesy Sotheby’s
stayed constant in 2018 but the was Ammi Phillips’ “Portrait of a
sales only achieved $13.9 million. Seated Child in a Pink Dress
A year ago, the sales saw an with a Spaniel and Coral Teeth-
increase in both volume of lots
and total prices grossed, realiz- More than 40 percent of all bidders in
ing $16.8 million in about 1,400 (Sotheby’s) American Furniture &
lots. This year, while the total Folk Art sales had never before bid on
lots and sales sold was less, the Americana.” —Sotheby’s Press Office
per-lot average was higher than
the previous two years. A phone bidder jumped ahead of a trade buyer in the room
to capture this grasshopper weathervane for $200,000
Commenting after the sale, ($100/150,000) (Benefit of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston).
Erik Gronning, Sotheby’s
Americana Head of Depart- This pair of portraits of Samuel and Letitia Sloane, attrib-
ment, said “Overall, I was very uted to Ammi Phillips, made $75,000 from a phone bidder
happy. You always want to do (Singh Collection).
better, but I thought the week
did really well.”

Prior to the Americana offer-
ings crossed the block, Sotheby’s
had scheduled two days of sales
to sell the collection of the late
decorator Mario Buatta (see
sale recap in this issue, pages
24-25). In an attempt to capital-
ize on potential crossover inter-
est, Gronning had placed the
various owner’s exhibition on one
of the floors exhibiting material
from the Buatta sale. After the
dust settles, a Sotheby’s spokes-
person said, “More than 40 per-
cent of all bidders in (Sotheby’s)
American Furniture & Folk Art

The second-highest price in the various owners “Important
Americana” sale was $150,000, achieved for this 51-piece
Chinese export Rockefeller pattern part dinner service,
Qing dynasty, circa 1810 ($30/50,000).

The top price achieved for the Singh Collec- The top lot of any lot sold by Sotheby’s dur- A phone bidder sewed up the competition on this early Bos-
tion was $200,000 for this Chippendale Col- ing Americana Week was this John Hancock ton canvaswork picture depicting a hunting scene, that
chester, Conn., high chest of drawers. It went signed manuscript letter. Manuscript deal- realized $100,000 ($100/150,000).
to a trade buyer in the room ($150/300,000). er, Seth Kaller, bought it with a client part-
ner for inventory for $1,040,000 ($600/800,000)
(Printed & Manuscript Americana).

40 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

Pat Bell of Olde Hope Antiques squirreled
away this weathervane for $150,000
($150/250,0000) (Benefit of Museum of Fine
Arts, Boston).

This fire pumper weathervane sounded the alarm and bid- The top lot in the various owners sale of fur-
ders responded with all hands on deck, securing the ses- niture, folk art, silver, Chinese export and
sion’s top price of $437,500 ($100/150,000) (Benefit of Muse- prints was this sweet portrait of a seated
um of Fine Arts, Boston). child with dog by Ammi Phillips private col-
lectors in the room took home for $250,000
($200/300,000).

This cow weathervane from a Cooperstown, N.Y., barn was According to Gronning, “we had tremen- Whomever Erik Gronning was on the phone
not quite life-size but it won second-place from a phone bid- dous institutional interest” in this portrait with for this Boston Chippendale games
der who paid $237,500 ($250/350,000) (Benefit Museum of of a black man by William Matthew Prior. table wanted it badly, beating a trade buyer
Fine Arts, Boston). David Schorsch, who acquired it for in the room to win it for $62,500 ($20/30,000).
$112,500 on the phone, said afterwards, “It’s
one of the rarest folk portraits I’ve owned.”

in the room took for $200,000. The highest price for one of several China trade landscapes in the Singh Collection was the colorful selection of 13 game-
Other furniture highlights $112,500, for this panoramic view of Macao, which saw competition from the phones and boards was the clear winner. The
include a Connecticut River Val- online bidders ($30/50,000). combined low/high estimate of
ley inlaid chest of drawers with the group was $26,500/39,200
wonderfully scalloped top that a and saw a top price of $68,750 for who held up the paddle when results were seen for a two vanes but the aggregate total of the
phone bidder won for $37,500. a self-portrait attributed to Mrs the gavel came down. A trade that stood at the front of the prices realized was $131,875,
The chest was immediately fol- Moses B. Russell. buyer in the room paid $50,000 room during the sale: a grasshop- with a top price of $27,500
lowed by a pair of compass-seat for a “Lady Suffolk” horse per weathervane that a phone achieved for an unusual poly-
side chairs attributed to John Other artists who achieved weathervane made by J. How- bidder acquired for $200,000 and chrome painted example that an
Townsend that a trade buyer in strong prices were William Mat- ard and a phone bidder won a a squirrel vane that brought online bidder claimed.
the room snapped up for thew Prior, whose three portraits Chinese export carved eagle $150,000 from Patrick Bell. It
$52,500. The mode for Rhode of “The Woods Children” realized plaque for $43,750. was one of several purchases the Aside from the portrait of Jack-
Island seating furniture contin- $62,500 from a phone bidder, New Hope, Penn., and New York son mentioned above, folk por-
ued when a set of six Federal while Ammi Phillips’ portrait of Folk Art sold to benefit the City dealer made throughout all traits were modestly represent-
carved mahogany shield-back Nancy Smith Lamphear finished Museum of Fine Arts Boston three Americana sales, bidding ed. An online bidder paid
side chairs that had provenance within expectations, at $75,000; The start of the afternoon ses- in the room for both clients and $14,400 for a portrait of a young
to Israel Sack made $47,500 that was the same price dealer sion was slightly delayed allow- inventory. girl in white, while a husband
from an online bidder. Peter Sawyer paid for Phillips’ ing bidders from the morning and wife collecting couple in the
pair of portraits of Samuel and session a break in the bidding Bringing high expectations was room acquired a pair of folk por-
The second highest price Letitia Sloane. Another portrait action. The sale of 135 lots was a portrait of Andrew Jackson by traits from an unattributed art-
achieved in the sale was for a that sold within estimate was titled, “A New Dimension of Tra- Edward Hicks that crossed the ist for $6,000.
Chinese export panoramic view “Portrait of a Young Girl in dition: Important American Folk block early in the sale. It had
of Macao that sold for $112,500 Pink....” attributed to Joseph Art;” proceeds from the sale been acquired in 2007 for The collection offered a few
to an online buyer competing Whiting Stock that brought would benefit a new Folk Art ini- $352,000 and had been priced at pieces of painted furniture,
against several phone bidders. $50,000. Leigh Keno won a pair tiative at the Museum of Fine $120/180,000; a phone bidder which performed to middling
The selection of China trade of profile portraits by Ruth Hen- Arts, Boston. The sale totaled won it for $106,250. John Scholl’s results. The yellow comb-deco-
paintings in the Singh’s collec- shaw Bascom for $62,500, as well $2,151,625 and was 97 percent “celebration whimsy” brought rated and pine “tree of life” blan-
tion was small but choice and as a lot of three small silhouette sold by lot. less than expected when it sold ket chest featured on the catalog
the rest of the works all exceed- portraits by the “Puffy Sleeve Weathervanes were clearly the to an online bidder for $43,750 cover did not quite meet its low
ed expectations. Winning bids Artist,” for $47,500. dominant category offering 18 and a stoneware jar decorated estimate when an absentee bid-
came from the phones, online examples, with all but two sell- with a baseball player slid just der bought it for $22,500; a trade
and both trade and private buy- Other notable results from the ing and securing seven of the top past its low estimate when a buyer in the room acquired a
ers in the room. Singh collection included a pair ten prices realized in the sale. trade buyer in the room brought pair of green and red painted
of Salem, Mass., fire buckets Aside from the two examples it home for $35,000. sack-back Windsor armchairs at
Expectations were perhaps that realized $40,000 from Bob noted above, other notable the low estimate, for $15,000.
highest for the Singh’s collection and Kathy Booth, bidding in the If one views performance as Failing to find a buyer was a
of folk art portraits: It featured room with their granddaughter, price realized against estimates, smoke-decorated tall case clock
works by most of the iconic art- with works by Silas Hoadley that
ists in the canon. The third high- had an estimate of $150/250,000
est price paid in the sale was for and was bought in at $75,000.
a pair of portraits of Junia Loret- Various Owners Americana
ta Bartlett and Levi Stevens
Bartlett by John Brewster Jr Selling on Sunday, January 26
(1766-1854) that a phone bidder was Sotheby’s sale of “Important
took to $106,250 and which were Americana,” including furniture,
underbid in the room by Leigh folk art, silver, Chinese export
Keno bidding for a client. Strong and prints, all consigned from
results for portraits was a trend various owners. The sale made
that began immediately, with a $4,123,125, which, overall, was
selection of several portrait min- 75.7 percent sold by lot. The
iatures kicking off the sale. Most American furniture and folk art
of the miniatures were pur- portion of the sale achieved
chased by the same phone bidder $2,1440,500, with 133 of the 164

February 14, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 41

The Singh Collection had a wealth of portraits to choose
from, with $106,250 being the highest price paid for this
pair of the Bartlett children by John Brewster Jr. A phone
bidder prevailed over Leigh Keno bidding in the room for a
client ($50/80,000).

Philadelphia Chippendale chest-on-chests Flying highest of the nearly 30 prints after The saleroom during the various owners Important Ameri-
still bring top money. This example, the case John James Audubon was this example of cana sale, when the Ammi Phillips portrait of a child in a
attributed to Thomas Affleck with carving the American White Pelican (Plate CCCXI) pink dress crossed the block. It would sell for $250,000, the
attributed to Hercules Courtenay, was the that flew past its $90/120,000 estimate to highest price in that sale.
highest price paid for a piece of furniture in land at $137,500.
the various owners “Important Americana”
sale. It brought $112,500 from a trade buyer “You have to be realistic
in the room ($100/150,000). considering the market.”

—Dr. Arun Singh

lots offered selling, for a sell The catalog suggested this A phone bidder bought this portrait of Andrew Jackson by
through rate of 81.9 percent. stoneware example to depict Edward Hicks, for $106,250 ($120/180,000) (Benefit of Muse-
a baseball player. A trade um of Fine Arts, Boston)
The top lot from the session buyer in the room knocked
was Ammi Phillips’ “Portrait of a it out of the park for $35,000 An online bidder prevailed cross-over interest in American tacular libraries and museums
Child in a Pink Dress with Span- ($30/50,000) (Benefit Muse- against a trade buyer in the material in any form and sched- capable of maintaining and
iel and Coral Teething Ring” that um of Fine Arts, Boston). room to snap up this sculp- uled a sale of printed and manu- exhibiting this document, I hope
brought $250,000 from a couple buyer won a Classical carved tural “whimsy” by John script Americana. This year, we can find someone from the
of “longtime private collectors” Recamier attributed to Samuel Scholl for $43,750 ($60/80,000) that sale of 169 lots realized state to acquire it and bring it
bidding in the room. The paint- Field McIntire for $27,500. (Benefit of Museum of Fine $3,208,750 and was 72.8 percent home."
ing was not fresh to the market, Arts, Boston). sold by lot. The final lot in the
and had been sold at Skinner in “It’s one of the rarest folk por- by Anna Woodbury (Swett) of sale brought not only the high- Speaking after the sale, Selby
2013, where it brought $144,000 traits I’ve owned,” said David Boston that Sotheby’s sold in est price in the sale but topped Kiffer, Sotheby’s senior vice
against a $200/300,000 estimate. Schorsch, referring to the por- 2014 for $185,000. all of the results in all of the president and international
Sotheby’s had priced it at the trait of a young black gentleman other sales that made up Sothe- senior specialist in the Books &
same estimate. that he acquired over the phone “We had lots of institutional by’s Americana week. Seth Manuscripts department, com-
for $112,500. The Woodbury, interest throughout the sale,” Kaller, Inc, was the winning bid- mented: “As the top lot of Ameri-
The second highest price in the Conn., dealer thought he might Gronning sale, though admitted der of John Hancock’s signed cana week and such a quintes-
sale was $150,000, achieved for a be able to learn more about the museums were often underbid- manuscript letter announcing sentially American document, it
51-piece Chinese export part din- sitter and said it was one of ders instead of winning bidders. the adoption of the Declaration is encouraging to see the
ner service in the Rockefeller fewer than ten and one of only Colonial Williamsburg reported of Independence, 6 July 1776. renewed strength and growth in
pattern, so named because sev- two still in private hands. It was buying the portrait of William Estimated at $600/800,000, it this category since we intro-
eral members of the Rockefeller one of a few pieces he acquired Henry Capers of St Helena, S.C., realized $1,040,000. After the duced this sale to Americana
family were known to own pieces for stock, noting as well a horse by Ralph Earl for $17,500 in the sale, Kaller said, “Despite all of Week in 2017 with the sale of a
of the service. A Chinese export weathervane attributed to the various owner’s sale. the flaws and blind sights of the family archive Alexander Ham-
“Hong” punch bowl was another Rochester Iron Works he had founders, they created a system ilton. With competitive bidding
notable result from that part of purchased a day earlier that he Printed & Manuscript for their day, but also an ideal on the phones, online, and in the
the sale, bringing $75,000, well called “one of the greatest exam- Americana vision of what their system was salesroom yesterday, Ameri-
beyond expectations. ple of any of those cast iron hors- meant to be. When Thomas Jef- cana’s continued success is a
es I’ve ever seen.” For the fourth consecutive year, ferson said that “all men are cre- testament not only to its cross-
A print of an American White Sotheby’s has capitalized on ated equal,” he wasn’t describ- interest appeal to new buyers,
Pelican after John James Audu- Gronning had pegged a Boston ing the nation he saw then, but but to the depth of Americana
bon achieved $137,500, the canvaswork picture depicting a the nation we could be. Of the 13 collectors.”
third highest price in the sale. hunting scene with dogs to be letters to the states, it is not
It was followed closely by one of the leading lots and it known if six survive. Now that Sotheby’s is at 1334 York Ave-
another Audubon print; the was, selling on the phone for Georgia, in particular, has spec- nue, at 72nd Street. For more
Great Blue Heron landed at $100,000. It appears to have information, 212-606-7000 or
$118,750. Two other Audubon been fresh to the market but www.sothebys.com.
prints finished in the top ten related to an example wrought
prices in the sale, with “Hoop-
ing Crane” and “Snowy Owl”
each bringing $62,500 against
matching $50/70,000 estimates.

The top-selling piece of Ameri-
can furniture was a circa 1770
Chippendale carved mahogany
chest on chest from Philadelphia,
the case attributed to Thomas
Affleck and the carving attribute
to Hercules Courtenay that stood
at the front of the saleroom dur-
ing the sale. It brought $112,500
from Alan Miller, bidding in the
room on behalf of a client. Also, of
note was a Boston Chippendale
games table that sold for $62,500
and within estimate to a buyer
bidding on the phone with Gron-
ning. A strong price of $43,750
was paid for a Chippendale bed-
stead that had descended in the
Lee family and an absentee

42 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 14, 2020

Rare & Eclectic Book Collections, Toys, Trains, Dolls
& Models Fill Hudson Valley’s February 10 Auction

BEACON, N.Y. — Hudson Val- auction on Monday, February The sale begins with a Wilkes
ley Auctioneers will present an 10, beginning promptly at 2 pm Barre, Penn., estate library of
unreserved antique and estate Eastern time. approximately 400 volumes
cataloged into 165 lots. This is
Of note is a large abstract oil signed Michelle West (Lee) an old family estate whose
titled “Continuity of Change.” occupants’ varied interests
reflected the Eighteenth
through Twentieth Centuries From an estate library of approximately 400 volumes, vin-
with books on travel and explo- tage and antique books will be offered.
ration, history and politics and
A model maker’s collection of vintage steam train memora- art and science. and 30 assorted other works of flatware and hollowware, sev-
bilia will be offered. art, mostly large oils. Of note is eral lots of midcentury from a
Following the library will be a large abstract oil signed White Planes estate liquida-
170 lots of vintage toys, trains Michelle West (Lee) titled tion, Nineteenth Century art-
and dolls, including an original “Continuity of Change” and a works from a Nyack, N.Y., home,
Jumeau, a collection of pup- large carved granite linear and furniture and decorative
pets, marionettes, stages and sculpture by Minoru Nizuma. accessories from a Tuxedo Park
related items, many from From the large collection of art mansion round out the sale.
China and Burma, from a Hud- still to be cataloged from the
son, N.Y., collectors estate; the Forest Hall, Milford, Penn., col- Hudson Valley Auction galler-
owner had plans of opening a lection are five oil on linen ies are at 432 Main Street. Pre-
museum. abstracts with various titles by views are Sunday 1 to 5 pm,
Hans Jaenisch ex Leonard Hut- and the doors open at 10 am on
Next up on the block is the ton Galleries circa 1963. Fifteen Monday prior to the 2 pm start,
estate of a world-class model estate carpets, several lots or by appointment. For more
maker’s finished and unfin- Asian porcelains, photographs, information, www.hudsonval-
ished train and boat steam metalworks and art are scat- leyauctioneers.com, call sales
models, as well as a large col- tered throughout the auction. manager Theo DeHaas, 845-
lection of British railroadania, 480-2381, or auctioneer Neil
including a comprehensive Hundreds of ounces of sterling Vaughn, 914-489-2399.
book collection on the subject,
sold as one lot. There will be
enameled signs, posters,
antique prints and other items
of interest.

Around 6 pm the sale will
shift to 265 lots of general
estate items.

Jim Donovan had collected
with an eye for the whimsical,
the dramatic and the enjoyable
in art, sculpture, decoration
and function. Continuing to
liquidate his estate collection,
this sale features several small
modernistic bronze sculptures

Two-Session Antiques & Estates Auction
At Coyle’s On February 18

MEDWAY, MASS. — Coyle’s 1,000 glass photo negative A private collection of approximately 1,000 glass photo neg- Antique Asian porcelain
Auction will offer a two-ses- slides from a local estate. The atives from early 1900s will be sold in lots in session one. vase with cobalt and gold
sion antiques and estates auc- photographs are believed to This #1863 Engine image is from Franklin, Mass. (photo is accents and finely executed
tion on Tuesday, February 18, have been taken by a Franklin printed copy of the original negative). birds.
at the VFW Hall. The auction resident by the name of mixed media signed L. Canelle;
will feature the contents of an Nathan Wales in the early tambour desk and other estate with rake, 31-inch bust of an oil on canvas wooded land-
old Milton, Mass., home. All 1900s. They feature images of furniture. woman marked Danezan Paris, scape by H. Lohr; a J.R. Miles
fresh-to-the-market offerings the local areas of Franklin, 24-inch Asian motif bronze seascape; a large oil on canvas
were collected more than 45 Bellingham, Wrentham, Plain- A 25-inch-high antique Asian vase with elephant head han- landscape with cows and farm-
years ago and have been in the ville, Sheldonville and others. porcelain vase with cobalt and dles, 15-inch signed Japanese house signed Stahl; German
home untouched until now. Images include the Whiting gold accents and finely execut- bronze tiger on teakwood and genre paintings and many
Selected additions from Chest- and Davis shop, village black- ed birds and cranes will be one stand, 22-inch F. Barbedienne other pieces of art from the
nut Hill, Dover and Wellesley smith, a train wreck, Fourth of of the highlights of some of the — Fondeur bronze of George estates will cross the block.
homes and others will also be July parades and more. porcelain to be offered. A col- Washington bust and other
on offer. The auction will lection of Satsuma collected bronze items. An unusual onyx The VFW Hall is at 123 Hol-
include an eclectic mix of In addition, there are a num- years ago will be sold in small floor lamp with figural heads liston Street. For information,
antique furniture, a collection ber of images of Oak Bluffs, lots. French porcelain, large will be among several lamps 774-571-8263, 508-733-6868 or
of porcelain and china, art- Martha’s Vineyard, including Parian figures, Herend, cloi- included in sale. www.coylesauction.com.
work, bronzes, silver, Oriental horse and carriages waiting on sonné and other estate acces-
rugs and more, all sold without the dock for the ferry, ginger- sories will be included. Ster- Artwork, including a number TOLEDO, OHIO — “One
reserve. bread cottages, etc. The nega- ling silver includes Tiffany of estate oil paintings and Each: Still Lifes by Pissarro,
tives are mostly in original pieces, 196-piece Gorham watercolors, will highlight the Cézanne, Manet & Friends,” a
Session one of the sale begins sleeves with notes by the pho- Grand Baroque flatware set fine art. A small oil on canvas group of richly evocative French
at 3:30 pm and will feature a tographer and will be sold in with serving pieces, tea sets, of Hudson River area with two still lifes from a single decade,
collection of approximately about 15 lots by general loca- Russian enameled lot and figures, signed C.G. Griswold; the 1860s, are on view through
F. Barbedienne — Fondeur tion and theme. The majority other silver lots. A number of a W.T. Robinson 1902 still life April 12 at the Toledo Museum
bronze bust of George Wash- of the negatives are 4 by 5 bronzes from the Milton home oil; Italian watercolors; a pas- of Art at 2445 Monroe Street.
ington, 22 inches high. inches. Also included in the will be featured, including a toral painting, “Shepherd in For information, 419-255-8000
first session will be Oriental Hans Muller figure of woman Snow” landscape with sheep or www.toledomuseum.org.
rugs, a Douay Rheims family
bible presented 1882, many
unusual and interesting estate
“curiosity” lots, prints and
more.

At 5:30 pm, session two will
begin. Furniture offerings will
feature a Steinway black ebon-
ized baby grand piano
(M302995), a Joseph Gerte
nine-piece mahogany dining
set, plus inlaid sideboard,
antique carved pink marble
Oriental teakwood console
table, F&G Furniture (Cam-
bridge) breakfront with Wedg-
wood-style painted decoration,
marquetry inlaid French curio
cabinet, antique English cor-
ner cabinet, German Art Deco
carved oak desk, Italian carved
clock, rosewood sofa, inlaid


Click to View FlipBook Version