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Published by Colin Savage, 2020-01-29 03:55:44

ANTIQUES AND THE ARTS WEEKLY

Issue 2020 02 07

February 7, 2020ȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢ

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

Fine Feathered
Friends:

Ptarmigan turn white in winter in order to
blend in with their snowy surroundings and
hide from predators. They are the only bird
that molt into all-white feathers every year.
This porcelain plaque by William H. Mor-
ley features hand-painted ptarmigan in
full winter plumage. Plaque with Ptarmi-
gan, Lenox, Inc., decorated by William H.
Morley (1869-1934), Trenton, N.J., circa
1910. Porcelain. Collection of New Jersey
State Museum. Gift of Brown-Forman
Corporation.

By Kristin Nord
TRENTON, N.J. — Whether it’s warblers or wad-
ing birds, falcons or finches, New Jersey is an avian
hot spot — a state where the number of species count-
ed annually draws birders eager to add to their life
lists.
It was perhaps with these demographics in mind that
Nicholas P. Ciotola and Dana J. Ehret, co-curators of “Fine
Feathered Friends: Birds as Mainstay and Muse,” envisioned
an exhibition that would appeal to budding citizen natural-
ists of all ages.
“Because we draw such a diverse audience, we wanted to take an interdisciplinary approach that merges history, art
and science,” Ciotola explained. The end result is an array of objects that can be appreciated on several levels, both for
their aesthetic beauty and as a part of New Jersey’s story overall.
For the show, which opened recently at New Jersey State Museum, “We were very strict about drawing only from our
existing collections,” Ciotola said. “Of course, we could have borrowed any number of complementary objects, but we

( continued on page 30 )

Great Horned Owls are Birds
among the most common
owls in North America. As Mainstay
Their call is the familiar And Muse
sound of four or five
“hoots.” They live in
wooded areas and have
short, wide wings that
help them maneuver
around trees. Great
Horned Owl Taxidermy
Mount — Bubo virginia-
nus. Collection of New
Jersey State Museum.

This piece is a complete
lesson on a popular
backyard species. We
learn about habitat, hab-
its, gender roles and food
sources. Boehm placed a
green anole lizard in the
scene to show the
bird’s raucous
nature. Blue jays are
famous for issuing
loud alarm calls when
intruders enter their habitat.
“Blue Jays on Strawberries” by
Edward Marshall Boehm (1913-1969),
Trenton, N.J., 1962-1966. Porcelain.
Collection of New Jersey State Muse-
um, Gift of Mr and Mrs O.H. Delchamps.

2C — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 7, 2020

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 3C

4C — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 7, 2020

QA& February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 1

Joel Third

If art’s most basic purpose is to
communicate with a viewer, who
better to parse the nuance of con-
versation than a collector with a
career in technical communica-
tion. Joel Third spent much of his
life building the infrastructure for communications, the groundwork that no one thinks about when they make
a call or view a television program, so it makes sense that he would appreciate those who laid the groundwork
long ago as they documented travel routes, our understanding of the natural world and the images that would
become “us” or “ours.” Antiques and The Arts Weekly sat down with Third to talk about his collecting career and
where it has taken him.

What is your affiliation with the After graduation from Case Western Reserve in 1960 cated about half-way between the AT&T complex in
Keeler Tavern Museum and History with an electrical engineering degree, I started out North Andover, Mass., and Bell Labs in New Jersey.
Center? as a communications engineer for ITT Inc, Interna-
tional Telephone & Telegraph. I traveled all over the Did you do a lot of work with maps
My late wife, Bettie Jane, joined the Board of Direc- world. In 1990 I joined the international marketing in your job?
tors and became a docent after we arrived in Ridge- and sales group at Harris Corporation. We worked
field in 1992. She persuaded me to become involved on contracts with whoever wanted a communica- Oh, I certainly did. Back in the day before the
with the museum. I became president in 2012 for tions system. When I started with Harris in 1990, Hewlett Packard calculators, we used basic slide
a four-year term. During that time we had a capital we moved up to Montreal from New Jersey. In 1992, rules and maps and we had to lay out point-to-point
campaign to acquire and update the property next I interested the management in initiating a market- systems across the landscape, and they had to work
door. Cass Gilbert’s son built the brick home, now ing “relationship” position, focusing on AT&T, with no obstacles. So we did a lot of work on maps
the museum’s Visitors Center, in the 1930s. We Ericson and other large telecom providers. We chose and even did field surveys in, as examples, Germany,
bought the property back four years ago, complet- Ridgefield, Conn., to settle down in, which is lo- Ecuador, Vietnam, Angola and other African loca-
ing our four-acre campus. I’m still on the board and tions, as well as in the United States and elsewhere.
serve as the development director. I’m
very pleased that the museum has great One of my most memorable systems
donors, volunteers and members, as was the educational TV system
well as a creative, dedicated staff, all in Mississippi when PBS was first
who assure our viability as a nonprofit. getting Sesame Street launched. Mis-
The museum’s special focus is educa- sissippi Educational TV placed TV
tion, supporting the curriculum of transmitters for statewide coverage
around 2,000 students a year from the but lacked the interconnection with
4th grade to middle school, from not Jackson, the network center. We
only Ridgefield, but also surrounding designed and implemented a micro-
communities. Plus, I’ve given talks and wave transmission system to connect
exhibits at the museum. I owe my late all the transmitters. Because of the
wife a great deal for opening up the lack of detailed maps, considerable
rewarding opportunities for volunteer- field survey work was necessary and
ing in Ridgefield for me and actively I kept thinking, what if this doesn’t
work?

participating in the growth of the print When did you start col-
collection. lecting?

Tell me about the exhibits I started collecting maps in Ger-

you’ve done there. many in the 1960s, acquiring a map
at a Frankfurt antiques market and
I started with an exhibit and related then from other countries, such as
talk on John J. Audubon in the late England and Portugal. And other
90s, to obtain experience with presen- sources, including dealers such as
tations. I was planning to retire, which The Old Print Shop in Manhattan,
I did in 2007, and I needed challenging visiting English dealers, New York
pursuits to keep active. After that ex- shows and auction houses. I learned
perience, I did exhibitions at Founder’s about the hobby from all these
Hall senior center, Ridgefield Men’s groups.
Club, other organizations and more re-

cently at the Ridgefield Library, where So map collecting was
over the last five years I have done three your first area of interest?

extensive exhibits and related talks, the

last on Audubon, but also earlier ones Map collecting was my first inter-
on Currier & Ives and antique maps. est, then the Nineteenth Century

What did you retire from? Audubon bird prints and Curriers
and Ives lithographs.

In 2007 I retired from Harris Corpora- “Fish Crow” by John James Audubon, from The Birds of America. ( continued on page 16 )
tion headquartered in Melbourne, Fla.

2 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 7, 2020 Auction/Show Calendars - Page 36 INDEX - Page 37
www.AntiquesandTheArts.com

INWDAIANNTITEEMDS
Especially Southwest
Textiles, Kachinas, Pottery,
Early Jewelry, Baskets

Gallery Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11-5

JOHN C. HILL

6962 EAST 1ST AVENUE
SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85251

(480) 946-2910

[email protected]
www.johnhillgallery.com

LITCHFIELD AUCTIONS

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 3

‘Salvador Dalí: Gardens Of The Mind’
Opens At Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

SARASOTA, FLA. — The nat- consistently conjure this region “Marguerite (Chrysanthemum frutescens),”
ural world fascinated Surreal- in northeastern Spain. “Flordalí (Flor Dalínae)” by Salvador Dalí,
ist sensation Salvador Dalí 1968, photo lithography with drypoint etch-
(1904-1989). From February 9 “Flordalí” (1968), on loan from ing. Collection of the Dalí Museum, St
to June 28, “Salvador Dalí: Gar- the Dalí Museum in St Peters- Petersburg, Fla., 2019; ©Salvador Dalí, Fun-
dens of the Mind” will showcase burg, Fla., offers a series of out- dació Gala-Salvador Dalí, (ARS), 2019.
mind-bending floral artworks, landish blooms: a rose sprouts
anchored by his fantastical butterfly wings instead of “Rosa, Flordalí (Flor Dalinae)” by Salvador Dalí, 1968, photo lithography with drypoint
series of color lithographs, leaves; a lily’s similarity to a etching. Collection of the Dalí Museum, St Petersburg, Fla., 2019; ©Salvador Dalí, Fundació
“Flordalí,” at the Marie Selby horn-shaped gramophone gen- Gala-Salvador Dalí, (ARS), 2019.
Botanical Gardens. erates a music-themed compo-
sition; a common dahlia morphs landscapes. the outdoor gardens to the sion to Selby Gardens: $25
“‘Salvador Dalí: Gardens of into a unicorn. Artifacts and The exhibition is the fourth indoor displays of art. The Gold- adults; $15 children 4-17; free
the Mind’ will explore Dalí’s photos that foreground Dalí’s stein Series is part of Selby for members. Selby Gardens
work through the lens of a life, work and relationship to installment of the Jean and Gardens’ Living Museum will present Dalí-themed lec-
botanical garden, illuminating nature will also be on view, Alfred Goldstein Exhibition model, implemented in 2015, tures, performances, family pro-
how nature played a vital role along with several Dalí works Series, which explores the rich which has aimed to diversify grams, special tours, school cur-
in his art,” said Jennifer Romi- on loan from the collection of connections between nature revenue sources and resulted in ricula and additional programs
niecki, president and chief exec- Sarasota resident Keith D. and the arts. It is curated by the retirement of more than $2 that complement the exhibi-
utive officer of Selby Gardens. Monda. Ockman, Robert Sterling Clark million in debt along with rein- tion. A full schedule of events is
“We look forward to welcoming professor of art emerita at Wil- vestment in the garden’s mis- available at www.selby.org.
our guests into a world inspired Dubbed the “next Ansel liams College. Past exhibitions sion of education, horticulture
by Dalí’s imagination, where Adams” (Popular Photography, have focused on Marc Chagall, and botany. Marie Selby Botanical Gar-
the playful and unexpected 2004), for his dramatic black Andy Warhol and Paul dens is at 900 South Palm Ave-
take center stage.” and white photographs of pris- Gauguin, with unique garden Admission to the show is nue. For additional information,
tine American landscapes, pho- design elements that connect included with all-access admis- 941-366-5731
“‘Flordali,’ a rarely seen and tographer Clyde Butcher trav-
little-known body of work by eled to Spain in 2017 at the
the artist, features flowers request of the Dalí Museum. He
unlike any in nature,” observed visited the village of Cadaqués,
Dr Carol Ockman, curator at where Dalí spent childhood
large. “These whimsical works summers, Dalí’s house in Port
provide a unique entry into Lligat and the rugged region of
Dali’s Surrealist legacy, high- Cap de Creus — all areas that
lighting the enduring presence feature prominently in Dalí’s
of his beloved Catalonian land- works. Photographs from the
scape as well as his debts to resulting Visions of Dalí’s Spain
historic botanical illustrations series will also be on view as
and Renaissance perspective.” part of the exhibition.

Known for his artistic virtuos- Selby Gardens’ outdoor spaces
ity, flamboyant mustache and will be transformed for the
bravura showmanship, Dalí duration of the exhibition.
spent his childhood in Figueres, Inspired by Dalí’s bold blending
Spain, and at the family’s sum- of the expected and unexpected,
mer home in the coastal fishing floral and plant displays will
village of Cadaqués. In later pay homage to the key motifs of
years he would live with his the artist’s work, such as but-
wife, Gala, in nearby Port Lli- terflies, eggs, eyes, crutches,
gat. His famous spectral vistas mathematical concepts and

Center For Creative Photography Celebrates Light Gallery
TUCSON, ARIZ. — One of the as Patti Smith, Robert Map- Garry Winogrand. worked at Light, including The Center for Creative Pho-
most comprehensive exhibi- plethorpe, San Wagtaff, Andy The exhibition includes work Christopher Colville, Eric Pick- tography is at 1030 North Olive
tions to pay homage to New Warhol’s factory crowd, Diane ersgill, Lilly McElroy, Donna Road. For information, 520-621-
York City’s Light Gallery is on Keaton and Vicente Wolf. by contemporary photographers Ruff, JoAnn Verburg and Cas- 7968 or www.ccp.arizona.edu/
view at the Center for Creative represented by the four New sandra Zampini. home.
Photography through May 9. The exhibition coincides with York City gallery owners who
“The Qualities of Light: The the debut of a short documen-
Story of a Pioneering New York tary film, Light: When Photgra-
City Photography Gallery” phy Was Undiscovered, 1971-
showcase the work of more than 1987, by filmmaker Lisa
20 photographers whose work Immordino Vreeland.
rose to prominence during the
gallery’s run from 1971 to 1987, Founded by Tennyson Schad
including Ansel Adams, Harry in 1971, with its first location at
Callahan, Emmet Gowin, Linda 1018 Madison Avenue, Light
Connor, Betty Hahn, Eikoh Gallery expanded in 1976 with
Hosoe, Ray Metzker, Duane a move to a larger location at
Michaels, Stephen Shore, Aaron 724 Fifth Avenue, where it was
Siskind and Garry Winogrand. located until it closed in 1987.

Light Gallery grew to become The Center for Creative Pho-
an epicenter for art photogra- tography is uniquely positioned
phy back when photography to present the exhibition about
was only beginning to be con- Light as it counts among its 279
sidered an art, offering exclu- archives those of the gallery
sive representation for contem- itself, founding director Harold
porary photographers for the Jones, and many of the gallery’s
first time and allowing them to artists, including Tom Barrow,
build careers as independent, Arthur Bell, Wynn Bullock,
full-time artists. The gallery’s Harry Callahan, Joe Deal, Bar-
exhibitions drew such notables bara Crane, Robert Heinecken,
Bea Nettles, Aaron Siskind,
Todd Walker, Jack Welpott and

Garry Winogrand, “New York City,” 1968, gelatin silver
print, Center for Creative Photography, University of Ari-
zona purchase, ©The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy
Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco, Calif.

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

A rare and unusual Nineteenth century cast A large silver-gilt mirror by Christopher
iron overmantel depicting a European town Guy.
having a central clock flanked by three arm A monumental antique English mahogany
sconces. breakfront, circa 1800.

Two Auctions: Jan. 30 & Feb. 1—

Kamelot Prepares Online Sale Of
Mid Mod & Live Estate Sale

A pair of Italian club chairs in the manner of Paolo Buffa, PHILADELPHIA — Kamelot A curly maple Art Deco sideboard, circa 1935.
circa 1950. Auctions is kicking off 2020 with
A Nineteenth Century mahogany scroll arm upholstered two sales at the end of the month. stered club chairs or a sideboard wood mirror. Collectors of unusu-
sofa having shaped back rail and turned legs. An online-only Mid Mod sale will made of curly maple ($600/800). al antique furniture items may
take place on January 30, com- choose to bid on a Biedermeier
mencing at 1 pm EST. The fol- The estate auction on February sofa with hidden compartments
lowing Saturday, February 1, will 1 will contain pieces from the or a Nineteenth Century cast
be an estate auction, containing 50-year collection of a New York iron overmantel, both $800-
English and Irish furniture, City dealer. Elaborately carved $1,200.
lighting and decorative arts. Bid- English and Irish furniture,
ding will begin at 11 am in per- including an intricate oak fire- Previews for both auctions are
son at Kamelot’s gallery. For both place mantel and a sofa are currently in progress at Kamelot’s
sales, buyers are also welcome to prominently featured. Other through January 31 from 10 am
leave phone and absentee bids, standout lots are a monumental to 5 pm each day. Kamelot is at
as well as bid online. antique English mahogany 2220 East Allegheny Avenue. For
breakfront, circa 1800, ($2/4,000) more information, 215-438-6990
Kamelot’s first auction of the and an American Federal gilt- or www.kamelotauctions.com.
new year on January 30 is a col-
lection of midcentury designs,
heavily featuring Italian furni-
ture, including a pair of zebra-
patterned club chairs
($1,5/2,500) and an unusual
crescent-shaped sofa in two
parts. Also featured in this sale
are simple yet stylish pieces in
futuristic materials, such as
Lucite and chrome. Examples
include a sleek silver mirror by
Christopher Guy and a 1970s
Lucite pedestal. Those with
more classic tastes may prefer
the catalog’s selection of Art
Deco lots, such as an icicle chan-
delier, a pair of floral uphol-

Syracuse University Art Galleries Examine
Black Subjects In Modern Media Photography

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syra- image in the first half of the instance of humanity even as Louis B. Schlivek, “Grand Central Bookstore,” circa 1956.
cuse University Art Galleries Twentieth Century — a period they sustained a popular appe- George R. Rinhart Collection.
announces, “Black Subjects in marked by state-sponsored tite for racist imagery. The circu-
Modern Media Photography: white supremacy, a growing lation of material that catered to present it with the aim of pro- Practice of Race in Nineteenth-
Works from the George R. push for black self-determina- the tastes, bigotries, and political moting historically informed Century America (Oxford Uni-
Rinhart Collection,” on view tion and equality, and technolog- agendas of disparate viewers considerations of social relations versity Press). Bryant previously
through March 13. This exhibi- ical changes that expanded the thus marked the photographic and justice. co-curated an exhibit called
tion of 145 photographic images accessibility of photographs… I landscape with a broad assort- “Black Utopias” in 2015 for Bird
includes work by news photogra- think the assortment points to ment of black subjects. Bryant is an associate profes- library at Syracuse University.
phers working for Underwood & divergent social currents that sor and undergraduate studies
Underwood Publishers, as well shaped American visual cul- Pictures featuring varied director of African American The SUArt Galleries are on the
prints by noted artists Henri ture.” themes — Cities, Politics, Work, studies in the College of Arts and first floor, Shaffer Art Building
Leighton, Herbert Gehr, Char- Kinship, School, Religion, Lei- Sciences at Syracuse University. on the campus of Syracuse Uni-
lotte Brooks and Carl Van Vech- Photography’s technological sure, Childhood, Colonies, and She is the author of the forth- versity. For more information,
ten. On loan from the extensive advances converged with the Portraits — welcome viewers to coming book, Reluctant Race www.galleries.syr.edu or 315-
George R. Rinhart Collection, expansion of Jim Crow. The consider how people, places, and Men: Black Opposition to the 443-4097.
one of the largest private collec- racial discrimination that struc- practices were presented as
tions in the nation, and curated tured this system excluded black black subjects to mass audiences
by Joan Bryant, PhD, this pre- photographers from most media via newspapers, magazines, doc-
sentation offers a glimpse of the enterprises. Yet, their work was umentary projects, libraries, and
complexity and paradoxes of key to increased variety in mod- advertising. They raise several
black visual modernity. The ern portrayals of black life. questions that engage a photo-
prints on display welcome view- Using black-operated portrait graph’s capacity to convey mean-
ers to consider how black sub- studios, periodicals, and institu- ing and invite new interpreta-
jects were represented to mass tions, they produced images that tions of what it meant to create,
audiences through media such reflected and promoted self-defi- be, and see a modern black sub-
as newspapers, magazines, docu- nition and self-determination. ject.
mentary projects, libraries and
advertising. Against the backdrop of an Please note, this exhibition
expanding black-controlled visu- includes text and photographs
As stated by Bryant, “The exhi- al culture, white media estab- that document inequality, rac-
bition is an occasion to consider lishments increasingly dissemi- ism, and violence. Experiencing
what counts as a modern black nated pictures that showed such material might be chal-
blackness as an ordinary lenging for some viewers. We

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 5

The Autry Presents Its 23rd Annual
Masters Art Exhibition And Sale

LOS ANGELES — Fea- Masters embraces a wid-
turing 64 premier Western ening array of artists
artists, the Masters of the that together celebrate
American West art exhibi- both the history and con-
tion and sale opens Satur- temporary beauty of the
day, February 8, at the West.”
Autry Museum of the Entrance to the Masters
American West. This exhi- exhibition is included
bition and sale showcases with museum admission;
paintings and sculptures however, tickets are
by nationally recognized required for the opening-
artists, such as George weekend events. Masters
Carlson, G. Russell Case, weekend begins with the
Tammy Garcia, Logan Artists’ Dinner and exhi-
Maxwell Hagege, Mark bition preview on Friday,
Maggiori, Billy Schenck February 7, for event
and Mian Situ. sponsors and VIP Week- Peter Adams, “Enchanting Silhouettes, Cypress Cove; Point
Proceeds from Masters end ticket buyers. The Lobos, Calif.,” oil on panel, 24 by 30 inches.
supports the Campaign for evening includes a cock- Grant Redden, “The Old Stone Bunk House,” oil on linen, 23
the Autry, which helps tail reception, exhibition by 31 inches.
provide essential support preview, dinner and a
for the Autry’s educational new Buy It Now opportu-
programs, exhibitions and nity for miniatures. All
more than 100 public Autumn Borts Medlock, “Stellars Day,” miniatures are available
events annually. bronze, 13 by 19 inches. first-come, first-served
This year welcomes basis from 6 to 9 pm.
returning Masters artists Bill Anton, Michael Saturday daytime events include presenta-
Coleman and Kyle Polzin, and newcomers tions by renowned Masters artists Kim Wiggins
Autumn Borts-Medlock, Steve Kestrel and and Billy Schenck, a luncheon and the awards
Grant Redden. They will join fellow established presentation. The event continues in the eve-
artists in this annual exhibition and sale. All of ning with an art sale, where approximately 250
the artwork in the Masters show will remain fixed-price works are sold through a random
on view and available for purchase through drawing. The night concludes with food and live
Sunday, March 22. music at the after-sale soirée.
“Masters 2020 offers a glimpse into the ever- To purchase opening-weekend tickets, visit
vibrant and dynamic world of Western Ameri- www.theautry.org/masters or call 323-495-
can art,” said Amy Scott, the Autry’s executive 4391. Preregistration closes on Wednesday,
vice president for research and interpretation February 5, at 5 pm PST. Tickets may also be
and Marilyn B. and Calvin B. Gross curator of purchased onsite at Masters Guest Services on
visual arts. “A range of stylistic traditions, from Saturday, February 8, while supply lasts.
realism to impressionism and abstraction, now The Autry Museum of the American West is at
sit comfortably side by side. From classic fron- 4700 Western Heritage Way. For information,
tier stories to contemporary Native visions, 323-495-4370 or www.theautry.org.

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

Flannery’s To Sell Scrimshaw
Ditty Box February 10
PINE BUSH, N.Y. — On Mon- States and New Zealand in the was used as a utility box.
day, February 10, Flannery’s 1840s. The box is missing a lid The ditty box will be included
Estate Services will auction a and a hole puncture on back
newly discovered scrimshaw side. The box is decorated with in Flannery’s February 10
whale bone box made by A.M. a patriotic eagle with the Upcoming Estate Antiques Auc-
Lester, who was captain of the Masonic Eye Of God with an tion.
Bark Congress, which sailed inscription “Remember The
from Mystic, Conn., to the Giver;” the back side has sailing Flannery’s Estate Services is
northwest coast of the United ships at sea and each side is a full-service auction and
Whaleship scrimshaw cap- decorated with floral sprays appraisal company specializing
tain’s ditty box, circa 1840, within medallions. It was found in estate collections since 2002.
$2/4,000. in the garage of a local Orange It is located at 26 Recreation
County, N.Y., estate where it Park Road. For information,
845-744-2233 or www.flannery-
estateservices.com.

Heritage Auctions’ Largest Animation Auction Of All Time—

Animation Art Sale Tops $2.9 Million

Auction Action In Beverly Hills

Mary Blair Alice in Wonderland “Tulgey Wood Signpost”
concept painting (Walt Disney, 1951), sold at $42,000.

BEVERLY HILLS — Heri- year ever in animation art This “Mother Goose Goes Hollywood” production cel signed
tage Auctions’ Animation Art sales, with totals exceeding $6 to Groucho Marx by Walt Disney Courvoisier setup (Walt
Auction on December 13-15 million according to Heritage Disney, 1938) sold at $33,600.
broke records on its way to Auctions.
becoming the largest of all Disney legend inductee and Snow White and the Seven
time for Heritage. A painting “This was a phenomenal auc- one of Disney’s original “Nine Dwarfs, “Snow White” Produc-
from the halls of the Haunted tion, the biggest ever held, Old Men,” Marc Davis; it was tion Cel on Master Production
Mansion in New Orleans and covering three days and fea- hand painted between 1969 Background (Walt Disney,
a trove of work by iconic Dis- turing 1,838 lots,” Heritage and 1972. The paintings were 1937) at $33,600; and Pinoc-
ney artist Mary Blair sent Auctions Animation Art Direc- designed to be used in the ele- chio Concept Painting by Gus-
sales to $2,965,596 smashing tor Jim Lentz said. “Animation vator/stretching rooms for a taf Tenggren (Walt Disney,
the previous record of art, especially Disney art, is in period of six months, and then 1940) brought the same
$2,068,451, achieved by Heri- extremely high demand, and it replaced. amount.
tage Auctions in June 2019. showed in the results from The sale included 102 lots
this three-day sale.” The painting, depicting the from the personal collection of
The result of this sale, with Elderly Widow sitting across the late animator Revalee
Heritage’s June Animation Art The “Haunted Mansion” her husband’s tombstone, is “Rev” Chaney, a collection that
Auction, the Mickey Mouse Stretching Room Disneyland one of the rarest original brought more than $125,000.
and Friends — the animation painting (Walt Disney, 1969) hand-painted stretching room The artwork in the Chaney
art internet auction that prompted bids from 16 collec- paintings ever brought to mar- trove dates back to the 1940s,
brought $144,095 — as well as tors before more than doubling ket and is considered one of
the animation art lots that its auction estimate when it the most identifiable pieces of
sold in the weekly comics finished at $57,600. The lot is Disneyland Park original art.
online auctions, led to the best one of four historic paintings
for the mansion designed by The auction included 40 lots
from Mary Blair, who is identi-
fied regularly as Walt Disney’s when Warner Bros animation The “Haunted Mansion”
favorite artist. These included art was exceptionally rare. Stretching Room Disney-
the largest “It’s A Small World” Among the top lots from land painting (Walt Disney,
art collection ever brought to Chaney’s collection were 1969) more than doubled its
auction. Among the top lots by “Baseball Bugs Bunny” and auction estimate when it
Blair in the sale were her Gas House Gorilla Production finished at $57,600.
“Alice in Wonderland Tulgey Cels Group of two (Warner Brothers artwork when it fin-
Wood Signpost Concept Paint- Brothers, 1946), $9,600; “Hair ished at $1,440.
ing” (Walt Disney, 1951) real- Ribbin’/Daffy’s Southern
izing $42,000; “Cinderella Exposure Bugs Bunny and The auction even got caught
Concept Painting” (Walt Dis- Dog” Production Cel setup on up in the spirit of the season.
ney, 1950) at $36,000; and two Production Background (War- Holiday-themed lots captur-
others that also achieved ner Brothers, 1944/42), $5,880. ing the interest and bids of
$36,000 final price, two Won- Two lots set new records for eager collectors included Dr
derland Original Concept signed Walt Disney memora- Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole
Paintings from 1951. bilia; “Mother Goose Goes Hol- Christmas The Grinch and
lywood” Production Cel Signed Max” Production Cel Setup
The first animation auction to Groucho Marx by Walt Dis- and Key Master Background
to span three days featured a ney Courvoisier Setup (Walt (MGM, 1966), $22,800; and
collection from what has been Disney, 1938) yielded $33,600 “Peanuts A Charlie Brown
called Disney’s Golden Age of and a Walt Disney-signed let- Christmas Snoopy Steals
Animation that helped bring ter on Fantasia letterhead Linus’ Blanket” Production
film animation back to its (Walt Disney, 1941) brought Cel (Bill Melendez, 1965),
highest levels. Some of the top $15,600, while Bugs Bunny $12,600.
From the personal collection of the late animator Revalee lots in this category included Studio Model Drawing by Rev
“Rev” Chaney, “Baseball Bugs,” a pair of original hand Chaney (Warner Brothers, Prices, with buyer’s premium,
inked, hand painted Bugs Bunny and Gas House Gorilla 1940s) set a record for the as reported by the auction
production cels (Warner Brothers, 1946), realized $9,600. most paid for vintage Warner house. For further information,
877-437-4824 or www.ha.com.

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

Rare Comics Set To Surface At Bodnar’s Feb. 8 Auction
EDISON, N.J. — On Febru- best way to handle these up on the auction block are Marvel Tales, The Atom, Infe- The convention and expo
ary 8 at 11:30 am, Bodnar’s unique volumes. Most of the seven bound volumes of Sgt. rior Five, House of Mystery, center is at 97 Sunfield Ave-
Auction Sales will host its sec- books are stamped on the Rock, including #302-#407, Bob Hope, Challengers of the nue. For more information,
ond sale of the year at the front page “Property of The Brave and the Bold Com- Unknown and many issues of w w w. b o d n a r s a u c t i o n . c o m ,
New Jersey Convention Cen- Library, National Periodical ics #13-#24, Sgt. Bilko comics Adventure comics. 732-210-6388 or 866-349-
ter, and it’s taking shape to be Publications, Inc.” The fact #1-#18, a bound volume of All 7378.
quite the comic book sale. that the books are bound American Men of War, two Some other key issues are
There will be two collections would typically ruin any bound volumes of The Spectre, Fantastic Four #44-#46, #48-
featured in the sale, filled value, but who they are bound as well as bound volumes of #56, #59, #62, #64-#67, #73-
with many key issues and by makes all the difference in Wonder Woman, Aquaman, #76 and #112. There are many
interesting finds. the world. How many people special additions for US Navy, Superman comics with #199
can say they own a bound book Superman and Giant Super- as a highlight, a lot of World’s
Over the past few years, the that DC itself has used? man, and multiple volumes of Finest comics, including #156,
firm has become known for its Batman including #59 – the Peter Parker the Amazing Spi-
toy and comic book sales. With Included are a full run of first appearance of Deadshot derman #1 and many others,
a team of people who have Army of War #1-#301 in 26 and #62, with the Catwoman many Justice League comics,
knowledge in different areas bound volumes, and some key cover. including #29 and #31, some
of comics, the sale has grown highlights, including Lois Green Lantern comics with
far beyond anyone’s expecta- Lane #1-#13; seven bound vol- The second part of this col- issues #40, #45, and #58 as
tions, according to owner umes of World’s Finest #1-#16 lection comes from a man in well as many Doom Patrol
Joseph Bodnar. In the past few and #68-#122, which have key Massachusetts who was an comics with #99 and #121
years, Bodnar’s has sold many issues of Superman, Batman avid collector, bought most being some highlights.
key issues, including multiple & Robin; Green Lantern books at the stand, read them
copies of Amazing Fantasy 15 #1-#12 and #38-#49, which and then put them away. He is Crossing the auction block
and many other important has many key issues; 11 bound now moving onto another part will also be many key issues of
issues, all bringing out the big volumes of Adventure Comics of his life, and unfortunately, The Amazing Spiderman,
buyers. #46-#81, #112-#123, #152- the books cannot come with including #13, #86, #92, #95-
#163, #184-#195, #220-#243 him. After seeing the last #98, #102, #122, #123, #125,
First across the block will be and #268-#279, which includes comic book collection come #134-#137, #137 and #361.
a one-of-a-kind collection of #48, the first appearance of through Bodnar’s Auction There is a copy of Marvel Pre-
bound Golden Age comic books Hourman, #61, the first Sales, he decided this was the miere #47, The Astonishing
from the DC archives. This appearance of Starman and way to go. His collection has a Ant-Man, many X-Men issues,
collection of 97 volumes of many others. Also included wide variety of comics, includ- including #1, #4, #11, #19-#30,
more than 800 bound comics are 12 bound volumes of ing ones such as Sally Forth #35, #36, #38, #40, #42, #44,
was unearthed from a Staten Action Comics #37-#55, #68- and Ramba and many others #51, #54-#58, #60, #62 and
Island estate found boxed #115, #128-#139 and #200- like it, Teen Titans, Superboy, #101.
away by the collector’s his wife #223, which includes #47, the Star Wars, including #42, as
who never knew they even first appearance on Lex well as many issues of Thor, Rounding off this collection
existed until he passed away. Luthor, and #51, the first The Incredible Hulk, The are some key issues of Bat-
After much consideration, she appearance of Prankster. Also Flash, Conan, Claw, Sandman, man, including #181, #189 and
decided an auction was the #227, as well as Here Comes
Daredevil #16, #18-#20.

Getty Granted Export License
To Acquire Wright Painting

LOS ANGELES — The J. “Two Boys with a Bladder” paintings that includes
Paul Getty Museum has by Joseph Wright of Derby, “The Experiment on a Bird
announced that the acquisi- circa 1769-70. Courtesy J. in the Air Pump” (1768,
tion of “Two Boys with a Paul Getty Trust. National Gallery, London)
Bladder” by Joseph Wright artists picked up the theme, and “An Academy by Lamp-
of Derby will proceed, fol- Wright being among the first to light” (1770, Yale Center for
lowing the granting of an do so. British Art, New Haven,
export license by the Arts Conn.). It was painted as a
Council of England. The previously unpublished pendant to “Two Girls
work — considered by some to Dressing a Kitten by Can-
The recently rediscovered be a masterpiece — is Wright’s dlelight,” which is now at
painting depicts two young earliest known treatment of Kenwood House in London.
boys, boldly lit by a con- the subject. Unseen in public
cealed candle, inflating a since the Eighteenth Century, “Two Boys with a Bladder
pig’s bladder. In the Eigh- the painting forms part of a is a remarkable discovery
teenth Century, animal sequence of dramatic nocturnal that sheds new light on
bladders served as toys, Wright’s work at the most
either inflated and tossed important moment of his
like balloons or filled with career,” said Davide Gasp-
dried peas and shaken like arotto, senior curator of
rattles. While bladders paintings at the Getty
appeared frequently in Sev- Museum. “It is a compelling
enteenth Century Dutch example from his most
painting they were depicted important and successful genre,
less frequently in Eighteenth candlelight paintings. More-
Century Britain. It was a motif over, Wright’s innovative exper-
that Wright made his own; the imentation with the use of
elaborate costumes that the metal foil embodies a sense of
boys wear are of the artist’s technical and scientific explo-
own invention, in the style of ration that typifies the intellec-
British “fancy pictures.” The tual milieu of the midlands on
dramatic pictorial effect creat- the eve of the industrial revolu-
ed by the concentrated candle- tion. It is a major addition to
light within a dark interior set- the Getty’s holdings of art from
ting was in vogue in much of the English golden age.”
Europe in the late Sixteenth The Getty Museum is at 1200
and Seventeenth Centuries, Getty Center Drive. For more
but it was not until the Eigh- information, 310-440-7300 or
teenth Century that English www.getty.edu.

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

8 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 7, 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.

Modern Sorel Etrog Sculpture A Martin Johnson Heade ‘Sunset’ Four Salt Prints Of Alpine Views
Stands Tall At Selkirk Rises To $169,400 At Witherell’s Hit The Heights

ST LOUIS, MO. — A figural abstract sculp- SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — Martin Johnson OAKLAND, CALIF. — While Clars Auction
ture by Romanian-Canadian artist Sorel Etrog Heade’s (American, 1819-1904) depictions of the Gallery’s January sale is generally a smaller
(1933-2014) was the top lot in Selkirk Auction- sea and horizon at sunset are characteristically affair than others, there were at least a couple of
eers & Appraisers’ January 18 sale, meeting its luminous, sometimes disquieting with dark, empty surprises in the firm’s fine art and antiques auc-
high estimate at $16,800. The bronze figure, water. A framed Heade oil on board painting, “Sun- tion on January 18-19. On Saturday, a lot of four
signed and numbered 1/7 was tall, dark and set,” rose above its $50/100,000 estimate to finish original sepia salt prints by Friedrich Von Mar-
slender, a twisting and knotting abstracted fig- at $169,400 at Witherell’s Luxury Asset Auction on tens (German, 1809-1875), from the series “Qua-
ure on a square base that at 31 inches was January 16. The 6¾-by-12¾ inch painting, which tre Etudes de Montagnes Alpines,” circa 1855
almost as high as the figure itself, which stood appeared to be unsigned, circa 1870, carried a (one shown), overwhelmed a $50/100 expectation
31½ inches high. Etrog was a Romanian-born handwritten note on board verso, “6 3/4 — 12 3/4 / to sell for $23,370. On Sunday, an 1887 Patek
Israeli-Canadian artist, writer and philosopher Vose” and bore labels verso from Vose Galleries, Philippe 18K rose gold minute repeater open face
best known for his work as a sculptor. He spe- Boston, Mass.. and a Whitney Museum of Ameri- pocket watch estimated $6/8,000 sold for more
cialized in modern art works and contemporary can Art exhibition label, “Realism and Romanti- than twice high estimate for $20,910. For infor-
sculpture. For information, 314-696-9041 or cism in 19th Century New England Seascapes / mation, 888-339-7600 or www.clars.com.
www.selkirkauctions.com. September 15 — November 29, 1989.” Heade was
born in Pennsylvania and initially studied portrait Benefit Shop Bidders
Austrian Silver Eagle Menorah Grabs painting under Thomas Hicks. He then traveled Were ‘Through’ At $10,880
$8,750 At Showplace extensively in Europe and America and began MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. — It was titled “We’re
painting landscapes and marsh scenes in a more Through,” which seemed to be what bidders at
NEW YORK CITY — “We started our January Luminist style. He also traveled to South America the January 15 sale at the Benefit Shop Founda-
19 sale with a bang, selling lot number one, an and painted tropical landscapes as well. For infor- tion were saying when bids reached $10,880.
Austrian silver menorah, for $8,750,” said Keith mation, 916-446-6490 or www.witherells.com. The colored pencil drawing by Roy Lichtenstein
Lebel of Showplace Auctions’ sale of estate col- (American, 1923-1997) was dated 1964 and had
lections. The Nineteenth Century Viennese Aus- Bidder Pays $93,700 been estimated at $500-$1,500. Without estab-
trian silver repousse eagle motif menorah fea- For KAWS’ ‘Dissected lished documented provenance or recorded auc-
tured eight oil wells with shamesh candle holder tion history, the work had been attributed to the
surmount extending from eagle’s beak. The Companion’ pop artist; a private American collector bidding
piece was hallmarked “AK” and marked with a At Heritage Auctions online was the winning bidder. For information,
Vienna, Austria, stamp, dated 1856 and mea- DALLAS — A 4-foot “Dis- 914-864-0707 or www.thebenefitshop.org.
sured 11 by 13¾ by 4¾ inches. For information, sected Companion (Black),”
212-633-6063 or www.nyshowplace.com. made by KAWS (b 1974) — the
professional name by which
American artist and designer
Brian Donnelly is known — is
a 2009 painted cast vinyl,
48-by-24-by-15-inch figure
produced by Medicom Toy and
OriginalFake, Tokyo. From an
edition of 100, it sold at $93,750
at Heritage Auctions’ January 21
Beautiful Losers Collection Urban
Art Monthly Online Auction. For
information, www.ha.com or 877-
437-4824.

Bejeweled Balinese Kris Crosses D-Day Table Wins The Bidding War Floor Bidder Says ‘I Do’ For Hartigan’s
Carlsen’s Block At Nye & Co. ‘Henry VIII’

FREEHOLD, N.Y. — Battling its way to the BLOOMFIELD, N.J. — A “D-Day” George III- DANIA BEACH, FLA. — It was marital bliss for
top of Carlsen Gallery’s January 12 sale was a style dining table, late Nineteenth/early Twentieth a floor bidder at Kodner’s January 22 sale of estate
Balinese kris (asymmetrical dagger) with a gold Century, led Nye & Co.’s January 15 auction timed jewelry, fine art and collectibles. Grace Hartigan’s
figure of the demon Raksha inset with local to kick off Americana Week in New York City. It (American, 1922-2008) oil on canvas “Henry VIII,”
rubies and a sapphire that brought $27,450 came to the block with a substantial $10/20,000 signed and dated 1984 lower left, sold to the onsite
from an Indonesian buyer bidding online estimate. Comprising two D-shaped leaves and a patron for $10,285. The lot had a Gruenebaum Gal-
against other international interest, some of central drop leg section, each on square tapering lery label attached en verso and original book from
which had been bidding on the phones. Speak- legs with stylized ogival-arched panels, it had an Gruenebaum Gallery, New York, for an exhibition
ing after the sale, Russ Carlsen acknowledged inset silver plaque that read: “This table was in con- conducted in January 1986, which featured the art-
that the kris, which included a fitted case and stant use October 1943 to May 1944 for the delib- work. Also included with the lot was an original
had an estimate of $1/2,000, had set a record erations of General Eisenhower, Allied Command- receipt together with several pamphlets by the art-
when it sold in London in the 1970s. For infor- er-in-Chief and his staff, who were then planning ist. The painting measured 54 by 48 inches. For
mation, www.carlsengallery.com or 518-634- the victorious Allied advance in Germany. It was information, www.kodner.com or 954-925-2550.
2466. also used by General Marshall and Joint Chiefs of
Staff of the United States Army when plans for ‘D’
Day were put into direction whilst staying at Stan-
well House, England. May to June 1944.” The
9-foot-4-inch-long table (extended) sold to a “Mid-
west history buff,” Nye’s president John Nye said,
for $54,400. For information, 973-984-6900 or
www.nyeandcompany.com.

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 9

At Michaan’s Feb. 8 Gallery Auction —

Modernist Jewelry, Paintings,
Jensen Silver & Shreve On Offer

Henry Steig sterling silver cuff bracelet Chinese Export rosewood demilune table
($300/500). with back panel ($5/8,000).

Jeffrey Ripple (American, b 1962), “Squash and Leaves,” oil The sale includes works by Sol 1998 oil on Arches paper, is Chinese export rosewood furni-
on Arches paper ($2/4,000). LeWitt and Andy Warhol. The offered at $2/4,000. ture. A demilune table, inset
LeWitt piece is an original with pink marble and featur-
ALAMEDA, CALIF. — Satur- hive” ear clips ($1,5/2,500). glazed ceramic titled “Four February brings the sale of a ing foliate open work, is a
day, February 8, is the date set Jadeite jade is offered in a Colors in the Round” ($1/2,000) French automaton, circa 1900: highlight ($5/8,000), along
for Michaan’s next gallery auc- and was given to the current a monkey seated on a music with a circular revolving ped-
tion, offering one-of-a-kind col- yellow gold ring ($1/1,500). owner by the artist. The War- box, having a smoke ($800- estal table, elaborately carved
lectibles, fine art and Asian Period jewels and timepieces hol auction lot is of interest not $1,200). For Wedgwood collec- with figures ($800-$1,200).
art, jewelry and rare furnish- include an Art Nouveau pen- only to art collectors but also tors there is a three-color urn, Porcelain includes a Chinese
ings. Patrons can replace hum- dant watch by Elgin of 18K to collections dedicated to rock circa 1820 ($700-$1,000). From export teapot and creamer, and
drum barware with a collection yellow gold ($300/500). and roll history. It comprises the same period, a German a “garlic head” celadon crack-
of Baccarat crystal and set the ten color litho announcement porcelain plate ($1/1,500) fea- led glazed vase ($600/800).
table of their dreams with ster- An American designer is fea- cards (the lot of ten estimated tures a nighttime hunt scene.
ling flatware by Georg Jensen tured in February’s selection of $1,5/2,500) for the launch of The selection of silver includes Previews are February 2, 7
or Shreve & Company. Inspira- estate jewelry. Henry Steig Warhol’s “Mick Jagger” screen- Shreve & Co.’s Art Nouveau and 8 and by private appoint-
tion can be found in Michaan’s (1906-1973) led a fascinating print portfolio, published by sterling tea service ($4/6,000) ment.
selection of fine art, whether life shaped by his exceptional Seabird Editions for the exhi- and a 91-piece service of Georg
one favors the bold lines of Sol creativity and talents. Long bition at Castelli Graphics in Jensen’s “Acorn” sterling flat- Michaan’s is at 2751 Todd
LeWitt or a French farm land- before he began designing jew- New York. ware ($1,3/1,700). Street. For more information,
scape from the mid-Nineteenth elry in New York, Steig was a www.michaans.com or 510-
Century. Offered, too, will be New Yorker cartoonist and A noteworthy art find is the Asian art treasures include 740-0220.
furniture with a history and short story author, an accom- watercolor “Rock Structure”
handmade rugs with the allure plished jazz musician and a ($2/3,000) by Thomas Martin
of family heirlooms. novelist. Steig studied paint- Uttech (American, b 1942).
ing and sculpture at New Uttech’s woodland landscapes
Jewelry, a perennial high- York’s National Academy of are intricately composed and
light, brings extra sparkle to Design, which dates to 1825 thought-provoking. Intimate
the auction. Diamond rings are and counts many of America’s portraits such as the oil paint-
among the most highly sought most celebrated artists among ings “Woman at Dresser”
auction lots, and several choic- its members and instructors. ($1,5/3,000) by Edward Dufner
es include an emerald-cut Steig’s jewelry pieces have (American, 1871-1957) and
example ($4/6,000). Diamond been described as “miniature “Mother and Child” by Walter
stud earrings are a luxury sculpture.” In Michaan’s Feb- Castle Keith (1863-1927) will
wardrobe staple ($500/700), ruary 8 auction, a sterling sil- also be offered.
and a filigree brooch of 14K ver cuff bracelet by Henry
white gold set with diamonds Steig is a highlight ($300/500), Jeffrey Ripple’ (American, b
is offered ($1,5/2,500). Design- as is a chalcedony 14K yellow 1962) “Squash and Leaves,” a
er jewels include Van Cleef & gold ring ($300/500).
Arpels 18K yellow gold “bee-
American artists are also fea-
tured in a selection of fine art.

Hammer Museum
Examines McCarthy Drawings

LOS ANGELES — The Ham- soap operas, comic books, Disney,
mer Museum presents one of the and contemporary politics. Yet, in
first comprehensive surveys in McCarthy’s work, these figures
the United States of drawings are perverse distortions of iconic
and works on paper by the Los and recognizable archetypes. The
Angeles-based Paul McCarthy (b artist explores and subverts a cul-
1945, Salt Lake City), “Paul ture of violence and toxic mascu-
McCarthy: Head Space, Drawings linity through hyperbole and gro-
1963-2019,” reveals a rarely tesque magnification of its worst
examined aspect of the artist’s tendencies. His work skewers
oeuvre. The exhibition delves into mass media and consumer-driven
the significant role of drawing in American society, often profanely,
McCarthy’s broader practice, by underscoring aspects of cultur-
which spans performance, video, al repression and forms of latent
photography, sculpture and violence.
installation. By presenting his
expansive career of more than The exhibition features works
five decades through the focused on paper that incorporate and uti-
lens of drawing, “Head Space” lize a variety of mediums, includ-
offers a greater understanding of ing charcoal, graphite, ink, mark-
this influential artist and social er and collage, as well as more
commentator. The exhibition unorthodox materials such as
presents nearly 600 works and ketchup and peanut butter. A con-
will be on view through May 10. summate draftsperson, McCarthy
approaches his daily drawing
Produced in thematic cycles, practice as a way of thinking — a
McCarthy’s drawings share the blueprint for projects and a tool to
same visual language as his flesh out complex ideas. Since the
sculptural and performance 1970s, McCarthy has also incor-
works, evoking and addressing porated drawing into his perfor-
themes of violence, humor, death, mances, implementing it as part
sex, politics and featuring exten- of an action and often drawing in
sive art historical and popular character.
cultural references. His drawings
often feature a reoccurring assort- The Hammer Museum is at
ment of figures and symbols, 10899 Wilshire Boulevard. For
culled from Hollywood, fairy tales, information, 310-443-7000 or
www.hammer.ucla.edu.

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

February 17-May 17—

VIDA AMERICANA! VIVA WHITNEY!
NEW YORK CITY — With Mexican Muralists Remake tant; and Alana Hernandez, for- tors. For “Vida Americana,” a munity Partnership Mural Proj-
approximately 200 works by 60 American Art, 1925–1945” will mer curatorial project assistant, number of resources will be avail- ect with The Door and artist
artists from the United States reveal the profound impact of “Vida Americana” will be on view able in both English and Spanish, Sophia Dawson.
and Mexico, “Vida Americana: Mexico’s three leading muralists at the Whitney from February 17 including all exhibition texts, the
— José Clemente Orozco, David through May 17. mobile guide, exhibition tours and By presenting the art of the
Alfaro Siqueiros and Diego Rivera a Family Guide that will feature Mexican muralists alongside that
— on the style, subject matter and The exhibition features murals texts and in-gallery activities. The of their American contemporaries,
ideology of art in the United and easel paintings that will be guide is available free of charge to “Vida Americana” reveals the
States made between 1925 and on loan from Mexico, Japan, all families who visit the Whitney influence of Mexican art, particu-
1945. Argentina, and the United King- as well as to elementary school- larly on those looking for inspira-
dom for the exhibition. These aged students who visit the muse- tion and models beyond European
Organized by curator Barbara include works that are rarely um. The museum also announced modernism and the School of
Haskell, with Marcela Guerrero, exhibited in the United States, programs being organized by its Paris, during the interwar period.
assistant curator; Sarah Hum- including Rivera’s 1932 studies education department on the Works by both well-known and
phreville, senior curatorial assis- for his destroyed and infamous occasion of the exhibition, includ- underrecognized American artists
Harold Lehman, “The Driller” Rockefeller Center mural, “Man ing a full-day symposium featur- will be exhibited, including those
(mural, Rikers Island, N.Y.), at the Crossroads,” on loan from ing artists, curators, educators by Thomas Hart Benton, Eliza-
1937. Tempera on fiberboard, the Museo Anahuacalli in Mexico and scholars presenting new per- beth Catlett, Aaron Douglas, Mar-
Smithsonian American Art City; María Izquierdo’s” My Niec- spectives on the role of Mexican ion Greenwood, William Gropper,
Museum, Washington, DC; es” (1940) and Siqueiros’s “Prole- Muralism in the United States. Philip Guston, Eitarō Ishigaki,
transfer from the Newark tarian Mother” (1929), on loan Jacob Lawrence, Harold Lehman,
Museum 1966.31.11. ©Estate from the Museo Nacional de Arte; Other programming highlights Fletcher Martin, Jackson Pollock,
of Harold Lehman. Image: and two paintings by Japanese- include Tours for Immigrant Ben Shahn, Thelma Johnson
Smithsonian American Art born artist Eitarō Ishigaki, on loan Families, Teen Night and a Com- Streat, Charles White and Hale
Museum, Washington, DC / from Japan’s Museum of Modern Woodruff.
Art Resource, New York City. Art in Wakayama.
In addition to Orozco, Rivera,
The museum has engaged in an and Siqueiros, other key Mexican
ongoing initiative to improve artists included in the exhibition
access for Spanish-speaking visi- include Miguel Covarrubias,
Philip Guston, “Bombard-
ment,” 1937. Oil on María Izquierdo, Frida Kahlo,
Masonite, Philadelphia Mardonio Magaña, Alfredo
Museum of Art; gift of Ramos Martínez and Rufino
Musa and Tom Mayer Tamayo.
2011-2-1. ©The Estate of
Philip Guston, courtesy The Whitney Museum of
McKee Gallery, New York American Art is at 900 Gan-
City. sevoort Street. For informa-
tion and tickets, 212-570-3600
or www.whitney.org.

Jacob Lawrence, Panel 3 from “The Migration Series, From
every Southern town migrants left by the hundreds to trav-
el north,”1940–41. Casein tempera on hardboard, The Phil-
lips Collection, Washington, DC; acquired 1942. ©2019 The
Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation, Seat-
tle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York City.

Jackson Pollock, “Landscape with Steer,” circa 1936-37. José Clemente Orozco, “Barricade (Barri- María Izquierdo, “My Nieces,” 1940. Oil on
Lithograph with airbrushed enamel additions, Museum of cada),” 1931. Oil on canvas, Museum of Mod- composition board, Museo Nacional de Arte,
Modern Art, New York; gift of Lee Krasner Pollock. ©2019 ern Art, New York; given anonymously. INBAL, Mexico City; constitutive collection,
The Pollock-Krasner Foundation / Artists Rights Society ©2019 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New 1982 ©2019 Artists Rights Society (ARS),
(ARS), New York City. Image ©The Museum of Modern Art/ York City / SOMAAP, Mexico City. Image New York City / SOMAAP, Mexico City.
Licensed by SCALA / Art Resource, New York City. ©The Museum of Modern Art / Licensed by Reproduction authorized by El Instituto
SCALA / Art Resource, New York City. Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura, 2019.

Marion Greenwood, “Construction Worker” (study for David Alfaro Siqueiros, “Zapata,” 1931. Oil Alfredo Ramos Martínez, “Calla Lily Vendor
“Blueprint for Living,” a Federal Art Project mural, Red on canvas, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculp- (Vendedora de Alcatraces),” 1929. Oil on
Hook Community Building, Brooklyn, N.Y.), 1940. Fresco ture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, canvas, Private collection. ©The Alfredo
mounted on composition board, Frances Lehman Loeb Art Washington, DC; gift of Joseph H. Hirsh- Ramos Martínez Research Project, repro-
Center, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; gift of Mrs Patri- horn, 1966 66.4605 ©2019 ARS/SOMAAP. — duced by permission.
cia Ashley 1976.44.11. Lee Stalsworth photo

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 11

Historic Gold $10 Eagles On Display
At Long Beach Expo Feb. 20-22
LONG BEACH, CALIF. — An type, date and mint mark of president of Goldberg Coins
extensive exhibit of historic gold Eagles issued for circula- and Collectibles, Inc, in Los This rare $10 Eagle, struck in 1795, the first year the United
United States $10 denomina- tion as well as specially made Angeles, who is among those States Mint began making gold coins for circulation, is the
tion gold coins (known as proof examples. It will include who have assisted the coins’ finest known surviving example of its kind.
Eagles) will be on view Thurs- extremely scarce specimens anonymous owner build the
day-Saturday, February 20-22, from the first United States collection. The Long Beach Expo will be from 10 am to 4 pm. The expo is
as a feature at the Long Beach Mint gold coins struck in 1795 open to the public at no charge, at the Long Beach Convention
Coin, Currency, Stamp & to the last circulating $10 gold Although the owner of he Thursday and Friday, February Center, 100 South Pine Avenue.
Sports Collectibles Expo. Many piece briefly issued in 1933 Tyrant collection wants to 20 and 21, from 10 am to 6 pm, For additional information,
of these gold coins, dating back during the height of the Great remain anonymous, he has and Saturday, February 22, www.longbeachexpo.com.
to early America two centuries Depression. been sharing the collection’s
ago, are the finest known sur- coins with the public for their
viving examples of their kind. “These important gold coins educational value in a series of
are a small part of the exten- exhibits showcasing portions
Insured for $50 million, the sive Tyrant collection [www. of the extensive collection each
educational exhibit of more thetyrantcollection.com], the time. Visitors to the upcoming
than 300 rare coins will show- world’s most valuable rare exhibit will receive a free,
case examples struck by the coin collection in private illustrated educational booklet
United States Mint of every hands,” said Ira Goldberg, about the display.

‘A Century Of Connecticut Art From The New Haven Paint & Clay Club’

NEW LONDON, CONN. — “A Cen- tion. The history and impact of the landscapes and imaginative places. Christy Gallagher, “Sasco Creek No. 3,”
tury of Creativity: Connecticut Art New Haven Paint & Clay Club All objects are from artists affiliat- 1977, oil on canvas.
from the New Haven Paint and Clay extends beyond New Haven, draw-
Club,” on view at the Lyman Allyn ing members and exhibitors from ed with the New Haven Paint &
Art Museum January 31 through across Connecticut, as well as from Clay Club. Many pieces come from
May 10, celebrates the history and New York and New England. In the the club’s permanent collection,
continuing legacy of the New Haven first half of the Twentieth Century, acquired from club exhibitions dat-
Paint & Clay Club, one of the oldest numerous artists connected to the ing back to 1931. Works of art from
active art clubs in New England, New Haven Paint & Clay Club were the Lyman Allyn’s collection and
established in 1900. also affiliated with the art colonies several from the New Haven Muse-
at Cos Cob, Old Lyme and Mystic. um help augment the story, adding
This exhibition of paintings, prints material by artists from the club’s
and drawings explores our sur- Showcasing landscapes of Connect- early years.
roundings — the land, water, people icut and beyond, the exhibition
and places that help shape this includes traditional views of the The opening reception will be on
region. region’s beautiful coastline, woods Thursday, January 30, from 5 to 7
and fields, as well as its cities, towns, pm. Museum members are free and
As its name indicates, the New roads, boats and industry. The exhi- nonmembers are $10. RSVP to 860-
Haven Paint & Clay Club’s identity bition also contains art reflecting 443-2545, extension .2129.
is geographically based. As such, it artists’ travel to distant places and
seems fitting to consider place and art that explores space and place in The Lyman Allyn Art Museum is
regional identity as the organizing different ways, rendering abstract 625 Williams Street. For informa-
theme for this retrospective exhibi- tion, www.lymanallyn.org or 860-
443-2545.

Louise Bourgeois: Ode To Forgetting At Vassar College

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — focuses on prints she made in um of Art at Washington State long avocation as collector. He than 150 museums. Schnitzer
“Louise Bourgeois: Ode to For- her eighties and nineties, with University, in collaboration began collecting contemporary is also president of Harsch
getting, From the Collections a few earlier examples and a with the Frances Lehman prints and multiples in ear- Investment Properties, a pri-
of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His massive spiral sculpture to Loeb Art Center, Vassar Col- nest in 1988. Today, the collec- vately owned real estate
Family Foundation” will be on give additional context. lege. Its presentation at Vas- tion exceeds 13,000 works and investment company based in
view through April 5 at Vassar sar is made possible through includes many of today’s most Portland, Ore., owning and
College’s Frances Lehman Many of the prints incorpo- the support of the Friends of important contemporary art- managing office, multi-tenant
Loeb Art Center, the only rate or replicate fabrics, the Frances Lehman Loeb Art ists. It has grown to be one of industrial, multi-family and
venue on the East Coast to reflecting a lifelong interest in Center Fund and the Horace the country’s largest private retail properties in six west-
host these works. An opening textiles connected to Bour- Goldsmith Exhibition Fund. print collections. He generous- ern states.
lecture will take place at 5:30 geois’ childhood years in the ly lends work from his collec-
pm on Saturday, February 8, Paris suburbs, where her fam- At age 14, Jordan D. tion to qualified institutions. The Frances Lehman Loeb
followed by a reception in the ily lived and had their onsite Schnitzer bought his first The foundation has organized Art Center at Vassar College
atrium of the art center. tapestry restoration business. work of art from his mother’s more than 110 exhibitions and is at 124 Raymond Avenue.
For more than 90 years, Bour- Portland, Ore., contemporary has had art exhibited at more For information, 845-437-5237
Louise Bourgeois (1911- geois made drawings daily, art gallery, evolving into a life- or www.fllac.vassar.edu.
2010) is one of the most beginning in childhood and
renowned artists of the Twen- continuing until her death at
tieth Century, perhaps best age 98. She made art because
known for powerful sculp- she had to, and described her
tures, including monumental practice as a means of surviv-
spiders, human figures and al, a lifelong managing of emo-
anthropomorphic shapes. An tional vulnerabilities, trau-
enigmatic chronicler of her mas and nightmares. As she
emotions, she made drawings put it, “Art is a guarantee of
daily, and returned regularly sanity.”
to printmaking. The exhibi-
tion includes 87 works and The exhibition is organized
by the Jordan Schnitzer Muse-

Louise Bourgeois, (American, b France, 1911-2010) “Blue
Bed,” 1998, aquatint, drypoint, engraving, soft-ground etch-
ing and roulette, collection of Jordan D. Schnitzer, 2005.218,
©The Easton Foundation/Licensed by VAGA at Artists
Rights Society (ARS), New York City, Christopher Burke
photo.

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

At Kruse GWS Auctions—

Last Empress Lotus Bowl Stuns,
Exceeds $1.5 Million At Auction

Auction Action In Los Angeles

The Fourteenth Century Longquan celadon
bowl from An Dinh Palace sold for
$1,537,500.

Vietnamese Van Tho Palace Fetching $22,100 was this Hermes 35cm
bleu de hue charger made Noir Novillo leather Birkin.
$38,350.

Qing dynasty imperial vase tion of rare artifacts, including A Vietnamese Emperor Khai Dinh carved
from Jingdezhen Kiln was 325 lots of prehistoric jades jade ink pad went out at $22,140.
bid to $522,750. and porcelains that chronicled
the imperial Vietnamese royal This 36.20-carat GIA tourmaline 4-carat
LOS ANGELES — On Janu- family history and pieces used weight diamond 18K necklace earned
ary 18, thousands of bidders for the Principle Palace Shrine. $159,900.
from around the world bid in
an auction conducted by Bri- In a stunning result, a Four-
gitte Kruse and Kruse GWS teenth Century celadon Lotus
Auctions. The Lunar Year bowl from An Dinh Palace orig-
Royal Family auction brought inating from the estate of the
record breaking final prices for last empress of Vietnam sold
century old royal artifacts from for $1,537,500, putting it at
the last royal family of Viet- well over the original estimate.
nam. The firm offered a collec- The piece had been identified
by a South Vietnam scholar
Vuong Hong Sen, the director Dinh carved jade ink pad that handle royal artifacts out of asked by the royal family to
of Saigon Museum, and was sold for $22,140 and a Viet- the country of Vietnam, we take the mic and sell this piece,
sold by Brigitte Kruse, founder namese Van Tho Palace bleu take the sale of such items very so I made sure to do my best.
and lead auctioneer at Kruse hue charger reaching $38,350. seriously,” said Brigitte Kruse. We respect the Vietnamese
GWS Auctions. More than “The generations of wars and people and the culture so much,
4,000 people watched online as The Lunar Year auction also previous conditions in Vietnam and we hope they see the honor
the Lotus bowl sold. A Qing featured jewelry and designer makes the survival of these in our practices. This was a
dynasty imperial floor vase accessories. Among those high- artifacts so much more signifi- career defining moment for me
commissioned by the Nguyen lights was a 36.20-carat GIA cant. The history behind each as a lady in this industry and it
dynasty emperor from Jing- tourmaline 4-carat weight dia- piece and the exquisite crafts- was a powerful moment.”
dezhen Kiln & Tang Ying with mond 18K necklace, which sold manship dating back centuries
Qianlong archaic seal mark for $159,900, and a rare is magnificent. I can definitely Prices given include the buy-
from a Vietnamese royal family Hermes 35cm Noir Novillo say the adrenaline was run- er’s premium as stated by the
sold for $522,750. leather Birkin bag, which ning when I took the final bid auction house. For information,
fetched $22,100. on the Empress bowl. I was www.gwsauctions.com or 760-
Additional highlights includ- 610-4175.
ed a Vietnamese Emperor Khai “As the only auction house to

The 2019 American Ceramic Circle Book Award

WILLIAMSBURG, VA. — The ing, American Art Pottery cel- Suggestions or recommenda-
American Ceramic Circle Book ebrates and documents Robert tions for books published in
Award, established in 2005, J. Ellison Jr’s gift of more 2019 to be considered for the
recognizes English-language than 300 examples of Ameri- 2020 American Ceramic Circle
publications that advance the can ceramics to the Metropoli- Book Award can be sent to ACC
study of ceramics, present new tan Museum of Art. Ellison’s Book Award Chair Amy Dehan
scholarship and interpreta- collection provides the frame- at [email protected].
tions and, in doing so, become work for the authors’ exhaus-
important and standard refer- tive and exquisitely illustrat- BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The
ences in the field. ed investigation of the Brooklyn Museum has
American Art Pottery move- announced, “Jacques-Louis
This year, eligible publica- ment. Drawing on countless David Meets Kehinde Wiley,” an
tions released in 2018 were primary sources, many newly exhibition pairing an iconic
reviewed. Two stood out as discovered via digitization, painting from the museum’s col-
especially exemplary. The the authors have infused lection — Kehinde Wiley’s 2005
2019 American Ceramic Circle familiar subjects with fresh “Napoleon Leading the Army
Book Award goes to American insights and produced what over the Alps” — with its early
Art Pottery, The Robert A. Elli- will be known as the standard Nineteenth Century source
son Jr Collection, authored by reference for this material. image: Jacques-Louis David’s
Alice Cooney Frelinghuysen, “Napoleon Crossing the Alps”
Martin Eidelberg, Adrienne A Princely Pursuit also cele- from 1801. By displaying the two
Spinozzi and published by the brates a transformative insti- paintings together, in dialogue
Metropolitan Museum of Art tutional gift — the gift of Mal- with each other for the very first
and Yale University Press. An colm Gutter’s collection of time, the exhibition explores how
honorable mention goes to A early Meissen porcelain to the ideas of race, masculinity, repre-
Princely Pursuit, The Malcolm Fine Arts Museums of San sentation, power and agency
D. Gutter Collection of Early Francisco. A significant new have played out across the histo-
Meissen Porcelain by Maria L. contribution to the literature ry of Western portraiture.
Santangelo in association on Meissen, this book is a The exhibition is on view to
with Malcolm D. Gutter, pub- skillful blend of scholarship May 10 at 200 Eastern Parkway.
lished by the Fine Arts Muse- and personality, providing a For more information, www.
ums of San Francisco, in asso- highly readable, but informed brooklynmuseum.org or 718-
ciation with Hirmer Verlag. and revelatory academic dis- 638-5000.
cussion of the subject.
Nearly a decade in the mak-

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 13

The Susquehanna Collection—

Morphy Sells American Furniture With A Bang

Auction Action In Denver, Penn.

DENVER, PENN. — A single- Carl of Prussia and the Princes American Rifleman, which home for $67,650.
owner collection of American Radziwell, Nieswiez Castle, included an article about them. Jacob Kuntz was referred to
furniture, guns and powder Lithuania and related to an A copy of the magazine and var-
horns and decorative arts rep- example in the Metropolitan ious receipts related to the by Joe Kindig III as “in a class
resenting material culture from Museum of Art. The suit had provenance of the guns accom- by himself,” and the sale fea-
the Susquehanna Valley crossed been in the collection of Bash- panied the lot, which was pur- tured six guns — two pistols
the block at Morphy Auctions ford Dean, who was the first chased by a buyer bidding on and four long guns — attrib-
on Thursday, January 16. president of the Arms & Armor the phone with Geiger. uted to the Eighteenth Cen-
Assembled over more than 40 Society and the first curator of tury gunmaker. Of these,
years by an anonymous collec- Arms & Armor at the Metropol- Another pair of Revolutionary the highest price achieved
tor who has decided it is “time itan Museum. Competition for War-era pistols made by John for a rifle was $61,500 for a
for others to enjoy the collec- the suit came from all direc- Sweitzer with silver mounts flintlock Kentucky rifle
tion,” the 220-lot sale totaled tions and in the end, it nearly nailed the midpoint of the esti- with the Pennsylvania
$2.3 million, saw strong prices doubled its high estimate mate ($50/100,000) when the state seal engraved on its
across the board and was 98.6 ($75/150,000) when it sold for pair sold for $79,950 to a bidder brass patchbox that was
percent sold when the gavel fell $270,600 to trade dealers in the on the phone with Kelly Kinzle. estimated at $40/60,000.
on the final lot. room bidding on behalf of a cli- The pair had been illustrated With related examples in
ent. extensively and their prove- the Metropolitan Museum
The breakdown of the sale nance included John S. duMont of Art, the Philadelphia
saw bidding in the room taking Pistol lots were considerably and Joe Kindig Jr. Museum of Art and Winter-
home 40 percent of the sale, outmatched by lots of long guns, thur Museum, Garden and
with 23 percent selling to phone but a pair of American Revolu- Leading a selection of nearly Library, it is not surprising
bidders and 21 percent to buy- tionary War flintlock pistols 50 long guns was a diminutive that the gun generated so
ers using Morphy’s dedicated made in 1775 for Robert Rob- relief-carved flintlock Kentucky much interest.
platform – Morphy Live – to bid erts achieved $110,700, the rifle made and signed by Jacob
online. The remaining 16 per- third highest price in the sale. Welshans. Before he opened The highest price paid for a
cent of lots sold to buyers bid- The pistols, which had been bidding on the lot, Morphy said Kuntz pistol was $23,370 with
ding online through the three estimated at $50/100,000, were it was in “completely untouched” an estimate of $15/30,000 that
other online platforms that fea- once owned by R.H. Coleman, condition and had provenance an online bidder won against
tured the sale. the president of the Remington to the Welshans family. Morphy The top lot in the sale was this
Arms Company, Inc. While had so much presale interest full-size suit of armor that an
The house acknowledged that Coleman owned them, the pis- that he could open bidding at antique arms dealer in the
the furniture aspect of the col- tols were featured on the cover $27,500, just shy of its room bought for $270,600, on
lection brought new bidders to of the July 1972 issue of The $30/60,000 estimate; a bidder in behalf of a client ($75/150,000).
Morphy and while it did not the room prevailed, taking it
specify which lots were success-
fully acquired by institutions, Review and Onsite Photos by
confirmed that museums were Madelia Hickman Ring, Assistant Editor
among the successful buyers.
Catalog Photos Courtesy
After the sale, Dan Morphy Morphy Auctions
said, “I was very pleased with
the result of this auction. We A bidder on the phone with David Geiger won this pair of
excel at this category of Ameri- Revolutionary War flintlock pistols made for Robert Rob-
cana and our buyer’s love to erts for $110,700 ($50/100,000).
attend the live auction. We’ve
handled many single consignor David Geiger’s phone bidder took this powder horn,
auctions to date in this category engraved with a map of Havana, Cuba, to $50,430
of collecting.” When asked if the ($30/60,000).
collector was pleased, he said,
“very pleased. The market is An online buyer won this “Frenchman’s Cove II” dining
not what it used to be but con- table by George Nakashima for $24,320 ($20/40,000).
sidering the current state of the Interest wasn’t blue at all for this patriotic ivory handled
market, the prices were very dirk with blued blade. A phone bidder won it for $9,840
good.” ($1/2,000).

Morphy is a leading name in A trade dealer in the room pur- Before the sale, auctioneer Dan Morphy posed next to what
gun auctions and the house chased this brass-barreled flintlock he anticipated would be the top lot in the sale, and it was,
emptied both barrels into pro- Kentucky pistol signed J. Sees for bringing $270,600 ($75/150,000).
moting the sale, which featured $15,000 ($5/10,000).
suits of armor, long guns, pis-
tols, powder horns and other
related objects. “We received
the collection back in July, so
we had plenty of time to market
the auction to its fullest poten-
tial. We developed a dedicated
marketing strategy for this auc-
tion that included but was not
limited to the local and national
antiques publications, gun
focused collector publications,
social media and more.”

With regard to the present
market for French and Indian
War and Revolutionary War
items, Morphy’s arms and
armor specialist, David Geiger
said, “I have recently seen
momentum in the market for
Eighteenth Century items,
especially relating to the
French and Indian War and the
Revolutionary War. Interest is
strong and many good items are
bringing world record prices. In
the Susquehanna sale, we sold
the French and Indian War
engraved Havana map powder
horn for $50,430. I expect to see
this market continue to be
strong, due to the importance of
this period in American histo-
ry.”

Nine of the top ten prices
achieved were arms and armor,
led by a full-size composite
Maximilian suit of armor, circa
1510-20, assembled by Bash-
ford Dean in the early 1920s
using elements from various
provenances, including Prince

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

This circa 1799 miniature sulphur-inlaid walnut chest from
Lancaster County, Penn., had been illustrated in American
Furniture 2015; it sold to an online bidder for $16,800
($25/35,000).

Not quite a capacity crowd just before the sale started, The provenance to both Joe Kindig Jr
but close to it, and most of the bidders stayed in the and William Guthman surely helped
room until nearly the end of the sale. this brass pipe tomahawk, signed
Welshans, to find its mark at $15,990
($8/15,000).

This brass and ormolu The collection featured few needle- A trade buyer in the room paid $31,980 for bidders on the phone and in the
“George Washington” man- work and textile lots. Bringing the this Philadelphia Chippendale mahogany room. Once the last of the
tel clock made by Dubuc most was this Charles II silkwork nee- turret-corner games table ($20/40,000). Kuntz-made guns had crossed
went to a photo bidder for dlework picture, which a phone bidder Jacob Eicholtz’s circa 1820 “Portrait of Mrs the block, an anonymous gen-
$43,050 ($40/80,000). bought for $5,535 ($3/5,000). John Bannister Gibson” not only exceeded tleman who had been attending
This tall case clock by Phila- Kelly Kinzle with the Peter Stretch tall case its high estimate when it brought $19,200 the sale approached this report-
delphia clockmaker Peter clock that brought $166,500. from a phone bidder but also exceeded what er to say Kuntz had been his
Stretch chimed in with sec- This circa 1820 painting after John Trum- it brought at auction when it sold at Chris- great-great-great-great-grand-
ond highest price at bull’s “Washington at Dorchester Heights” tie’s in 2015 ($5/10,000). father. He disclosed that he
$166,500. A bidder in the brought $14,145 ($4/8,000). owned “just an ordinary every-
room pursued it diligently day gun” Kuntz had made and
but, in the end, a phone bid- had attended the sale to “see
der won it ($50/80,000). what people would pay for his
better guns.” When asked if he
got anything at the sale, the
gentleman smiled, shook his
head and said, “just the cata-
log.”

Of the seven powder horn lots
in the sale, the one that brought
the most was an example
engraved with a map of Havana
and dated 1763 that Morphy
called “magnificent.” According
to the catalog, the horn is one of
only “a handful” known to exist.
The horn had been illustrated
in Nathan L. Swayze’s
Engraved Powder Horns of the
French & Indian War and the
Revolutionary War Era, and
had been in Swayze’s collection,
with additional provenance to
Joe Kindig Antiques and Wil-
liam H. Guthman. Estimated at
$30/60,000, it saw competition
from bidders in the room and
online before David Geiger’s cli-
ent on the phone won it for
$50,430.

The two pipe tomahawks in
the collection were offered con-
secutively, with the better of the
two crossing the block first. The
first featured a tiger maple haft
but, more importantly, a brass
head stamped “J. Welshans”
and believed to be the only
known example by Jacob
Welshans and one of the only
known examples signed by a
Pennsylvania gunsmith. Its
$8/15,000 estimate generated
considerable interest and it sold
to an online bidder for $15,990.
The second example was an
unattributed example but also
exceeded its $2/4,000 estimate,
selling for $5,228 to a bidder in
the room.

The sale was the inaugural
sale for specialist/dealer Kelly
Kinzle, who has brought his
expertise with American furni-
ture, folk art and decorative
arts to Morphy. After the sale,
Kinzle, who was busy getting
ready to exhibit at the Winter
Show in New York City the fol-
lowing week, said, “I think it
went well. I thought some
things were good buys and oth-
ers brought premium prices.”

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 15

Even nearly 200 lots into the sale, lots that warranted good prices were still getting them.
Quadrupling its low estimate ($10/20,000) was this relief-carved flintlock Kentucky rifle
signed by N. Beyer that brought $44,280 from a phone bidder.

Kelly Kinzle was on the phone with the buyer of the pair of
silver mounted American officer’s pistols made by John
Sweitzer. They went off for $79,950 ($50/100,000).
Shooting just beyond its $30/50,000 estimate was this relief-carved Revolutionary War
flintlock Kentucky rifle signed J. Ferree, which brought $55,350.

The same trade buyer who purchased the suit of armor acquired this Jacob Kuntz percus-
sion rifle for $51,660 ($20/50,000).

A bidder in the room paid $67,650 for this relieved carved flintlock Kentucky rifle signed J. Described in the catalog as “unusual,” this drawing of an
Welshans ($30/60,000). alligator and two mermaids was attributed to Jacob Otto
and brought $19,200 from an online buyer ($10/20,000).

Morphy Auctions

This flintlock Kentucky rifle had the Pennsylvania seal engraved on its patchbox and was
attributed to Jacob Kuntz. It sold for $61,500 ($40/60,000).

According to the catalog essay, this Kentucky flintlock rifle is the earliest surviving rifle
made by Henry Lechler. Estimated at $15/30,000, it exceeded expectations when it brought
$38,130.

The offerings of American fur- to prevail on a New York or Phil- attributed to Jacob Otto, circa Shining brightest of the silver lots was this two-piece lot of
niture, folk art and decorative adelphia camel-back sofa that 1800-20 and possibly of Lancast- late Eighteenth Century silver by Lancaster, Penn., silver-
arts comprised nearly two- had been offered at Sotheby’s in er County, Penn. Estimated at smith, Lewis Heck. Estimated at $4,5/7,500, it sold to a
thirds of the sale, with a circa 2006. $10/20,000, it brought $19,200 phone bidder for $11,070.
1740 walnut tall case clock by Three lots of furniture made by from an online bidder.
Philadelphia clockmaker, Peter New Hope, Penn., modern design after John Trumbull’s portrait of Lancaster, Penn., silversmith,
Stretch, selling for $166,050, master, George Nakashima, Other notable fraktur lots in Washington at Dorchester Lewis Heck, that Geiger’s phone
the second highest price in the demonstrated the breadth of the the sale included a birth and Heights that finished at $14,145 bidder took to $11,070
sale. According to the catalog, collector’s vision and were baptismal certificate for Peter ($4/8,000); a set of four American ($4,5/7,500). The same phone
the ogee feet on the clock offered early in the sale. A Hana signed by Daniel Peter- school watercolor pictures of the bidder took home two cream
appeared to be original, giving “Frenchman’s Cove II” dining man (1797-1871), York County, Four Seasons that were in peri- pitchers by John Ewing for
the clock the distinction of table brought $24,320 Penn., circa 1823 that an online od frames and backed with early $3,075 ($1/2,000) and a beaker
being the earliest clock with ($20/40,000); a set of four side bidder pushed past its high esti- Nineteenth Century newspapers by William Haverstick for $984
ogee feet. Bearing provenance chairs closed at $7,680 mate to finish at $5,535 and a from Carlisle, Penn., which were ($750-$1,500).
to H.L. Chalfant and an esti- ($10/20,000), the same price birth and baptismal certificate a good buy, selling on the open-
mate of $50/80,000, the clock realized by a pair of armchairs for Scharlotta Deibler attributed ing bid for $6,150 ($10/20,000) Morphy paused during the sale
garnered considerable interest ($10/20,000). All of the bidding to Johann Friederich Mencke of and an unusual lot of three late to announce an upcoming May
and finally sold to a phone bid- action on the Nakashima lots Dauphin County, Penn., that yet Nineteenth Century miniature sale and partnership with James
der, underbid by a bidder in the took place online, with three dif- another online bidder acquired paintings rendered on what Kochan. After the sale, Morphy
room. Morphy elicited chuckles ferent bidders prevailing. for $2,091, more than twice its were cataloged as animal ears, confirmed this, saying further,
when he announced to the room Some of the lots that Kinzle high estimate. that sold to an online buyer for “In response to the strong mar-
that the selling price included may have been referring to as $185 against a $100/500 esti- ket for early items, we will be
Kinzle coming to the buyer’s “good buys” were a pair of Chip- More than 20 lots of paintings mate. having a specialty sale in May,
house to install the clock. pendale mahogany armchairs, — oils on canvas, watercolor pic- just prior to our extraordinary
possibly from Maryland, that tures, miniature portraits, and Other decorative arts catego- firearms sale. This sale will focus
A neoclassical brass and brought $18,000 from an online silhouettes — were on offer, with ries were modestly represented. on early arms, militaria, art and
ormolu mounted mantel clock bidder ($30/60,000); a Philadel- works by Jacob Eicholtz being The needlework and textile documents from the French and
depicting George Washington, phia Queen Anne mahogany most prominent. When Eicholtz’s offerings were limited but most Indian War period through the
the enameled white dial dressing table that sold to anoth- portrait of Mrs John Bannister saw sufficient interest to sell War of 1812. We are pleased to
inscribed “Dubuc Rue Michel- er online bidder for $10,080 Gibson came up, Morphy within or above estimate, with announce that James Kochan
Le-Conte No. 33 A Paris,” also ($30/50,000) and a miniature announced it to be “one of the the strongest result achieved by has recently joined our team and
did well, bringing $43,050 from Lancaster County sulfur inlaid nicest Jacob Eicholtz portraits to a Charles II silkwork picture he will be working closely with
a phone bidder, well within its chest that a phone bidder ever be offered at public sale.” that a phone bidder bought for me to assemble a fine offering
$40/80,000 estimate. The third snapped up for $16,800 While it was not fresh to the $5,535 ($3/5,000). Of nearly a for the May sale. My specialty is
and last clock in the sale — a ($25/35,000). market, having been offered in dozen ceramic lots, the highest arms, while Jim specializes in
mahogany tall case clock with The sale catalog thanked Lisa 1993 at Christie’s and at Sothe- price was $3,600 that a buyer in uniforms, documents, Ameri-
brass and moon-phases dial Minardi, executive director of by’s in 2015 (where it sold for the room paid for a lot of three cana and art. This combination
engraved “John Wood Philadel- Historic Trappe and the Center $13,750), there was sufficient Tucker porcelain pitchers will allow us to have a compre-
phia.” Estimated at $20/30,000, for Pennsylvania German Stud- interest in the painting for it to ($1,50/3,000), while a large Bris- hensive sale of fresh-to-the-mar-
it sold to a buyer in the room for ies, for her assistance in catalog- improve over its most recent tol posset pot with blue and ket items dating to that time
$15,600. ing the fraktur in the collection, public offering, bringing $19,200 white decoration achieved period.”
which offered approximately a from a bidder on the phone with $3,383 from a phone bidder,
A trade buyer in the room dozen lots. Leading the fraktur Morphy Auctions’ chief financial more than twice its low esti- All prices quoted include buy-
snapped up a Philadelphia Chip- lots was a drawing of an alliga- officer, Dana Costello. mate. Topping offerings of silver er’s premium as reported by the
pendale turret-corner games tor and two mermaids and was a two-piece lot comprising a auction house. For additional
table for $31,980, while $27,000 Other notable fine arts lots teapot and cream pitcher by information, 877-968-8880 or
was enough for an online bidder included an American School www.morphyauctions.com.
portrait of George Washington

QA&16 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 7, 2020

( continued from page 1 ) Theatrum Orbis Terrarum is considered to be one of the first modern atlases, published in 1570 by Gilles
Coppens de Diest at Antwerp with 53 maps created by Abraham Ortelius.
When you first started collecting
maps, what were you drawn to? trees used for his Royal Navy. Germans had an and very little communications. Before modern
interest in America since they had people on cables and satellites, they were using ham radio
The age, historic significance and the artistic both sides of the conflict. channels, so they contracted ITT to implement
appeal. I was pretty eclectic; initially I didn’t I also have this 1559 Sabastian Munster wood- a system for command and control. The size of
focus on any one area. In later years I focused cut print titled Monstra marina & terrestria, the island is probably not as big as indicated
on the United States, New England and the quae passim partibus aquilonis, inveniuntur, on Tabu Nova Can (Crete), this 1525 map
immediate area around here. This area I started reflecting the public concepts of the sea mon- published by Laurent Fries, but it’s still lovely.
off from an artistic perspective and then it sters. Munster depicted a whole collection of I can see areas I used to drive around in my
transitioned into more of an academic perspec- sea monsters. It’s a fun print, and they’re all Volkswagen.
tive. labeled in a map’s companion document.
What about this one?
Right, you don’t understand the Is that a lobster impaling some-
nuance at first. one? This is an important colorful Dutch map of
New England, Novi Belgii… (New Neth-
Yes, start learning about the cartographers, the Yes, it’s a giant lobster with a man in its claw. erlands) by Justus Danckerts, published in
map’s age, historical significance and so on. I Sea monsters were promoted by the Islamic Amsterdam. This 1684 edition is the first
never had the means to buy the top-end maps, countries and others as an obstacle to the Euro- to show Philadelphia and farm animals as
but there’s a lot in the middle-range maps that pean exploration of “their” oceans, disrupting an inducement for immigration to the new
I could acquire. their lucrative trade and the very profitable silk world. An idealized view of New Amsterdam is
route to China. depicted and not New York, even though the
Which of yours is your favorite British initially captured the city in 1665. You
map? Clever. can see where the Dutch probably showed areas
as theirs for political reasons back home. The
These circa 1550 maps here made by Sebastian There were also other reasons for promoting Dutch were here for fur trading and other com-
Munster of Basel. They’re special because of the monsters as people started to doubt their merce, while the British were here to stay.
their age and the early approach to the print- existence. It reached a point where if you were
ing process: woodcuts, which was compatible commissioning a map, you might pay extra for And you also collect works from
with Guttenberg’s printing system. My Munster some monsters to enhance your map. Attrac- John J. Audubon.
maps are from different editions of the same tive, frightening monsters would sell maps.
publication, but published at about the same Yes, they all have their own unique look.
time. These are all the continents and actu- Tell me about some of your other They’re not as romantic as Currier and Ives or
ally the first time all the known continents maps. historically relevant as maps, but they’re time-
appeared in the same publication, Munster’s less, beautiful and accurately capture nature of
Geographia & Cosmographia. This publica- I have a colonial New England postal map, the Nineteenth Century. Audubon is a recog-
tion was remarkable since the explorers were New England, New York, New Jersey and Pen- nized important American artist as reflected in
just obtaining geographical data that greatly silvania, from circa 1720 by an English cartog- the prices for his original prints.
expanded western knowledge from the Greco- rapher Herman Moll. It shows and explains the
Roman concepts. I am also fond of the Flemish route that a letter travels from Philadelphia to How did you decide what birds
cartographer maps, Abraham Ortelius of the north of Boston. This map depicts the postal you liked?
Sixteenth Century. network and the travel times experienced. It
was amazing, it only took about a week to get I like many of Audubon’s prints, such as the
Any others? there. osprey, white pelican and bald eagle, but collect
what’s available at affordable prices.
During the library exhibition preparation, I Still does!
bought a very early world map by Laurent Fries Any one format?
initially published in 1522, my map’s edition is Yes, it does! The 1720 map is crude, it’s not a
circa 1540. What makes it quite special is that beautiful map, but it’s very historically infor- No, formats are dictated by availability and
it is the second time that “America” appeared mative. cost in different genres. I have some original
on a map, influencing the public and contrib- Robert Havells, Audubon’s English engraver/
uting to our continent’s final name. The first Any that relate to your travels? publisher, from Birds of America of circa 1830.
time was around 1507 by German cartographer I also have some Audubon animal prints from
Martin Waldseemüller who later removed the Yes, I stayed on Crete for a few months, work- The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America,
name realizing that Columbus had the “Pri- ing on a system contract for the US Air Force. folio or large edition of 1845/48 like the
macy of Discovery.” There are of course many In the beginning of the Cold War, we had bases “House Mouse” print. I also collect the smaller
other interesting Seventeenth Century pub- and weapons all around the Mediterranean area
lishers such as the Blaeu family of Amsterdam
and the John Speed/Francis Lamb American
colonial maps from London.

Any other areas of maps that you
explored?

I’ve collected New England maps as well. This
map, titled…Most Inhabited Part of New
England…,published 1776, just before the
American Revolution. A detailed German map
that was published by Tobias Lotter of Augs-
burg, based on English cartographic informa-
tion. Vermont and New Hampshire are shown
together as a crown colony — this land all
belonged to the king as a source of white pine

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 17

octavo edition, which are 1/8th of the size of Novi Belgii… (New Netherlands) by Justus Danckerts, published in Amsterdam.
the original prints. Audubon started Quadru- Third says, “This 1684 edition is the first to show Philadelphia and farm animals as
peds, but his sons finished it, since Audubon
had dementia. He died in 1851. an inducement for immigration to the new world.”
I also have some chromolithography prints of
Audubon birds, considered the second edition, with language difficulties. Newspapers were not Any other Currier artists you like?
his sons were producing these lithographs in printing images, so these images were the pub-
1860. However, the American Civil War cut off lic’s “mass-media.” C&I printed an idealized I’ve got some large Curriers, some done by
their Southern customers, bankrupting the ef- version of America with little poverty expressed. Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, a British immigrant.
fort. And I have a modern, very accurate, full- However, they did show the “evils of drink” He also did these Western scenes; they were very
sized digital reproduction of Audubon’s original while publishing beer ads at the same time. dramatic. And there’s just something about these
painting from Joel Oppenheimer, a Chicago Curriers that really attracts me. Once you see a
dealer who I’ve known for some time. They made it look very exciting to Currier and begin to study them, you’ll always
travel up those rivers. recognize them.
Do you expand to any of the other
naturalists? Yes, they had all these beautiful descriptions to Do you collect Curriers from the
accompany them on these tours. And then the “Best 50” list?
I also have some original prints by Alexander boat races — it was a big deal with lots of bet-
Wilson, one of the first American ornitholo- ting. The steam vessel owners would strip the Yes, most of these are on that list, but I didn’t
gists, and in my library exhibition I compared boats to lighten the weight and they would hit try to check them off, no. But if it’s on that list,
Audubon art with influence of Wilson and the boilers so hard that sometimes they would you’re going to pay a premium for it. The “Best
Mark Catesby, an English naturalist/artist explode. 50” lists the most popular prints by collectors
of the Eighteenth Century colonial period. I and dealers.
like Wilson’s work, even though it wasn’t to Did they travel the whole river
Audubon’s standards. He had a knack for place- when they raced? How many Curriers do you think
ment, placing multiple birds on the same plate you own?
because he couldn’t afford to do them individu- Usually from New Orleans to St Louis, it would
ally. He did a good job of publishing the first take three or four days. I have a print that tells Around 75 I guess. The small ones add up. I
recognized ornithology in the new American you how long it took down to the minute. It’s would like to hang them, but I ran out of wall
nation in circa 1813. a very good reflection of our history with great space.
public interest.
Onto the Curriers and Ives (C&I) Anything you’d still like to acquire?
prints. What are your favorite Did Currier and Ives create the
scenes? American image? There’s a Currier I’d like to get, dealing with the
railways, three engines leaving the station, very
I love the Mississippi River prints. Fannie Yes, they certainly contributed to the view of dramatic. The last time I ran into it the price
Palmer, an English immigrant, who was the an idealized nation and its technical advance- went through the ceiling.
C&I artist who drew these lithographs, she nev- ments. The immigrants in the new country
er visited Mississippi; she based her scenes on wanted their own history, so Currier actually Can you describe your collecting
stories and descriptions. She also drew railroad answered that need by promoting our founding journey?
scenes, which I like. The process invented in fathers and American history. They did Chris-
the late Eighteenth Century is amazing. It starts topher Columbus landing, then totally ignored Collecting is really four phases. First, you get an
with a limestone block weighing 400 or 500 the colonial period, and picked it up again in interest. Then in the second phase, you start to
pounds with a finely ground surface. Limestone the revolutionary period, which probably meant collect and display it. The third phase for me is
is fragile so the large blocks are five inches a lot of the immigrants who were not terribly community, sharing your knowledge and col-
thick, if it was thinner it wouldn’t survive. They fond of Britain early in our history. lection, especially with young people. And the
drew the original image on the stone with a Louis Maurer did a series of the fire-fighting fourth phase is the estate planning, what you’re
greasy crayon as a mirror image. After watering volunteers and later municipal systems in New going to do with them at the end.
the stone surface, ink was applied and the im- York, that was an important step. He did them
age was printed, in black and white, and then in the 1850-60 period. Currier was a volunteer And it looks like you’re full.
hand colored. The large-format prints are quite at one of the volunteer fire clubs. A lot of C&I I’m out of space. The Keeler Tavern Museum is
a bit nicer than the smaller ones, even though prints are New England-centric, there’s not
some of the smaller ones were quite good. much about Jamestown, however, Plymouth is finishing the basement on the lower level of the
They sold the large black and white originals nicely documented.
to artists in Greenwich Village for coloring new Visitors Center for our archival storage, and
who would sell them back to Currier and Ives
for final distribution and sale domestically and once that gets done, some of the collection will
internationally. The smaller prints were colored
in house using an assembly line arrangement. go there. —Greg Smith

Why did you fall in love with
Currier and Ives?

The images appeal to me. They have a historical
reference quality as truly Nineteenth Century
“mass-media,” plus they have a very romantic
appeal to them. I think you have to be sort of a
romantic to get into this genre. When you start
doing your research, you find this a reflection
of the growth of the new country in the Nine-
teenth Century, displaying the immigration,
the movement to the cities, women’s rights,
the temperance movement, etc. C&I published
about 7,000 titles and millions of prints over
their 73 years in business starting in 1834. The
prints were popular as visuals for immigrants

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

INTERNATIONAL Compiled By
Antiques and The Arts Weekly

Editorial Staff

Miller & Miller To Offer Pottery,
Canadiana & Folk Art At Auction
Slated For Feb. 8, Sale Will Feature 640 Lots, Nearly All Canadian

NEW HAMBURG, ONTARIO, Handle-less cup and saucer attributed to the William Eby
CANADA — A Canadiana, pot- Pottery (1855-1907), featuring a blue and green slip decora-
tery and folk art auction featur- tion over a lead glaze (CA$5/7,000).
ing the collection of the late Don
Pero — a quiet but passionate to a handle-less cup and saucer The original artwork category Iconic Canadian “Fat Man” Large figural wood carving
collector of old school primitives, attributed to the William Eby is plentiful and will be led by an wool and burlap hooked by the inventor and Canadi-
from pottery to furniture to folk Pottery (Conestoga, Ontario, oil on canvas painting of a horse mat dated 1916, possibly an artist Yosef Drenters
art — will be conducted on Sat- 1855-1907), featuring a blue and by the Canadian photographer Ontario’s most recognizable (1931-1983), titled “Mother
urday, February 8, by Miller & green slip decoration over a lead and painter J.J. Kenyon (1862- hooked rug, showing strong and Child,” 6 feet tall
Miller Auctions, Ltd, online and glaze. 1937), 23½ by 17½ inches (sight) colors, 40 by 29 inches (CA$12/15,000).
in the firm’s gallery. ($4/6,000); and a two-sided oil on (CA$4/6,000). inches tall, possibly made by an
An iconic Canadian “Fat Man” canvas folk art rendering of a original songbook and three cyl- Ontario potter, should rise to
“Don Pero had an appetite for wool and burlap hooked mat young girl and spaniel dog with inders (eight songs per cylinder) $1,5/2,000.
the items he collected, all of dated 1916, quite possibly a mother and child (verso), ($3/4,000). Also, an R. Woodruff
which were authentic and impor- Ontario’s most recognizable housed in a wood frame and Burford U.C. tall case clock was Online bidding is already avail-
tant,” said Ethan Miller of Miller hooked rug, with strong colors painted by an unidentified Cana- made in Canada in the 1830s, able and will run on up to auc-
& Miller Auctions. “Everything and imposing stature of the “Fat dian artist in the 1850s, 18½ by stands 81½ inches tall with a tion day February 8. Phone and
he collected had flair. For decades Man,” 40 by 29 inches, should 21 inches (sight) ($3,5/5,000). painted dial, 30-hour wooden absentee bids will be accepted.
he was a patron of one of Cana- bring $4/6,000. Also, a circa 1940 movement and original grain Previews will take place live in
da’s most renowned dealers — CBC Radio Canada sign depicts An oil on canvas painting by painted finish ($2/2,500). the gallery on Sunday, February
Ron O’Hara. Don quietly the original logo for CBC Radio Canadian artist Manly MacDon- 1, from 9 am to 5 pm; Friday,
absorbed some of Canada’s rar- Canada from 1940 to 1958 and ald (1889-1971), titled “Spring A T. Ketland Co. flintlock rifle February 7, 5 to 8 pm; and on
est historic objects. Now, these was designed by Ecole des Beaux Willows by a Mill,” signed in the with Indian trade token, auction day at 8 am Eastern.
many objects will be sold with- Arts student Hortense Binette, lower left corner and measuring stamped “Ketland” with Bir-
out reserve.” 61 by 48 inches ($1,5/2,500). 19 by 25 inches (sight) is expect- mingham markings on the bar- Miller & Miller is at 59 Web-
ed to change hands for rel and lock plate, restored, with ster Street. For information,
Also offered will be the lifetime A Waterloo County painted cor- $3,5/5,000; while an oil on can- some minor pieced-in repair to www.millerandmillerauctions.
collections of John Wine and Jim ner cupboard made in Preston vas by Homer Watson (Canadi- the trigger, the barrel length com, 519-573-3710 or 519-716-
Fleming, pioneer collectors of the second half of the Nineteenth an, 1855-1936), probably painted 36¼ inches, has an estimate of 5606.
pottery and folk art, respectively. Century and retaining its red around 1910 near Kaufman $2/3,000; while a figural earth-
The 640 curated lots of historic and mustard grain-painted fin- Flats, Doon and titled “Cattle by enware chamberstick from the
artifacts in the sale include ish measures 40 inches tall by 81 Stream in Woods,” 16 by 12 inch- Nineteenth Century, probably
primitive and fine furniture, inches wide ($4/6,000). A deco- es (sight), has an estimate of Canadian, depicting two mice
early pottery, fine art, folk art, rated utility bowl attributed to $2,5/3,500. climbing up a candlestick, 11½
historic objects (to include adver- the pottery of Adam Biernstihl
tising and ephemera, military (1867-1900), an earthenware A late Nineteenth Century
items and toys) and decorative bowl with a decoration of a bird Swiss cylinder cabinet music box
arts (to include lamps and light- pecking at feed in green slip over featuring an inlaid case and fit-
ing, bronzes and statues). a buff base, should find a new ted to a custom Twentieth Cen-
owner ($1,5/2,000). tury quartersawn oak base, has
Nearly all the lots in the auc-
tion carry a strong Canadian
theme. An expected top lot is a
large wood carving by the inven-
tor and Canadian artist Yosef
Drenters (1931-1983). Titled
“Mother and Child,” the figural
wood carving is 6 feet tall
($12/15,000). It was a gift from
Drenters to the current owner in
1973. All prices quoted are in
Canadian dollars.

A rare, signed Canadian Wag-
ner Ginger Beer bottle. 8½ inch-
es tall, is stamped “Jos Wagner
Maker Berlin Ont” just above
the lower edge ($5/7,000). The
same estimate has been assigned

Stan Douglas To Represent Canada At 2021 La Biennale Di Venezia

Stan Douglas, Evaan Kheraj photo, courtesy of OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA — The National Gal- until 2017 his multimedia theater production “Helen Law-
the artist, Victoria Miro and David Zwirner. lery of Canada has announced that Vancouver-based art- rence” was presented in Vancouver, Toronto, Munich, Ant-
ist Stan Douglas will represent Canada at the 59th Venice werp, Edinburgh, Brooklyn and Los Angeles.
Biennale. Douglas is recognized as one of the country’s
most acclaimed contemporary artists whose multidisci- Douglas received the International Centre for Photogra-
plinary works, including films, photographs and, more phy’s Infinity Prize in 2012, the Scotiabank Photography
recently, theater productions, often reflect on the dynamic Award in 2013, the Hasselblad Award in 2016, and was
potential embedded in pivotal historical moments. the 2019 recipient of the Audain Prize for Lifetime
Achievement.
“Stan Douglas is one of this country’s most internation-
ally respected artists, and we are thrilled to be supporting The artist’s work is also held in museum collections
the development of a new work for the Venice Biennale.” around the world, including the Centre Georges Pompi-
said Sasha Suda, director and chief executive officer, dou, Paris; Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin; Tate Gallery, Lon-
National Gallery of Canada. “This is the only internation- don; The Israel Museum, Jerusalem; Los Angeles County
al visual arts exhibition to which Canada sends official Museum of Art; Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago;
representation. As owner and commissioner of the Canada The Museum of Modern Art, New York; San Francisco
Pavilion in Venice, the National Gallery of Canada is in a Museum of Modern Art; Solomon R. Guggenheim Muse-
perfect position to share with the world what Canadians um, New York; the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; as
are most excited about in art.” well as the National Gallery of Canada and the Vancouver
Art Gallery.
Douglas was selected by a national committee of experts
in contemporary Canadian art comprised of John Zeppe- La Biennale di Venezia is one of the largest and most
telli, director and chief curator, Musée d’art contemporain prestigious contemporary art exhibitions in the world
de Montréal; Reid Shier, director, the Polygon Gallery; with more than 80 countries participating. The exhibitions
Kitty Scott, deputy director and chief curator, National on view at the Canada Pavilion are commissioned by the
Gallery of Canada; and Sasha Suda, PhD. National Gallery of Canada and produced in partnership
with the Canada Council for the Arts. The Canadian rep-
Douglas is a visual artist who lives and works in Vancou- resentation in 2021 is made possible through the financial
ver and Los Angeles. His films and photographs have been support of the presenting sponsor Royal Bank of Canada
included in exhibitions internationally since the early (RBC), and through the National Gallery of Canada Foun-
1980s, including at documenta IX, X and XI (1992, 1997, dation. The next Biennale Arte will take place from May to
2002) and in four Venice Biennales (1990, 2001, 2005 and November 2021.
2019). A survey of his work, “Stan Douglas: Mise en scène,”
toured Europe from 2013 until the end of 2015. From 2014 The National Gallery of Canada is at 380 Sussex Drive.
For information, 613-990-1985 or www.gallery.ca.

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 19

Don’t Stop Them Now: UK Coin Celebrates UK Music Legends, Queen

LONDON — The Royal Mint an Rhapsody,” in 1975. Before Queen, 2020, UK half ounce Queen 2020 one ounce silver recognition seemed remote and
has announced the band, Queen, the release of the song, the label silver proof coin, reverse. proof coin, obverse. unreachable. To have our band
will be celebrated with the was determined to cut the each member’s instrument, with design and is underscored by recognized and our music cele-
launch of a commemorative coin length of the single significant- the Bechstein™ grand piano — the singer’s signature mic stick. brated in this way is very touch-
collection, making it the first ly. However, the foursome which Freddie Mercury played ing — a real honor.” Roger Tay-
time that a British band has refused, and the risk paid off, for “Bohemian Rhapsody” — Brian May from Queen said: lor from Queen said: “Marvelous,
been celebrated on UK coinage. with the single spending nine featuring at the top of the coin. “This is a big ‘Who could have all this fuss over our band. I feel
Now available, the design is the consecutive weeks at the top of Meanwhile, the group’s logo is imagined it?’ moment for us. entirely spent.”
first in the Royal Mint’s new the charts. In 2002, 27 years placed at the center of the When we began as Queen, even
“Music Legends” collection. later, the single was voted as the first rung of the ladder to The first in a new series cele-
Britain’s favorite song of all brating innovation and success
Known for pushing the bound- time. The opening notes of Bohe- of British music, the commemo-
aries with their own unique mian Rhapsody are so well rec- rative coins will be available in
style and continually reinvent- ognized, that the Royal Mint’s gold proof, silver proof, and bril-
ing their approach to music, coin designer, Chris Facey, liant uncirculated and will be
Queen’s layered sound and decided it was a fitting tribute available to purchase from
flamboyant anthems continue to showcase these by featuring www.royalmint.com.
to influence a new generation of the keys on the piano pressed
musicians’ decades after they down. The brilliant uncirculated coin
were formed. will also be available in limited
The coin commemorates all numbers in three exclusive
Perhaps the most striking four members of Queen, in rec- packs which includes a poster
example of the band’s determi- ognition of their contributions and will only be available to pur-
nation to be bold was their deci- to the band’s success. This is chase from the Royal Mint.
sion to release a six-minute done through the portrayal of
quasi-operatic single, “Bohemi- For additional information,
www.royalmint.com.

Drost Masterpiece Loaned To Rijksmuseum Japan Cultural
Expo Launches
AMSTERDAM — The Rijksmuseum has Willem Drost (1633-1659) “Cimon en style of painting. The story of Cimon and Official Social
received on long-term loan a rare work by Pero,” circa 1655-1657, oil on canvas, Pero, which has its origins in Roman Media Accounts
the artist Willem Drost, a pupil of Rem- on loan from the Broere Charitable antiquity, centres on the subjects of ulti-
brandt. Painted around 1655, “Cimon and Foundation, indispensable support. mate sacrifice and charity: Cimon has TOKYO — Official social
Pero” is owned by the Broere Charitable been sentenced to death by starvation, and media accounts have been
Foundation and is the tenth object from its his daughter Pero who visits him in jail launched for the Japan Cultural
collection to be placed on long-term loan keeps him alive by secretly breastfeeding Expo, a nationwide festival cel-
with the Rijksmuseum. “Cimon and Pero” him. ebrating the finest in Japanese
is the largest known canvas by Drost, who arts and culture with various
died at an early age, and the first to be The Broere Charitable Foundation sup- programs, including exhibitions,
added to the Rijksmuseum collection. It ports medical research and the fine arts. performing arts productions
now hangs in the museum’s Gallery of Its activities in the arts take the form of and arts festivals.
Honour. purchasing important works which it then
makes accessible to the general public in The Japan Cultural Expo
Taco Dibbits, director of the Rijksmuse- European museums. The foundation’s pre- social media accounts will be
um, said, “It’s fantastic that there are peo- vious loans to the Rijksmuseum include regularly updated to provide
ple who buy art in order to share it. Mil- the following masterpieces: Gerrit van visitors with details about pro-
lions of people will now be able to enjoy Honthorst’s “Satyr and Nymph,” 1623; Wil- grams, venues, dates, the cre-
this painting by Rembrandt’s most impor- lem van de Velde de Jonge’s “Dutch Ships ative process,and much more.
tant pupil thanks to the Broere Charitable in a Calm Sea,” circa 1655; Orazio Borgi-
Foundation.” anni’s “Christ among the Doctors,” circa The expo introduces the arts of
1609; Joachim Wtewael’s “Mars and Venus Japan to the world, based on the
There are 41 known works by Willem Surprised by Vulcan,” 1610; Jacob Jordae- theme of Humanity and Nature.
Drost (1633-1659), who was a pupil of ns’ “The Meeting of Odysseus and Nausi- Starting in 2019 and scheduled
Rembrandt in Amsterdam before leaving caa,” circa 1630-40; and the bronze bust by to run until 2021, it will show-
to work in Italy. Drost painted Cimon and Martin Desjardins of Louis XIV, King of case 10,000 years of the arts
Pero, his largest work, in Venice at the age France and Navarre, circa 1690-95. and culture in Japan, including
of about 22; he was to die just a few years fine arts and cultural treasures,
later. In Cimon and Pero Drost clearly The Rijksmuseum is at Museumstraat 1. the performing arts, media arts,
incorporates Italian influences in a Dutch For information, www.rijksmuseum.nl/en. music, literary arts, food and
nature, daily life, design and
Experts Say Vincent Van Gogh Self-Portrait Is Genuine fashion. This comprehensive
expo will also explore the arts in
By Mike Corder, Associated Press while Van Gogh was at the Saint-Remy asylum in southern France. the context of creating an inclu-
AMSTERDAM (AP) — After years of doubts about its authenticity, Questions about the painting rose in the 1970s. The use of a palette sive society, living with other
experts in Amsterdam have confirmed that a Vincent van Gogh self- cultures and recovering from
portrait was indeed painted by the Dutch master as he recovered in a knife to flatten brush strokes on Van Gogh’s face and what were then natural disasters.
French asylum from a mental breakdown. considered to be unusual colors in the painting led to speculation
Van Gogh Museum researcher Louis van Tilborgh dispelled the about the authenticity of the work, which was bought as a genuine Under the overarching theme
doubts Monday, (January 20) saying the oil on canvas painting of the Van Gogh in 1910 by Norway’s National Museum. “Humanity and Nature in
anguished-looking painter was completed in the late summer of 1889 Japan,” the Japan Cultural
A journalist takes a closer look at the previously contested In an attempt to put those doubts to rest, the museum asked the Expo is a nationwide festival of
painting by Dutch master Vincent van Gogh, an 1889 self- Van Gogh Museum to analyze the painting in 2014. Japanese arts and culture led
portrait, of which the authenticity was confirmed during by the Agency for Cultural
a press conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Monday, “It feels really reassuring to know that its genuine,” said Mai Britt Affairs and the Japan Arts
January 20, 2020. The painting, which belongs to the Guleng of the Norwegian museum. Council, organized in coopera-
National Museum in Norway, was painted at the Saint- tion with government ministries
Paul de Mausole psychiatric institution in Saint-Remy de Van Tilborgh said the use of an unprimed canvas and a muddy and agencies, cultural institu-
Provence, France. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong). green color were, in fact, typical of Van Gogh’s time in Saint-Remy in tions, local governments and
1889. private organizations. Timed to
coincide with the 2020 Tokyo
What sets the work apart is Van Gogh’s use of a palette knife. Summer Olympic and Paralym-
“So, he has painted it and during the process he suddenly decides pic Games, events held all over
that it has to become flat,” Van Tilborgh said. “We tend to think that the country will display the
it has to do with the fact that it’s made during a period of psychosis.” “arts of Japan” for the apprecia-
Van Tilborgh said Van Gogh used painting as both a way of portray- tion and enjoyment of not only
ing his mental breakdown and of helping him to recover. Japanese audiences but visitors
“He wanted to say in this picture that he was an ill person and so from overseas.
it’s a kind of therapeutic work we tend to think,” Van Tilborgh said.
“He was a Protestant and as a Protestant you have to accept the facts The Japan Cultural Expo can
of life — if you suffer, you have to face the suffering.” be followed on Twitter (@enJP-
Norway’s most famous artistic son, painter Edvard Munch, whose CultureExpo), Facebook (https://
iconic work, ‘’The Scream,’’ also is a vivid expression of mental www.facebook.com/JapanCul-
anguish, was fascinated by the Van Gogh painting. turalExpo/) and Instagram
“He thought it was one of the best of the collection of the national ( h t t p s : / / w w w. i n s t a g r a m . c o m /
gallery, but he also found it scary, because of the gaze from the self- japanculturalexpo/)
portrait staring back at him,” Guleng said.
The painting will remain on display at the Van Gogh Museum in The Japan Cultural Expo is at,
Amsterdam before returning to Oslo in 2021, when the National 4-1 Hayabusa-cho, Chiyoda-ku.
Museum, currently closed for renovation, reopens in a new building. For information, www.ntj.jac.
“When we delivered the painting in ‘14 they warned us and said, go.jp/nihonhaku/en/.
‘You might not like the results, and it might be that we will never find
out.’” Guleng said. “So, we were very happy when we got the news.”

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

Fountain House Gallery
Presents ‘We See You’
NEW YORK CITY — Fountain The show is curated by Frank Mar- Maresca continued, “Everyone in
House Gallery, representing artists esca, director of Ricco/Maresca Gal- this collective of artists is essentially
living with mental illness, is present- lery, who said, “This exhibition pres- a co-curator, because they’ve selected
ing the photography exhibition “We ents a slice of the Fountain House a part of their neighborhood and rep-
See You,” which will remain on view milieu, and the mental health com- resented it visually; I just focused
through February 19. munity at large, as seen through their vision. All the images included
hundreds of photographs by more in this exhibition very effectively
For this show, Fountain House Gal- than 35 Fountain House Gallery art- convey the full spectrum of what I
lery artists were asked to photo- ists. ‘We See You’ is curated in a look for in a photograph: the play of
graph the West-40s environment of purely democratic manner, including light and shadow, humor, humanity
the gallery and of its parent organi- all who submitted work in the open and the fleeting moments or details
zation, Fountain House, as well as call. The installation plays with the that often get lost in the flux of the
the wider Hell’s Kitchen neighbor- CMYK color model — the building urban landscape.”
hood that is their vibrant extended block for every color print — to illu-
community. minate the accessibility and sponta- Each photograph presented is sized
Boo Lynn Walsh, “Crossroads,” neity of the work, while also serving at 8 by 10 inches and is priced at $30.
2020, digital photograph, 8 by 10 as a metaphor for the rainbow of
inches. Courtesy Fountain lives growing under the wings of Fountain House Gallery is at 702
House Gallery Fountain House.” Ninth Avenue at 48th Street. For
more information, www.fountaingal-
lerynyc.com or 212-262-2756.

New Haven Museum To Host Chinese New Year Activities February 8
NEW HAVEN, CONN. — On dance. All activities are free bull Street at 11 am. enter on Temple), and New China and the United States.
Saturday, February 8, from 10 and open to the public. The fun moves indoors at 1 Haven Museum (114 Whitney Yale-China envisions a US-
am to 5 pm, New Haven Muse- Avenue) China relationship of mutual
um will partner with the Yale- Lunarfest begins at 10 am pm. Activities will be offered at understanding and profound
China Association for with a colorful lion and dragon several locations: William L Activities include children’s respect nurtured by collabora-
Lunarfest 2020. The event dance parade from the corner Harkness Hall (100 Wall arts and crafts; music; dance; Tai tion among individuals and
offers activities and programs of Church/Elm to the corner of Street); Affinity Federal Credit Chi and Qigong; shadow puppet- institutions.
for all ages featuring art, Whitney/Trumbull, and a lion Union (55 Whitney Avenue); ry; theatre; exhibits, and more.
music, literature, theatre and dance “meet and greet” on Ely Center of Contemporary For more information or to
Whitney Avenue near Trum- Art (51 Trumbull Street); Office The Yale-China Association register, www.yalechina.org/
of International Students & inspires people to learn and lunarfest, lunarfest@yalechina.
Scholars (421 Temple Street); serve together. Founded in org, 203-432-3427.
Yale-China (442 Temple 1901 by graduates of Yale Uni-
Street); New Haven Free Pub- versity, Yale-China fosters The New Haven Museum is at
lic Library (133 Elm Street), long-term relationships that 114 Whitney Avenue. For more
Rosenfeld Hall (109 Grove, improve education, health, and information, 203-562-4183 or
cultural understanding in www.newhavenmuseum.org.

Southold Historical Society Lecture:
Montauk Point Lighthouse February 11

GREENPORT, N.Y. — South- tauk Point Lighthouse was Lighthouse since 2001, becom-
old Historical Society will part- authorized by the Second Con- ing historian in 2009. He has
ner with Peconic Landing to gress, under President George published five books about var-
continue the Winter Lectures Washington, in 1792. Con- ious Montauk subjects, includ-
Series, which is themed Long struction began on June 7, ing the lighthouse. He resides
Island Landmarks. The next 1796 and was completed on in Shirley, N.Y.
lecture in the series is “Mon- November 5, 1796. Montauk
tauk Point Lighthouse,” which Point Light has provided safe The lecture will take place in
Henry Osmers will present on passage for thousands and the Peconic Landing Commu-
Tuesday, February 11, at 4 pm. thousands of ships and for mil- nity Center’s auditorium.
lions and millions of people; it Admission is free, donations
Osmers is considered the still serves as a navigational are accepted. Reservations are
definitive historian of Mon- tool today. recommended.
tauk Point Lighthouse. His
presentation will cover per- Osmers was born in Brook- The Peconic Landing Com-
haps the most notable and lyn, N.Y., and received his mas- munity Center Auditorium is
most beloved Long Island ter’s degree in history from at 1500 Brecknock Road. For
Landmark. As the oldest light- C.W. Post College. He has reservations or information,
house in New York State, Mon- worked at the Montauk Point 631-765-5500 or email info@
southoldhistorical.org.

Rijksmuseum’s Rembrandt
Loan At Wadsworth

HARTFORD, CONN. — Rembrandt’s “Titus in a superb example of a visual expression of quiet-
Monk’s Habit” (1660) has come to Hartford. On ness, tranquil meditation, musing recollection —
loan from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the a portrayal of a whole cluster of human emotional
painting will be on view at the Wadsworth Athe- tones.
neum Museum of Art through April 30.
The Wadsworth Atheneum is at 600 Main
Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), recognized as Street. For more information, 860-278-2670 or
one of the most important artists of his time and www.thewadsworth.org.
considered by many to be one of the greatest Rembrandt van Rijn, “Titus in a Monk’s
painters in European history, painted his teenage Habit,” 1660. Oil on canvas. Loan from the
son in the guise of a monk at a crucial moment Rijksmuseum. Purchased with the support
late in his career when he was revamping his of the Vereniging Rembrandt, 1933; former-
business as a painter and recovering from bank- ly Stroganoff Collection, St Petersburg.
ruptcy. It has been 53 years since this painting
has been on view in the United States making
this a rare opportunity for visitors to experience
a late portrait by the Dutch master among the
collection of baroque art already on view at the
Wadsworth. While this painting has been infre-
quently seen in America, it exemplifies the dra-
matic use of light and dark to express human
emotion for which Rembrandt’s late works are
especially prized.

“‘Titus in a Monk’s Habit’ is an important paint-
ing. It opens questions about the artist’s career,
his use of traditional subjects, and the bold tech-
nique that has won him enduring fame,” says Oli-
ver Tostmann, Susan Morse Hilles curator of
European art at the Wadsworth. “With his son in
the role of a poor monk, it is a heart-wrenching
interpretation of the human condition and an
echo of the family’s humbled economic state.”
Titus, born in 1641, was the fourth and only sur-
viving child of Rembrandt and his first wife
Saskia. Within a few years, Rembrandt’s family
life turned destitute and hard. In the painting,
Titus is draped in a dark brown hooded cloak, his
eyes downcast, his face bathed in light. It is a

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 21

Pook & Pook, Inc, Sale Exceeds High Estimate—

Chinese Vase Generates International Buzz

Auction Action In Downingtown, Penn.

DOWNINGTOWN, PENN. — Hongs at Canton sold within A private collector who had never previ- It was cataloged as Nineteenth Century
As a snowstorm headed towards estimate ($12/18,000) to an ously bought at Pook & Pook paid $122,000 Chinese export, but according to Ron Pook,
the mid-Atlantic, Pook & Pook, online bidder for $16,250 while a — the second highest price in the sale — it was Late Eighteenth Century and made
Inc, proceeded as scheduled with China trade painting of a naval for this historically important appoint- for the Chinese market. Regardless, the top
its January 17-18 Americana engagement on the Boca Tigris ment of Anthony Wayne to Major General lot in the sale was this famille rose porce-
and International Auction. The river fetched $5,856, also within of the Legion of the United State of Amer- lain vase that saw competition from the
storm did not deter buyers and estimate. ica. It was dated March 19, 1793 and was United States as well as Asian and the Unit-
the sale achieved a total of $1.5 ed Kingdom. An institution in the midwest-
million hammer ($1.9 million For the most part, American prominently signed by President George ern United States bought it for $329,400
including the buyer’s premium), furniture in the Jacobson collec- Washington ($100/150,000). ($1/1,500).
exceeding its aggregate esti- tion met or exceeded expecta-
mates of $426,000/1,493,000, tions and highlights included Review and Onsite Photos by
with more than 97 percent of lots the first lot in the sale — a Madelia Hickman Ring, Assistant Editor
selling from the podium. Pennsylvania Queen Anne Catalog Photos Courtesy Pook & Pook, Inc.
walnut dressing table, that This Northwest Coast
As is tradition at Pook & Pook, a trade buyer in the room carved and painted
a late Friday afternoon reception took home for $12,200, and cedar totem pole was
with catered sandwiches, fruit, a diminutive Queen Anne the only Native Ameri-
cheese and desserts, with wine walnut high chest of draw- can piece in the sale. It
and soft drinks, encouraged ers from Massachusetts was signed “John F. Wil-
potential buyers to preview just that a phone bidder bought liams Juneau Alaska,
before the sale got underway at 6 for $19,520. Selling for 1926,” stood 62½ inches
pm. The first 49 lots were from $13,420 was a New York high and made
the collection of Jean and Eugene Federal mahogany triple $12,200 ($2/4,000).
Jacobson of Englewood, N.J. pedestal dining table in the
manner of Duncan Phyfe
If one was not paying attention, that had been acquired
one might have missed the intro- from Ginsburg & Levy. A
duction to what was cataloged as Chippendale mahogany
a Nineteenth Century Chinese drop-leaf table that had
export famille rose porcelain descended in the family of
vase, made for the European Captain James Mugford of
market, with applied kneeling Marblehead, Mass., and
figures wearing tricorne hats on had been handled by Israel
either side of the vase, and esti- Sack, seemed a good buy
mated at $1/1,500. James Pook when it realized only
opened bidding on the vase above $5,856. It was purchased
$20,000, eliciting startled gasps by a buyer in the room who
from those in the audience. Once beat out a trade buyer in
bidding began, most of the action the room.
came from the standing phone
bank, where nearly a dozen A collection from New
phone lines had been reserved to York that comprised more
support the interest that flooded than 100 lots of mostly his-
to Pook from around the United torical Staffordshire and
States, the United Kingdom and Liverpool Herculaneum
Asia. In the end, an unidentified porcelain and some glass
institution in the Midwestern followed the Jacobson col-
United States bidding on the lection. Notable results
phone prevailed, winning the lot were a blue and white Staf-
for $329,400. fordshire platter with
portrait medallions of
When asked about the vase,
Ron Pook said it turned out to As the sale got underway, nearly all the seats were full, with
not have been made for the more people standing or seated behind this photographer.
export market but for the domes-
tic market and was most likely
made in the late Eighteenth
Century. The European figures
symbolize Western culture look-
ing up to the Chinese culture.
“We had a lot of interest in it,
even weeks ahead,” said Pook.

The Jacobson’s eye for Chinese
export was not limited to porce-
lains. A China trade painting
depicting a view of Whampoa
Anchorage that was the cover lot
for the catalog and estimated at
$15/25,000 exceeded expecta-
tions when it sold for $34,160 to
a private client who had left an
absentee bid. A second China
trade painting depicting the

James Pook taking bids from phone bidders when the Chi-
nese vase crossed the block.

Marked Union Co Kensing- Phone bidders from around the world interested in the top- Comparable to one in the Shelley Collection, this Juniata
ton, $19,520 was enough to selling Chinese vase required every available line in the County, Penn., painted settee, circa 1840, was attributed to
win this deep sapphire blue phone bank. the Mifflintown Chair Works and finished at $14,640
glass Columbia and eagle ($8/12,000).
pint flask, ($2/4,000).

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

The cover lot was this large (29½ by 44 inches) China Trade
oil on canvas view of Whampoa Anchorage, that went for
$34,160 to a private buyer who won it on an absentee bid
($15/25,000).

Bidders worked themselves into a bit of a
lather over this “Soap Hollow” 1871 dated
Somerset County, Penn., painted pine chest
of drawers. It achieved $36,600 ($25/35,000).
This Pennsylvania Queen Anne walnut high
chest, circa 1765, realized $13,420 ($5/8,000).

A conservative estimate generated interest in this oil on
canvas painting titled “The Landing of the Fathers Plym-
outh, Dec 22, 1620” and done in the manner of Michele
Felice Corne. It sold to a phone bidder for $20,740 ($2/3,000).

Pook & Pook

Bringing $58,560 was this Pennsylvania Wil-
liam & Mary line and berry inlaid spice
chest, circa 1750 ($50/80,000).

Robert Rauschenberg’s signed print “Signs”
sold to a phone bidder for $23,180 ($3/5,000).

Colorful tulips and parrots enlivened this Center County Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis Pennsylvania artists, including vania William and Mary spice
ink and watercolor fraktur birth certificate made by de Lafayette, Governor George Laurence Campbell, Peter Scult- chest that sold for $58,560. It
Johann Conrad Gilbert for Samuel Stober. It went out at Clinton and George Washington horpe, Richard Evett Bishop, was followed by a Center Coun-
$15,860 ($4/7,000). that more than doubled its high Hobson Pttman and David ty, Penn., fraktur by Johann
Three of a few dozen people who took advantage of the Fri- expectations when a bidder in Brumbach but was headed by a Conrad Gilbert for Samuel Sto-
day afternoon reception to cast a last-minute eye on some the room beat out all competitors Robert Rauschenberg” print ber that realized $15,860, more
of the upcoming lots. to buy it for $20,740. The other “Signs,” number 75 of an edition than double its high estimate. It
surprise in the section came from of 250 from a Lititz, Penn., estate was the highest price achieved
a lot containing two early Nine- that more than quadrupled its for a fraktur, of more than a
teenth Century Liverpool Hercu- high estimate and sold to a dozen on offer. Other fraktur of
laneum bowls that had transfer phone bidder for $23,180. note were a set of four Pennsyl-
busts of George Washington on vania ink and watercolor frak-
their interiors, together with two The final group of lots of the tur depicting “The Prodigal Son”
mugs with verses. Despite condi- night was property from the col- that received more than 36 bids
tion issues and low estimates lection of William E. and Anne H. and more than tripled the high-
($400/700 for the lot), bidders Lewis of Columbus, Ohio, that est expectations when the lot
liked what they saw, and compe- topped out at $11,590 for a mid- sold for $12,200. Surviving in its
tition pushed the lot to close at Eighteenth Century New Eng- original painted frame may have
$10,370, to an online bidder. land painted pine hutch table provided further enticement for
that had been estimated at a Northumberland County frak-
A section of fine art provided $2/2,500. tur birth certificate for Benja-
variety from the decorative arts min Reik by Daniel Otto, the
that had preceded them and The second session got under- “Flat Tulip Artist,” which bid-
included several works from way at 9 am the following morn- ders took to $7,930.
ing, beginning with a Pennsyl-
Offerings of painted furniture
This China Trade oil on canvas view of the Hongs at Can- were plentiful in the sale, which
ton, circa 1840, brought $16,250 from an online bidder saw several strong results
(12/18,000). throughout. A Pennsylvania
painted poplar two-part Dutch
cupboard from Berks County,
circa 1830, was in its original
flame-grained surface. Estimat-
ed at $8/12,000, it brought
$19,520. A painted dresser box
by Joseph Lehn exceeded expec-
tations and brought $3,660, as
did a Juniata County, Penn.,
painted settee similar to one in
the collection of Dr Donald Shel-
ley that came to rest at $14,640.
The highest price for painted
furniture was $36,600, which
was realized for a Somerset
County, Penn., chest of drawers
that had been illustrated in

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 23

A buyer in the room won this Historical
blue Staffordshire four-medallion platter
for $20,740. It depicted Jefferson, Lafayette,
Clinton and Washington over a view of Tun-
bridge Castle Surrry and the Aqueduct
bridge at Rochester ($5/10,000).

Retaining its original flame grained sur- The price paid for this
face, this circa 1830 Berks County, Penn., carved and painted Native
poplar two-part Dutch cupboard was American Indian cigar store
described as “rare.” No hyperbole here, the figure, circa 1900 was
piece brought $19,520 ($8/12,000). $11,590 ($4/8,000).

A trade buyer in the room purchased this A phone bidder, bidding against other This Peter Derr tin coffee- A private collector bidding
Pennsylvania Queen Anne walnut dressing phone bidders, took this diminutive Massa- pot with punched decora- on the phone acquired this
table for $12,200 ($7/10,000). chusetts Queen Anne walnut high chest of tion by Jacob Shade was circa 1830 Lancaster Coun-
drawers, circa 1765, for $19,520 ($10/12,000). dated 1848 and finished at ty, Penn., Hepplewhite cher-
$15,860 ($4/8,000). ry tall case clock by Martin
Muller’s Soap Hollow The Fur- — made up a large portion of the session provided a marked con- low estimate, for $12,200. The Shreiner, for $29,280. It was
niture and Its Makers and previ- sale. A deep sapphire blue glass trast to the primarily European two Tiffany flatware services in the top price paid for a clock
ously handled by Olde Hope flask marked Union Co. Kens- offerings sold in the first ses- the sale — both in the Chrysan- in the sale ($25/45,000).
Antiques. ington featured Columbia and sion. Redware and stoneware themum pattern — outpaced He expected it would sell in
eagle decoration that had been are perennial favorites with expectations. The first, a 173- April, alongside Pook & Pook’s
The top-selling lot in the sec- cataloged as “exceedingly rare” buyers at Pook & Pook; this sale piece service for 18, tripled its next various owners Americana
ond session was a framed manu- saw a particularly strong result, was no different. Bringing high estimate to finish at and International sale, which is
script appointing Anthony bringing $19,520 against an $9,760 against an estimate of $12,500 while the second lot, a currently scheduled for April 18.
Wayne to Major General of the estimate of $2/4,000. Another $3/5,000 was a Snyder County, smaller 52-piece service, real- The name of the collector will be
Legion of the United States of item denoted as “rare” that did Penn., redware reticulated foot- ized $8,125 against an estimate identified so watch future issues
America, dated March 19, 1793, well was a dated 1848 tin coffee- ed bowl inscribed “Antony Noll of $1,2/1,800. for upcoming details as they
that brought $122,000, within pot made by Peter Derr of Berks 1858.” Topping offerings of become available.
estimate. “It was bought over County and with punched deco- cobalt-decorated stoneware was When we caught up with Ron
the phone by a private collector ration by Derr’s brother in law, a 3-gallon jug by Cowden & Wil- Pook after the sale, he was busy All prices quoted include buyer’s
in the Midwest, someone new to Jacob Shade. The estimate of cox of Harrisburg, Penn., that securing a very large single- premium as stated by the auction
us,” Ron Pook confirmed after $4/8,000 seems, in retrospect, to featured a cobalt “man in the owner collection from a “Well- house. For additional information,
the sale. have been conservative, with the moon” decoration that more known Pennsylvania Collector.” www.pookandpook.com or 610-
pot bringing $15,860. A carved than doubled its high estimate 269-4040.
Eleven tall case clocks and one and painted two-horse team by to realize $8,540. A crock, also
French mantel clock comprised Lancaster County, Penn., artist by Cowden & Wilcox that fea-
the selection of time pieces in Peter Brubacker (1816-1898) tured the same decoration also
the sale. The selection was led were coaxed past its high esti- exceeded expectations when it
by a Lancaster County, Penn., mate to settle at $10,980, only sold for $5,612.
Federal tall case clock by Martin slightly more than the $10,370
Shreiner with unusual stepped- realized by a painted wood and Tiffany is a name that contin-
waist case that sold for $29,280 metal sign for the Brackinville ues to resonate with buyers. The
to a private collector on the Inn of Delaware. sale featured a Tiffany Studios
phone. New England clocks were turtle-back table lamp with air-
in the minority at the sale but Ceramics offered in the second root design base that sold at the
an example with distinctive pat-
erae and corner fan inlay and Bringing $13,420 was this New York Federal mahogany tri-
double-peaked cornice signed by ple-pedestal dining table in the manner of Duncan Phyfe
Luther Goddard of Shrewsbury, ($8/12,000).
Mass., closed at $10,980, more
than double its low estimate. This was the largest of two Tiffany & Co., Chrysanthemum One from a set of four Late Eighteenth Century Southeast-
Goddard was a silversmith, pattern sterling silver flatware sets in the sale. It brought ern Pennsylvania ink and watercolor fraktur depicting
clock and watch maker who was $12,500 ($3/4,000). “The Prodigal Son” realized $12,200 ($2/4,000).
a cousin to Simon Willard.

Of the textile offerings, quilts
were more abundant than sam-
plers. Leading the sampler
selection was a New Jersey silk
on linen house sampler wrought
by Rachel Austin of Burlington
County in 1831 that realized
$1,586. The highest price paid
for a quilt was $813, for a Lan-
caster County, Penn., Amish
“sunshine and shadow” example
with vibrant purple borders that
had been estimated at $400/700.

The market for decorative
“smalls” — ceramics, glass and
objects made from metal or wood

Historic Homes & Properties



24 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — February 7, 2020 Compiled by Madelia Hickman Ring

Seven Vermont Communities
Receive Support From Bruhn Revitalization Grant

Photos courtesy Preservation Trust of Vermont The E.J. Bullock Building, located at 7012 Main In 2018, the Broad Brook Community Center,
BURLINGTON, VT. — The Preservation Trust of Street, Readsboro, was built in the late 1880s. It Inc, acquired the Broad Brook Grange #151’s his-
Vermont (PTV) has announced the recipients of the has functioned as a Masonic Lodge, library, gro- toric building, which was built in 1896. It contin-
Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants. A total of cery store and apartment complex. ues to be a beloved Guilford fixture, and is locat-
$625,000 has been awarded to seven community proj- Project in Rupert, The Opera House at Enosburg Falls, ed at 3940 Guilford Center Road, Guilford.
ects in Calais, Enosburg Falls, Guilford, Poultney, New Avenue in St Johnsbury, and The EJ Bullock only executive director, and later, president. The board
Readsboro, Rupert and St Johnsbury. The grants range Block in Readsboro. recognizes that no person has done more than Bruhn
from $50,000 to $100,000 and will be used toward to preserve the essential character of Vermont through
structural repairs, roof replacement, window restora- The historic uses of each of these properties contrib- its cities, towns, villages and landscape in those many
tion, and fire safety improvements. uted greatly to community life in rural Vermont. years, and that he empowered and motivated Vermont
The Preservation Trust received 45 applications Through support from the National Park Service’s citizens to take action to save and protect the built
totaling more than $3.5 million in requests. Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant program, environment, town and village centers, gathering plac-
“We were very pleased to see so many great projects there is once again an opportunity to enrich the lives es, institutions and landscape that make Vermont
and we had to make difficult decisions in choosing of community members and to preserve the historic unique among States.
from among the good applications submitted. Overall, uses as a gathering place and economic driver through
the Preservation Trust chose projects that best met restoration and adaptive reuse. The Bruhn Fund will be seeded with bequests from
the goals of spurring new economic activity in village Bruhn’s estate and gifts in Bruhn’s memory. The Fund
centers and downtowns and brought new life to under- The Paul A. Bruhn Fund was established after the will be invested to generate funds for grants, awards,
utilized buildings. We also took geographic distribu- Board of Directors of the Preservation Trust of Ver- and initiatives to support the social, historic, architec-
tion into consideration and are excited to include two mont unanimously passed a resolution on November tural, cultural and economic vitality in Vermont. While
new nominations to the National Register of Historic 14, 2019 to preserve the essential character of Ver- being sensitive to change over time, the Bruhn Fund’s
Places,” said Liz Gamache, interim president of the mont. expenditures and investments will honor his commit-
trust. ment to community and gathering places, town and
Historically, town centers and villages were at the The Bruhn Fund honored Paul Bruhn (1947-2019) village centers, Vermont history and architecture, the
center of community life. Today, the Preservation Trust who led PTV with distinction for nearly 40 years as its landscape and Vermont’s people with the underlying
of Vermont works with groups that are committed to goal of preserving the essential character of Vermont.
continuing that tradition and are actively investing Built in 1896 by Lambert Packard, the New Ave-
both time and money into restoring centrally located nue Hotel, more recently known as the Depot The Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant pro-
buildings such as granges, schools, downtown commer- Square Building, was purchased by Housing Ver- gram is a $7.5 million federal grant program created
cial buildings, churches, libraries and more. mont in 2018. The historic building in downtown by Senator Patrick Leahy aimed at supporting rural
The recipients of the Bruhn Historic Revitalization St Johnsbury, will be redeveloped to provide revitalization of historic properties of national, state
subgrants include The Broad Brook Community Cen- affordable housing for St Johnsbury residents as and local significance in order to restore, protect and
ter in Guilford, Memorial Hall in North Calais, Stone well as commercial opportunities on the ground foster economic development in rural villages and
Valley Arts at Fox Hill in Poultney, The Sheldon Store floor. downtown areas.
In 1892, the Dr B.J. Kendall Co., a manufacturer
of patent medicines, presented the Town of Enos- “These inaugural awards are emblematic of the
burg and the Village of Enosburg Falls with a vision Paul and I shared for how the Bruhn grant pro-
Victorian building that would become a local gram would support rural communities. The range
landmark known as the Enosburg Opera House. and diversity of these buildings and their uses covers
Noted for its acoustics, the opera house remains the board, but the common thread that links them
a cultural center for Franklin County. In 1975, together is their ability to serve as community gather-
the Enosburg Opera House Association was ing spaces. In supporting projects that will enhance
formed. It is located at 123 Depot Street, Enos- the vibrancy of rural Vermont by bringing people
burg Falls. together, we honor Paul’s life work and are setting a
strong foundation for the future of this program.” —
Senator Patrick Leahy.

This project is supported through a grant from the
Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program as adminis-
tered by the National Park Service, Department of the
Interior.

The Preservation Trust of Vermont is at 104 Church
Street. For information, www.ptvermont.org or 802-
658-6647.

Since 2016, Fox Hill has been the home of Stone Situated on the banks of Mirror Lake in North The Rupert Village Trust acquired the circa 1850
Valley Arts, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organi- Calais, Memorial Hall was built in 1885 from local Sheldon Store in 2018 with the intent on turning
zation providing classes, workshops, presenta- wood milled at the North Calais Mill. For the next the historic building into a community center
tions and events in the visual, performing and 100 years, the hall served as the centerpiece of and care. The store is located at 2824 Route 153
literary arts for all ages and levels of experience. social life for Calais and neighboring towns. In in Rupert.
Formerly a historic church and Masonic hall, the 2017, the North Calais Memorial Hall Association
building was donated to the Vermont Preserva- was formed to restore the hall to its former glory,
tion Trust in late 2015 by sisters Rita Fuschsberg improve its facilities and preserve public access.
and Irene Minkoff. It is located at 145 East Main
Street, Poultney.

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 25

Rob Wilson Collection Part 1 Marches At Old Toy Soldier Auctions

Auction Action In Pittsburgh, Penn.

A Heyde Colonial Caravan Spanish Army of Franco sold for
$4,100.

A Selwyn Courtenay Sir Thomas Erping- The top lot of the sale was this Desfontaines
ham Constable sold for $3,200. General de Beauharnais, which sold for $5,000.

PITTSBURGH, PENN. — Old Catching $3,300 was this Britains Display #1477 Edward
Toy Soldier Auctions held their VIII Coronation.
final sale of 2019 December
13-14, featuring items from the dier Auctions on Facebook/old- cuss the wonderful hobby of toy
Rob Wilson collection. Wilson, toysoldier to watch “Ray and soldiers.
a frequent contributor to Old Bre Live” as they feature vari-
Toy Soldier Magazine and ous lots from auctions and For information, raytoys@aol.
newly appointed editor, has interact with them as they dis- com, 412-343-8733, or www.old-
been collecting toy soldiers for toysoldierauctions.com.
more than 60 years. Over that
time he has amassed quite an
army, estimated at over 80,000
figures at its peak. Each collec-
tor has responsibility to look
after the items they acquire
before passing them on to the
next generation. With a collec-
tion as massive as Wilson’s,
there will be multiple auctions
containing toy soldiers ahead.

Old Toy Soldier’s next auction
will be held March 27-29, fea-
turing the Michael O’Donnell
collection and additional prop-
erties. Also, like Old Toy Sol-

Colonial Life Of Women Series At Glebe
House: Theorem Painting February 8
WOODBURY, CONN. women during the colo-
— The Glebe House nial period that affected
Museum will continue not only their immedi-
its “Colonial Life ate household, but their
Series,” focusing on the local community and
Colonial life of women. beyond. This six-part
This series is presented series will present lec-
with the help of a grant tures and hands-on
received from the workshops, including
“Women’s Giving Circle the life of colonial
of the Connecticut Com- women, herbalist basics,
munity Foundation.” painting theorems, vin-
From noon to 3 pm on egar etched framing,
Saturday, February 8, colonial textiles and the
Elizabeth Cutrofello basics of hand weaving.
will present “Theorem
Painting.” Theorem In addition to the
work was a popular materials fees, a class
method of stencil paint- fee of $20 for members
ing on fabric, wood and and $25 for nonmem-
paper, used to decorate bers will be charged.
everyday objects and create A theorem and vinegar Classes have limited
decorative pictures. Artist grained frame by Elizabeth seating and registration is
Cutrofello will share her Cutrofello. required. Sign up for both pro-
knowledge of the art of paint- Participants will create a grams and receive a $10 dis-
ing theorems in this three-hour unique frame for their theorem count. All proceeds benefit the
workshop, where participants painting or a treasured piece of Glebe House Museum.
will receive instruction and art/photo. This is a stand-alone The Glebe House Museum is
materials to complete a tradi- class. It is not necessary to at 49 Hollow Road, For more
tional theorem painting on a have taken the Theorem Paint- information or to register, 203-
velour surface. ing workshop to participate. 263-2855, office@glebehouse-
This program will be present- Participants must supply their museum.org or www.glebe-
ed in the “kitchen” of the circa own “flat” faced undecorated housemuseum.org.
1750 Glebe House Museum, wooden frame and a hair-dryer, SAUTEE NACOOCHEE, GA.
immersed in colonial artifacts with a $10 fee charged for addi- — A featured exhibit of work by
and history. Light refresh- tional materials. African American folk potter
ments will be served. A materi- Dave “Dave the Slave” Drake
als fee of $25 will be charged The Colonial Life Series was will be open through February
and includes stencils, velour designed to present the “lost” 29 in the Sautee Nacoochee
surface and stencil brushes. arts of colonial life, in an inti- Center at the Folk Pottery
At 1 pm on Sunday, March 8, mate setting, at our historic Museum of Northeast Georgia,
Cutrofello will continue the site. Immerse yourself in histo- 283 GA Highway 255 North. For
series, instructing participants ry in these programs based on information, 706-878-3300 or
on vinegar graining on wood. the important contributions of www.folkpotterymuseum.org.

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

Christie’s Sale Again Sets Bill Traylor Auction Record — $507,000—

Southern African American Artists
Star In Christie’s Outsider Sale

Auction Action In New York City

Setting a new artist auction record for Bill Walking into the gallery, folks were greeted This oil, gold paint, graphite and crayon on card work by
Traylor was the double-sided work “Man on by Traylor’s “Red Man on Blue Horse with Minnie Evans went out at $32,500 above a $7,000 estimate.
White, Woman on Red / Man with Black Dog,” which proved to be the artist’s second The work, “Untitled (Faces, Serpents, Animals, Angels),”
Dog,” that sold to collector Jerry Lauren for highest work of the sale at $325,000. The 1966, marked a new artist auction record for Evans.
$507,000. Director Steven Spielberg gifted placement of the sale title above the work
the work to author Alice Walker after film- was apt, as Traylor’s contributions would Black Dog” became but a memo- not common. And the colors
ing the 1985 film adaptation of her Pulitzer produce over a third of the sale total. ry, shrouded for more than 30 were rare, only approximately
Prize-winning novel The Color Purple. It years and last seen by the eyes four or five works are known
was housed within a single-sided frame at of the framer. Concurrently at that feature a red background
that time and Walker never knew it was that time, Traylor’s market grew painted behind a subject. Zim-
double-sided until the work was brought to legs. His first solo show, mount- merman also pointed to the
Christie’s and evaluated. ed posthumously with R.H. medium: this work was done on
Oosterom, Inc, which ran paper, which is uncommon for
Bill Traylor’s “Running Deer,” an image similar to a leaping NEW YORK CITY — Bill through the new year from 1979 Traylor, who often painted on
stag weathervane, nearly doubled estimate when it sold for Traylor is trending upward. to 1980, led to his breakout exhi- repurposed and found card.
$97,500. It was a deacession from the William Louis-Dreyfus This is supported by the fact bition at the Corcoran Gallery of
Foundation. that Christie’s specialist Cara Art in Washington DC in 1982. “Paper wasn’t readily avail-
Zimmerman set the American The rapid rise in value in the able to him the same way other
folk artist’s auction record for a years since would have been a materials were,” Zimmerman
second straight time in as many surprise to any market-hard- said. “I think part of the reason
years with her dedicated Janu- ened professional back then. he enjoyed it and revised it is
ary sale of Outsider Art. because this was a medium that
At the conclusion of filming was really special and he want-
Christie’s January 17 auction the 1985 film adaptation of Alice ed to take advantage of it.”
totaled $3,312,125 on 130 lots, Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning
with all but two selling for a 98 novel The Color Purple, released Adding to intrigue was an
percent sell-through. The sale’s three years earlier, director Ste- alternate picture originally
offerings stretched far and wide: ven Spielberg gifted the Traylor drawn underneath “Man on
international and domestic art- work to Walker. White,” its pencil lines still visi-
ists, Twentieth Century and ble, which added a depth of
contemporary, and price points Walker said, “[Spielberg] was imagery and a peek inside the
that ranged from $375 to hopeful (he said with a smile) artist’s creative process.
$507,000, the low for “Automo- that when I saw the film, I didn’t
bile,” an 11-by-14¾-inch ink on feel like the angry Woman On Zimmerman said, “We often
paper by Dwight Mackintosh Red. I answered (with a laugh) ‘I see little indications of other
(1906-1999), and the high for hope so too.’” images or altered images, but
Traylor’s double-sided work it’s really quite special to see an
“Man on White, Woman on Red / “That Spielberg alluded to this entirely different composition
Man with Black Dog,” that sold gesture, that has become part of under the finished work. Often
to collector Jerry Lauren. the history of this piece,” Zim- what you see is the changing of
merman said, noting the celeb- the position of an arm, but this
Traylor’s record-setting work rity cache. is unique to see an entirely dif-
was known; it had been handled ferent subject. Maybe he decid-
by New York City gallery That Traylor’s work was dou- ed it wasn’t working for him.”
Hirschl & Adler in the 1980s, ble-sided was never known to
though it was at this nascent Walker until it was consigned to According to Zimmerman, the
time that the piece received a Christie’s, where it was evaluat- work’s closest companion in
one-sided frame and “Man with ed out of frame. Traylor’s oeuvre is “Men on Red
/ Double Goat,” a double-sided
The work’s strengths, which work in the collection of the
led to its labeling as a master-
A pair of large bowls by William Edmondson would Review and Onsite Photos by work, were many. Double-sided
sell for $81,250. Behind are two Clementine Hunter Greg Smith, Editor Traylor works command a pre-
works: left, “Baptism, late 1950s,” $17,500; and right, mium in the market as they are
“Funeral,” early 1970s, $9,375. Catalog Photos by Christie’s

William Edmondson’s vessels are seen here in the fore- Christie’s specialist and head of sale Cara Zimmerman A.G. Rizzoli’s top lot was a
ground, as if they were just clanked together and set down stands with her top lot, Bill Traylor’s “Man on White, Woman 1944 blueprint work, “Vir-
across the table from one another. They were the second on Red / Man with Black Dog,” that brought $507,000. To the ginia Ann Entwistle Symbol-
highest grossing Edmondson lot in the sale as they brought left is William Edmondson’s pedestal-form figural limestone ically Sketched / Virginia’s
$162,500 over a $10,000 estimate. They had provenance to birdbath, carved in the 1930s, that raked in $150,000. Thorn- Heavenly Castle,” which
Edmondson patrons Elizabeth and Alfred Starr. ton Dial’s 2007 work “Scratches,” seen behind, brought was presented with a letter
$47,500. to Virginia where Rizzoli
explains the process of mak-
ing blueprints.

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 27

A massive double-handled vessel carved in A.G. Rizzoli’s 106-page book titled The Three large-format paintings were exhibited together in
limestone by William Edmondson would Y.T.T.E. Tabosa Edition, which featured the gallery. From left, Thornton Dial, “The Tiger Will Stand
prove the artist’s top lot of the day when it blueprint elevation profiles for various By His Lady,” $17,500; William Hawkins, “Two Dinosaurs
sold for $175,000 over a $6,000 estimate. It imagined projects, sold at $23,750. Rizzoli Wrestling,” $45,000; William Hawkins, “Eagle and Serpent,”
measures 9½ inches high by 21 inches wide made it for Shirley Bersie. $43,750.
by 13 inches deep and came with provenance
from some of Edmondson’s earliest patrons,
Elizabeth and Alfred Starr. “I knew after the
catalog had gone out that people were really
loving these vessels,” Zimmerman said.

Montgomery Museum of Fine “I knew after the catalog had tled (Faces, Serpents, Animals, In the original repurposed frame, William Hawkins’ “Dino”
Arts. gone out that people were really Angels),” 1966, $32,500; Ray- brought $8,125. On the right is one of Purvis Young’s books,
loving these vessels,” Zimmer- mond Materson, “Flaco and the circa 1992, this one with 58 drawings that sold for $5,000.
Also approaching the previous man said. “And I knew that we Prom Queen,” 1997, $9,375; Wil-
Traylor record of $396,500 — had many phone lines and a lot lie Young, “Untitled,” 1986, Following its success at Chris- Materson, Nellie Mae Rowe and
set by the firm in 2019 with of interest on each of them, but I $5,000; Laura Craig McNellis, tie’s 2019 Outsider sale, the Wil- others, brought in a total of
“Woman Pointing at Man with didn’t know what level they “Black Birthday Cake,” circa liam Louis-Dreyfus Foundation $801,625.
Cane”— was “Red Man on Blue would go, so it was an exciting 1982, $4,000; and Acharya again deaccessioned works
Horse with Dog,” a 1939-42 moment in the sale room. The Vyakul, “Four States,” 1990, totaling 29 lots to benefit the “The Outsider art market is
work that brought $325,000. vessels are not common, I think $2,375. foundation and the Harlem thriving, and collectors from
The six other Traylor works, all that’s what was so exciting for Children’s Zone. The works, across the globe demonstrated
but one featuring a singular ani- people. And they had amazing European art was led by an which included artists Bill Tray- that there is interest in the tal-
mal, were led by “Running provenance. They are so fabu- untitled 1945 work by French lor, Clementine Hunter, Judith ented and diverse artists within
Deer,” an image not unlike a lous in person when you think artist Augustin Lesage, which Scott, Leopold Strobl, Thornton this field,” Zimmerman said.
leaping stag weathervane, that about the scale and the texture, sold between estimate at Dial, Willie Young, Raymond
took $97,500; “Exciting Event you can see the artist’s hand in $112,500. The work was market For information, 212-636-2000
with Snake,” $62,500; “Purple them. They are these large, fresh, having been acquired or www.christies.com.
Cat,” $60,000; “Brown Bull With weighty works that capture the from the family of the artist in
Blue Eye,” $56,250; “Black Cow,” imagination.” 1965. Lesage was a visionary The second highest work by Thornton Dial in the sale, “The
$50,000; and “Red Fish,” artist, compelled “by powerful Beginning of the World,” executed in 1988-89, finished at
$27,500. Traylor’s total tally fin- Elizabeth and Alfred Starr spirits” to paint and draw. $75,000.
ished at $1,185,750, just above were among Edmondson’s earli-
one-third of the sale’s total rev- est patrons. The couple put into Other international artists
enue. motion the events that would include Adolf Wölfli, who sup-
lead to Edmondson’s solo exhibi- plied a $25,625 result for “Mag-
The sale’s estimated top lot, a tion at the Museum of Modern gingen/Lembinger,” a double-
massive double-sided work from Art. After Sidney Hirsch origi- sided colored pencil and
Henry Darger, “Untitled (188 at nally came across the artist’s graphite on paper from 1927;
Jennie Richie Everything is all yard, he introduced the Starrs and Guo Fengyi, whose untitled
right with abatement of storm / to the artist, who then brought ink on rice paper work, 66¼ by
189 at Jennie Richie Heading Harper’s Bazaar photographer 18 inches, sold for $17,500.
for Manley Camp),” was with- Louise Dahl-Wolfe to photo-
drawn by the consignor on a graph the environment. When Six works from California
$400/600,000 estimate. MoMA director Alfred H. Barr draftsman A.G. Rizzoli were the
Jr saw those photographs, he subject of attention. Rizzoli’s
Tallying up an impressive authorized Edmondson’s 1937 work centers around architec-
total were works by Nashville exhibition, which was the first tural renderings that symbol-
stone sculptor William Edmond- solo show for an African Ameri- ized people he knew. Rizzoli cre-
son, whose five lots, all lime- can at that institution. ated an imagined exposition
stone vessels of varying forms, named Y.T.T.E., which stood for
poured on the surprise. All came Eleven works from Thornton Yield to Total Elation, inspired
from a single collection and Dial ranged from $1,875 to by the 1915 Panama-Pacific
were purchased from New York $125,000. The latter was sup- International Exposition in San
City gallery Ricco Maresca in plied by “Almost Black,” a 2004 Francisco. All of the works came
1989. Prior to that gallery, they monochromatic composition from dealer Bonnie Grossman,
were in the collection of Eliza- measuring 85 by 60 inches and who began liquidating her col-
beth and Alfred Starr, who pur- made of clothing, tin, oil, enamel lection in 2016 following decades
chased them directly from the and spray paint on canvas laid of operating the Ames Gallery
artist. The expected top lot, a down on wood. “Dial was a steel out of her house in Berkeley
pedestal-form figural birdbath worker,” Zimmerman said, “I Hills, Calif. At the zenith of
carved in the 1930s, hit its top think that idea of welding and $75,000 was a 1944 blueprint
estimate of $150,000. But roll- sculpture construction stayed work, “Virginia Ann Entwistle
ing over that was a double-han- with him throughout his career Symbolically Sketched / Virgin-
dled cup, 9½ inches high and 21 as an artist.” Another sculptural ia’s Heavenly Castle,” which
inches wide, that brought work, “The Beginning of the was presented with a letter to
$175,000 over a $6,000 esti- World,” spanning 48 by 100 Virginia where Rizzoli explains
mate. A pair of vessels, carved in inches and executed in 1988-89 the process of making blue-
the manner of blocky beer with mixed media on plywood, prints. Behind at $30,000 was
steins, 16½ inches high by 13 went over the $40,000 estimate “Mr & Mrs Harold Healy Sym-
inches wide by 8¼ inches deep to bring $75,000. bolically Sketched / 1st Prize,
each, sold at $162,500 over a 1st Anniversary.” Coming in at
$10,000 high estimate. A pair of In addition to Traylor’s artist $23,750 was a 106-page book
large bowls would bring $81,250 auction record, Christie’s set six titled The Y.T.T.E. Tabosa Edi-
over an $8,000 estimate, while more: Purvis Young, “People tion, which featured blueprint
four small bowls took $50,000 with Halos Above City,” 1973, elevation profiles for various
over a $9,000 estimate. $43,750; Minnie Evans, “Unti- imagined projects.

Thornton Dial’s highest By French artist Augustin Lesage, European art was led by Judith Scott’s untitled 1989 work is featured here in the
grossing work in the Chris- an untitled 1945 work that sold between estimate at foreground; the yarn sculpture brought between estimate
tie’s sale was this monochro- $112,500. at $27,500. Seen back left is “People with Halos Above City,”
matic “Almost Black,” a 2004 Purvis Young’s new artist auction record work that dou-
work that sold for $125,000. bled estimate as it sold for $43,750.

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

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

Weaponizing Lincoln’s Top Hat: Part 1

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. — The question is rather its own making that has driven internal unease for report does not ultimately answer the question of
simple: does sufficient evidence exist to verify the nearly a decade. whether Lincoln owned this top hat, it does serve as
stated provenance that Abraham Lincoln owned the a definitive, well-researched and transparent syn-
stovepipe hat collector Louise Taper sold to the On December 16, 2019, Dr Samuel Wheeler, the opsis on the known facts, the efforts taken thus far
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation state historian of Illinois, whose office is found at and steps for the future. Wheeler’s report identifies
(ALPLF) in a package worth $23 million in 2007? the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and and illuminates the key players through time and
Museum, released a 54-page report on this contro- the context that this story requires.
After 13 years, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential versy.
Library and Museum (ALPLM) and its Foundation Instead of condensing it, we decided to let the his-
are still working on the answer. And while the facts We have no doubt that we are staring down a con- torian’s words speak for themselves. Antiques and
of the case have not changed, perspectives certainly temporary case study that will be examined in art The Arts Weekly will publish the report in four parts
have: what was seen as a great coup back then is history classrooms for ages to come. over the next month, sans summary and footnotes,
seen in a much different light now. The process has providing our readers with insight into the Lincoln
taken a toll on one of America’s most popular presi- The saga continues to present day, with Wheeler’s stovepipe hat controversy. Once we are all educated
dential libraries, and a recent report makes clear report a reluctant step in the process. The historian on the matter, we will explore it further.
the necessity to heal a fractured political climate of describes his pains with the demand to file this
report, as the picture remains unclear and there are —Greg Smith
still avenues of research to be explored. While the

Status Update: The resulting article published under affidavit, the letters contained an impor- from Chief Operating Officer of ALPLM
Provenance Research the headline, “State Historian Finds ‘No tant revelation that possibly explains Toby Trimmer, ordering me to produce a
on the Stovepipe Hat Evidence’ Disputed Hat Belonged to why Waller went to Washington and list of reference materials I had reviewed
Abraham Lincoln,” used Director Lowe’s interacted with Lincoln. In addition, during the course of my research. In com-
(TLR 001) characterization of my research to tell the ALPLF also gave me access to a trove of pliance with the directive, I produced a
Introduction world I had concluded the hat did not documents that detail the negotiations five-page document, listing 91 research
On August 23, 2018, then-ALPLM Exec- belong to Lincoln. I believed the state- that took place from 2005 through 2007 to tasks my team and I completed during
utive Director Alan Lowe directed me to ment was premature and mischaracter- acquire the Taper Collection. “Part II: His- our research.
conduct research into the provenance of
the stovepipe hat and “the broader issue “ Moreover, my research On October 28, 2019, I received a second
of the Taper purchase.” For the next ten convinced me that senior memo from Trimmer asking me to expand
months I balanced this research along- officials at ALPLM had on the list I had given him. For instance, I
side my duties as State Historian of Illi- repeatedly weaponized the had listed “Conducted close reading of the
nois, which included, among many other stovepipe hat against the ALPLF, Clara Waller affidavit” on my list of
things, managing the daily operations of as part of a power struggle research tasks. Trimmer now asked,
five ALPLM departments and maintain- dating back to 2012. My “what is this document and why examine
ing an active speaking schedule to groups observations convinced me the it?” He also asked for a “who, what, when,
throughout the state. As I began to uncov- same tactic was being employed where, why” explanation for each of the
er more information about the stovepipe throughout 2018 and 2019 and I research tasks I listed in my previous doc-
hat and learned details about the 2007 “did not want my research to be ument.
acquisition, as well as the controversies misused in this way.
over the object’s provenance, I became ized the nature of my research. torical Analysis” compiles and analyzes In response to Trimmer’s request, I
increasingly determined to follow the When I began this research, I under- this information. wrote him a letter, explaining that it
story to its conclusion and tell it in full. It stood that the stovepipe hat’s provenance In addition to the affidavit and a hand- would be far more productive if he instead
was my hope that by reaching a definitive hinged on family lore. That story was ful of newspaper clippings documenting brokered a meeting where I could speak
conclusion and revealing the story in its memorialized in the form of an August 9, the stovepipe hat controversy, ALPLM’s directly to representatives from the
entirety, it would bring closure to an 1958 affidavit, signed by Clara Waller. Ms. scant research file on “Stovepipe Hat, ALPLM and ALPLF to let them know
unfortunate period in ALPLM’s troubled Waller claimed Abraham Lincoln gave TLR 001” also contained a document what research I had done, the things I
history and might signal a new beginning, her father-in-law, William Waller, the titled, “Lincoln Stovepipe Hat: The Facts,” had found, and explore the possibility of
where ALPLM and ALPLF could move stovepipe hat during the Civil War in dated February 26, 2013. The document working together on a plan to move the
forward together in good faith and better Washington. When William died, his son was drafted by the Illinois Historic Pres- research forward. I also told him I would
realize the institution’s untapped poten- Elbert inherited it. When Elbert died, his ervation Agency (ALPLM’s then-parent be pleased to meet with representatives
tial. widow Clara became the owner. Ms agency) and was apparently intended to from the governor’s office about this issue,
However, on May 22, 2019, Director Waller’s affidavit stated she “disposed of quell mounting doubts about the stove- as he indicated they too were deeply
Lowe abruptly halted my research and the hat with other items” to a couple in pipe hat’s provenance. The first three interested in this research.
told me to write “a summary report.” I Carterville, Illinois and they later sold the claims in the document referenced the
was disappointed because I was making hat to James T. Hickey, of Elkart, Illinois. hat’s physical characteristics, which were Later the same day, Trimmer informed
real progress. I was reluctant to write a Therefore, the affidavit provided a start- used to bolster claims of authenticity. The me that Deputy Governor Jesse Ruiz
report for several reasons, but most ing point for my research. Each claim Ms document encouraged me to conduct a wished to speak with me the following
importantly because my research was not Waller made needed to be analyzed to physical analysis of the object to confirm day. When I asked Trimmer what the sub-
yet complete and there were still several determine if it was plausible and verifi- what ALPLM had previously claimed ject of the meeting would be, he told me
avenues to pursue that could shed light able. about the stovepipe hat, as well as to he did not know.
on aspects of the stovepipe hat’s prove- During the course of this research I was determine if any new evidence could be
nance. Moreover, my research convinced able to gain access to several important found. “Part III: Physical Analysis” docu- On November 12, 2019, I met with Dep-
me that senior officials at ALPLM had pieces of additional information. Dr ments my findings thus far. uty Governor Jesse Ruiz in his office in
repeatedly weaponized the stovepipe hat Thomas F. Schwartz, former State Histo- Shortly after Director Lowe was fired on the Illinois State Capitol, along with
against the ALPLF, as part of a power rian of Illinois, agreed to meet with me to September 20, 2019, senior administra- Trimmer and ALPLM Acting Executive
struggle dating back to 2012. My observa- discuss the role he played in the Taper tors at ALPLM again insisted I write a Director Melissa Coultas. Ruiz inquired
tions convinced me the same tactic was acquisition. At the end of our two-and-a- report that summarized my research about the progress of my report. I
being employed throughout 2018 and half-hour interview, I asked him to reach findings on the stovepipe hat. I protested explained that there is currently deep
2019 and I did not want my research to be out to Louise Taper and ask her if she had this directive because my research was mistrust between the ALPLM and ALPLF
misused in this way. an original copy of the 1958 Waller affida- not yet complete and I was concerned and the stovepipe hat resides at the core
My suspicions were heightened in mid- vit because ALPLM files only contained a anything I wrote would appear in the of the problem. I recommended that
September 2019, when I received a phone copy. A month later, I received an enve- media and revive the controversy over the instead of insisting on a report detailing
call from a reporter who told me he was in lope from Dr Schwartz that contained two hat. Instead, I asked permission to incomplete research that would appear in
possession of an email Director Lowe sent previously unknown letters written by resume my research, reach a conclusion, the media and create further mistrust
to Jesse Ruiz, Deputy Governor of Illinois, Clara Waller. In addition to serving as the and then write a report that was defini- between the two organizations, I could
on June 5, 2019. “It appears from my dis- basis of information to construct the 1958 tive. In response, I was given a directive verbally present my research to ALPLM,
cussions with the state historian that he ALPLF, and the governor’s office. Togeth-
and his team have found no evidence con- er, all being equipped with the same infor-
firming the hat belonged to President mation at the same time, we could then
Lincoln,” Lowe wrote to Ruiz. The report- outline a plan moving forward. ALPLM
er told me he had acquired the email Acting Executive Director Melissa
through a recent Freedom of Information Coultas disagreed with my proposal. She
Act (FOIA) request. I had seen the FOIA said she had discussed the issue with
request and noted it was odd that the ALPLM General Counsel Dave Kelm and
reporter was specifically requesting com- concluded if ALPLM received another
munications about the stovepipe hat FOIA and I still had not written a report,
involving ALPLM and members of the she and Kelm would give the reporter all
governor’s office, specifically Jesse Ruiz. my research notes regarding the stove-
The reporter told me he had written a pipe hat.
story based on the email from Lowe to
Ruiz, but he wanted to give me the oppor- By the end of the meeting, I was given a
tunity to refute, confirm, or add context to directive from Coultas, Trimmer, and
Director Lowe’s characterization of my Ruiz to prepare a report detailing my
research. I told the reporter it was against research into the provenance of the stove-
ALPLM policy for me to speak to the pipe hat and the Taper acquisition. I was
media without permission from ALPLM directed to send the report to Trimmer on
senior staff. I asked him to reach out to November 25, 2019, who would review it
them and obtain such permission and, if with Coultas and Kelm, and then share it
it was approved, I would be happy to with Ruiz and Ray LaHood, incoming
speak to him. I never heard back from the chairman of the newly constituted
reporter or ALPLM senior staff about this ALPLM Board, who would then share it
issue. with Ray McCaskey, chairman of the
ALPLF Board.

As I was preparing my report, ALPLM
administrators contacted me to say I
would also be expected to summarize my
findings on November 26, 2019 during a
conference call with members of the

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 29

ALPLF board, ALPLM Chairman II: Historical Analysis” and “Part III: been a discussion of possibly acquiring suit. Newspaper reports stated Beard
LaHood, Deputy Governor Ruiz, and Physical Analysis,” I conclude the report some of it,” ALPLM spokeswoman Jill Bur- had been arrested for misdemeanor
ALPLM administrators, which would with a section devoted to recommenda- witz told a reporter, but “as of now, there’s shoplifting in February 2007, November
include Coultas, Trimmer, and Kelm. tions for both ALPLM and ALPLF mov- no deal.” 2007, and again in August 2008.
ing forward. I believe the past can be
During the ensuing conference call I instructive, if we take the time to exam- Initial reports indicated the acquisition For nearly the next two years, ALPLM
learned that no one had received a copy of ine it and resolve never to repeat the would include one of Abraham Lincoln’s and ALPLF went without a permanent
the report I had submitted to ALPLM same mistakes. By implementing these stovepipe hats. Daniel Weinberg, owner of executive director. During that time, rep-
administrators the previous day. For the initial recommendations, ALPLM and the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop in Chica- resentatives from the American Associa-
next 40 minutes, I summarized the report, ALPLF can chart a course for the future go, which buys and sells Lincoln artifacts, tion of Museums (now the American Alli-
detailing the steps I took during the that will establish the stovepipe hat’s told a reporter he was familiar with the ance of Museums) completed an
research, the new information I was able provenance and, I hope, lay the ground- hat, calling it “one of the best known and Institutional Assessment Report of
to uncover, and advocated for restarting work for a new relationship with one preserved” on the market. He suggested ALPLM. The report recommended hiring
the research process so I could reach a another. the hat was worth “above a million,” but a separate director for the ALPLM and
definitive conclusion and write a report warned that a bidding war might soon ALPLF to clarify responsibilities and
that would put the issue to rest. When Part I: The Acquisition break out if the deal was not closed quickly. sidestep any potential conflicts of inter-
discussion turned to whether my report A. The Dilemma “There could be people who would ests.
would become a public document, Coultas approach her [Taper] now that it’s out,” he
said ALPLM might redact some of the Before the Abraham Lincoln Presiden- said. “There are collectors out there with ALPLM and ALPLF accepted the rec-
material I had written, specifically my tial Library and Museum (ALPLM) greet- real money and interest who might like to ommendation and two independent
claim that the hat had been weaponized ed its first visitor, the Abraham Lincoln pick off things.” searches were simultaneously conducted
by ALPLM administrators. I objected to Presidential Library Foundation (ALPLF) to select chief executives for each institu-
any redactions, especially this one, faced a dilemma. Though they had been B. A Celebrated Acquisition tion. In December 2010, the state of Illi-
because it was an essential part of the fundraising for the construction of the On June 18, 2007, Abraham Lincoln’s nois announced that Eileen Mackevich
story. As far as I was concerned, every- long-anticipated library and museum in hometown newspaper, the State Journal- had been hired as the Executive Director
thing that has happened regarding the Springfield, Illinois, their board members Register, announced ALPLF had finalized of the ALPLM, while the ALPLF hired
stovepipe hat since it was acquired in expressed a desire to raise additional a deal with board member Louise Taper to Dr. Carla Knorowski in March 2011. In
2007 is part of the hat’s history and helps money to acquire new archival materials acquire approximately 1,500 items from May 2011, Dr Schwartz resigned his
inform the current troubled relationship that would ensure the world-class muse- her personal collection, including the position as Illinois State Historian and
between ALPLM and ALPLF. By the end um they were building would also contain stovepipe hat. Details would follow later, accepted a position with the National
of the call, ALPLF board members sug- the world’s finest collection of Lincolniana. but ALPLF board members voted unani- Archives and Records Administration as
gested my report might benefit from a col- mously to purchase the items from their director of the Herbert Hoover Presiden-
lection of documents they had compiled tial Library and Museum in West
that detailed the complicated negotia- “This synopsis demonstrates how Branch, Iowa.
tions that took place in 2005-2007 closely ALPLM and ALPLF were
between ALPLM, ALPLF, and Taper. I linked during the time of the acqui- Shortly after Mackevich and Dr
replied that I would be happy to look at sition — Rick Beard served as the Knorowski were in place, Dave Blanch-
the documents and consider incorporat- executive director of both the AL- ette, public information officer for the
ing them into my report. The next day, I PLM and ALPLF during this period, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
received a call from Trimmer, telling me while State Historian Dr Thomas F. (then-parent agency of ALPLM), began
to go to the ALPLF office and make use of Schwartz was the primary advisor hearing rumors that the new adminis-
the documents they mentioned on the to the ALPLF on all history-related trative structure of ALPLM and ALPLF
phone call the previous day. matters. Without them, the Taper was not going to work. He was told Mack-
“acquisition would have never been evich and Dr. Knorowski had previously
ALPLF made approximately 1,500 accomplished. worked together in the Chicago area, but
pages of material available to me. Two had a falling out that was never recon-
large binders and two folders contained According to the minutes of the Septem- fellow board member for approximately ciled. Though he tried to dismiss the gos-
documents such as timelines, board min- ber 26, 2002 ALPLF board meeting, State $23 million, while she agreed to donate sip, it soon became obvious to him that
utes and emails that detailed the Taper Historian Dr Thomas F. Schwartz was items worth an additional $2 million as a the new ALPLM executive director had
acquisition. I was told I could look at the asked to discuss an upcoming auction at tax-deductible gift. Taper recused herself no intention of working together in good
material in the ALPLF offices but was not Christie’s Auction House. He provided from the board vote. faith with the ALPLF CEO. Moreover,
allowed to make copies. ALPLM adminis- board members with a prioritized list, Initial reaction to the acquisition was Blanchette became convinced that Mack-
trators were anxious for me to complete totaling $1.2 million, of Lincoln items that overwhelmingly positive. Lincoln scholar evich, and possibly an IHPA board mem-
my work, initially giving me just one day would be available at the auction and Harold Holzer, who had previously used ber, were working with the media to sab-
to use the material and make the neces- expressed a desire to add them to the parts of Taper’s collection in his research, otage ALPLF’s fundraising efforts to pay
sary revisions to my report. In response, I ALPLM collection. Board member Louise told a reporter from the New York Times it off the $23 million Taper debt. He sus-
negotiated a December 16, 2019 deadline Taper, a major collector of Lincoln items, was “easily the best collection of Lincoln pected they were encouraging reporters
for my revised report. My assessment of said she believed it was important to material in private hands.” Daniel Wein- to ask probing questions about the stove-
this material appears in the section titled acquire as many items as possible at the berg called the acquisition “a coup” for the pipe hat.
“The Negotiation,” at the end of “Part II: auction because few quality Lincoln items museum. Weinberg now speculated that
Historical Analysis.” were still available on the open market, the stovepipe hat alone might be worth $3 On April 15, 2012, the 147th anniver-
but she cautioned fellow board members to $5 million. sary of Lincoln’s death, the Chicago Sun-
The following report is not a final analy- that Lincoln items often exceed pre-auc- Rick Beard, the executive director for Times published a story that would have
sis. It does not determine whether the tion estimates. both ALPLM and the not-for-profit ALPLF, immense implications for the repayment
stovepipe hat, acquired by ALPLF at the ALPLF board member Zale Glauberman credited Dr Schwartz, the Illinois State of the Taper debt. Reporter Dave McKin-
recommendation of ALPLM, was once articulated the dilemma board members Historian, for ensuring the Taper collection ney penned an article asking, “Was
owned by Lincoln. However, I hope this now faced: though they wanted to help would reside at ALPLM. Beard told report- Famous Stovepipe Hat Really Abe Lin-
report will clearly define where we are ALPLM acquire world-class objects for dis- ers that Dr Schwartz “has known Taper for coln’s?” He revealed that the ALPLF paid
with this issue at this moment in time play in the world-class facility currently 20 years, often serving as an adviser to her $6.5 million for the hat but questioned
and inspire a conversation about how best under construction, ALPLF had not yet in purchases, and the two became friends.” whether the object could definitively be
to move forward. reached its fundraising goals and he wor- As a result of their close relationship, connected to Lincoln. For instance,
ried that overextending themselves at this Beard said ALPLM and ALPLF had “few ALPLM had previously cited Clara
The report begins with “Part I: The moment might not be advisable. The meet- concerns about [the collection’s] authentic- Waller’s 1958 affidavit and claimed Lin-
Acquisition,” in which I attempt to reas- ing adjourned with a promise to form a ity...we feel real confident there is no pho- coln gave his stovepipe hat to a farmer
semble everything that has previously committee that would contemplate mak- niness here.” The stovepipe hat, in particu- from Murphysboro, Illinois, named Wil-
been published about the Taper acquisi- ing a percentage of fundraising dollars lar, was “of indisputable provenance,” liam Waller during the Civil War in
tion and the stovepipe hat. Using newspa- available for new acquisitions in the future. Beard told another reporter. Washington, D.C. McKinney wanted to
per articles and the documents reporters Less than four years later, the Chicago know why the farmer went to Washing-
were able to acquire through the Freedom Sun-Times reported that the ALPLF was ton, D.C., in the middle of the Civil War.
of Information Act, as well as a small col- close to purchasing the Lincoln collection C. Doubts Emerge In response to his inquiries, Dr James
lection of supplementary documents col- of ALPLF board member Louise Taper. Less than 18 months later, Illinois Gov- Cornelius, then-curator of ALPLM’s Lin-
lected during this research, I constructed “We’ve been eyeing her collection for a ernor Rod Blagojevich fired Beard from coln Collection, announced that the
a narrative that traces the stovepipe hat number of years, and I think there’s always the ALPLM and the ALPLF followed museum had decided on another scenar-
controversy from 2007 to the present. io entirely. Instead of acquiring the hat
This synopsis demonstrates how closely during the Civil War, Dr Cornelius said
ALPLM and ALPLF were linked during Lincoln must have given Waller his hat
the time of the acquisition — Rick Beard in 1858, in Jonesboro, Illinois, during the
served as the executive director of both Lincoln-Douglas debates. Dr Cornelius
the ALPLM and ALPLF during this peri- explained that Dr Schwartz told him
od, while State Historian Dr Thomas F. about the new interpretation shortly
Schwartz was the primary advisor to the before he resigned as state historian the
ALPLF on all history-related matters. previous year. “I guess you’d say we’ve
Without them, the Taper acquisition taken something of a historic liberty in
would have never been accomplished. re-dating it to a much more plausible
Beard facilitated the negotiations with time and place,” Dr Cornelius explained.
Taper’s team and steadied the nerves of
ALPLF board members who waivered The doubts raised by McKinney’s article
before the deal was completed, while Dr surfaced during a February 13, 2013 IHPA
Schwartz, a friend of Taper’s, was inti- (then-parent agency of ALPLM) Board of
mately familiar with her collection and Trustees meeting. During a discussion
vouched for the authenticity of the items. about the stovepipe hat’s provenance,
The Taper acquisition was a joint IHPA trustee Tony Leone suggested DNA
ALPLM-ALPLF endeavor, but after testing could help authenticate the hat. In
Beard’s dismissal in 2008, a new admin- response, Dr Cornelius, then-Lincoln cura-
istrative structure led to the hiring of tor at ALPLM, replied, “This is a dead
separate directors of ALPLM and ALPLF issue. This is a non-issue. Dandruff, bone,
and the once-close relationship began hair — it’s not there.” IHPA trustee Dr
deteriorating and an era of distrust Shirley Portwood echoed Leone’s call for
emerged, with the stovepipe hat at the further testing, stating she had not yet
heart of the struggle. In many respects, “heard an explanation that fully satisfies
this era continues today. me about the provenance of the hat.”

After presenting my research in “Part (The report continues in the February 14,
2020 issue)

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

Fine Feathered
Friends:

Red-breasted mergansers are carnivorous div-
ing ducks. They have fine serrations along
their bill, which help them to hold onto
fish. Hunters liked to hunt them not
for their taste, but because they were
viewed as intelligent adversaries.
Red-breasted merganser decoy carved
by Harry V. Shourds (1861-1928), Tuckerton,
N.J., circa 1880s. White cedar (hollow-carved).
Collection of New Jersey State Museum.

Wood ducks nest in tree cavities high above the ( continued from page 1C ) Birds
ground. This means that hatchlings may have to wanted to deliver the message of highlighting what we
jump from heights of up to 50 feet when ready to have in our own storage.” And the approximately 200 As Mainstay
fledge. These beautiful ducks were aggressively objects selected from its natural history and decorative And Muse
hunted for sport, which led to concern from con- arts departments have quite a story to tell.
servationists. In 1910, New Jersey enacted long closely you can see the seams.” Hollow decoys were
closed-season laws to help protect them. Wood By the late Nineteenth Century, Trenton was a fast- designed for small flat-bottomed boats known as sneak-
Duck (male) Taxidermy Mount. Collection of New growing urban center, known as the “Staffordshire of boxes, he continued, which couldn’t take much weight
Jersey State Museum. America” in reference to the industrial potteries of the when rigged.
English Midlands where many Trenton potters originally
had learned their trade. A vibrant ceramics industry The acclaimed coastal carver Harry Vinuckson Shourds
thrived for decades, producing utilitarian dinnerware in (1861-1920) is credited with making thousands of duck,
more than 50 factories and top-of-the-line art porcelain. goose, brant and shorebird decoys. His red-breasted mer-
Walter Scott Lenox’s Ceramic Art Company would become ganser decoy made circa 1910 is an exhibition standout,
famous for their hand-painted dining plates: Lenox’s bone with other works, carved by Ephraim Hildreth, Cape May
china would be used for holidays in many American homes (1830-1915), James C. Kemble, Trenton (1862-1927), Joe
and commissioned as custom tableware for six US presi- Paul, Manahawkin (1881-1951), Jay Parker (1881-1967),
dents. Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin (1913-1991), and Lloyd
Johnson, Bay Head (1910-1965) — attesting to the rich
Common and exotic birds were favored decorative motifs, diversity of this folk art tradition.
and appeared on hand-blown glass bottles, flasks, vases,
as well as tableware and even architectural ornaments. While birds inspired New Jersey artists and entrepre-
And the bald eagle became a potent symbol, as seen in a neurs, by the late Eighteenth Century they were also,
rare yellowware pitcher, “designed to underscore William increasingly, under assault. In one famous recounting, the
Henry Harrison’s patriotism” in his bid for president. revered New Jersey ornithologist, Frank Chapman, in a
random perambulation around Manhattan, encountered
Birds were iconic elements in schoolgirl needlework some 700 hats decorated with 40 native bird species.
samplers, with common birds suggesting the connections Chapman became an early advocate for the species that
between humans and the natural world and exotic birds, were being killed, plucked and stuffed in the name of fash-
like those featured in Ruth Brown’s South Jersey sampler, ion. And New Jersey itself began to play a prominent role
believed to have been inspired by tales of exploration. in the national conservation movement with establish-
ment of the New Jersey Audubon Society in 1897.
New Jersey’s coastal waterway, with its proximity to
New York and Philadelphia, became a prime duck hunting Wall text offers visitors a bit of a crash course in orni-
region by the late Nineteenth Century. Canvasbacks, thology, as Ehret details the ways in which birds commu-
brants and golden plovers were revered as gourmet delica- nicate and nest as well as how they are wired for memory
cies. A vibrant decoy carving tradition sprang up, and the and decision making.
museum is showcasing some pieces that have not been
seen in a half-century. From the red knot — which stops each year to refuel on
horseshoe crab eggs in the Delaware Bay region on its
“Here in New Jersey, there are two general styles of annual migration from the southern tip of South America
decoys – a Coastal style and a Delaware River style,” to its arctic breeding grounds — to crows and ravens,
Ciotola said. “There are some differences between the two which distinguish themselves as extraordinarily clever
and some general rules of thumb, but always exceptions. foragers, these species make for lively company. Children
Coastal carvers used white cedar wood; river carvers used undoubtedly will marvel at the great horned owl’s ability
red cedar or pine.” to rotate its head 180 degrees, not to mention its skill at
severing spines with its strong talons.
“The hollow-carved tradition developed in both coastal
and river regions. The carver made two halves and hol- The Northern cardinal, celebrated for its song, elegant
lowed them out and attached them together. If you look motion and stunning year-round plumage, inspired many
The Whimbrel’s prominent beak serves an impor- artists. It was this remarkable bird who landed on the
tant purpose. Their long, curved beaks fit perfect- windowsill of Edward Marshall Boehm’s Titusville, N.J.,
ly when digging inside crab burrows. Long- home one morning as his wife readied for church. The art-
beaked shorebird decoys are often solid (not
hollow like most New Jersey duck decoys) and
made of two types of wood. A soft, easily carved
wood like cedar is used for the body. A harder,
more durable wood like walnut or oak strength-
ens the beak. Whimbrel (Hudsonian curlew) decoy
carved by Ephraim Hildreth (1830-1915), Cape
May, N.J., circa 1875. White cedar and walnut. Col-
lection of New Jersey State Museum.

Martin J. Frand Company manufactured decorative elements for houses, munic- This double-woven coverlet features doves, eagles and roosters. It is
ipal offices and other buildings. The company’s products included cornices, urns, one half of the coverlet, which came off the loom in two pieces and
moldings, finials, weathervanes and animal sculptures. This cast zinc eagle was would have been stitched together to form a finished blanket. This
once covered with allover gilding. Eagle ornament by the Martin J. Frand Com- piece is almost identical to a coverlet by another Bergen County weav-
pany, Camden, N.J., 1896-1918, cast zinc. Collection of New Jersey State Museum. er, David Haring, suggesting that the two worked together. Coverlet
with Birds, made by I. (J?) Christie for Elizabeth Banta, Bergen County,
N.J., 1834. Wool and cotton. Collection of New Jersey State Museum.

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 31

The colorful Carolina parakeet was found from Stylized birds are a recurring motif in decorative Audubon observed this osprey here in New Jersey.
southern New York, Kentucky and Tennessee ceramics made by the Greenwood Pottery Compa- He spent the summer of 1829 in Camden and Great
down to the Gulf of Mexico. They ate the toxic ny. The history of the company can be traced to the Egg Harbor studying local species. Ospreys have a
seeds of cockleburs and, therefore, may have arrival of William and James Tams in 1861. Trained reversible outer toe which improves their grip
been poisonous to eat if caught and consumed by in English potteries, the father and son team incor- when carrying a fish back to the nest. “Fish Hawk
humans. The last surviving Carolina parakeet, porated Greenwood Pottery Company in 1868. Cov- or Osprey” by John James Audubon (1785-1851),
named Incus, died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1918. ered Urn with Northern cardinal, Greenwood Pot- engraved by Robert Havell Jr (1793-1878), from The
Carolina Parakeet Taxidermy Mount. Collection tery Company,Trenton, N.J., circa 1880-90. Porcelain. Birds of America, Plate 81, Variant 2 (series), 1827-
of New Jersey State Museum. Collection of New Jersey State Museum. Gift of Mrs 1838. Hand-colored copperplate etching and aqua-
ist, whose fine art porcelain sculptures would become Arthur K. Twitchell and Anne Yard Tams in memory tint. Collection of New Jersey State Museum.
world-renowned, was said to have pronounced, “There is of their grandfather William Henry Tams and their celsius, a recent National Audubon report has predicted
my religion.” father James Elmore Moffett Tams. the goldfinch could lose up to 100 percent of its summer
etching was inspired by a research trip to Egg Harbor on range. The species, known for its stunning plumage, is
Boehm (1913-1969) built and maintained extensive avi- the Jersey Shore during the summer of 1829, when he already increasingly moving north to breed and nest.
aries on his property, and his astute observations took lived and worked in Camden. There could well be a time in the not-too-distant future
great effect in works that were coveted for their scientific when the state bird only returns to the state during win-
accuracy as well as their beauty. His featured birds were Ultimately, and perhaps this is the fundamental ques- ter months when it has turned a muted gray-green.
hand-assembled from molds and hand-painted by a team tion the exhibition’s co-curators hope families will explore
of artists. “Blue Jays on Strawberries” is a particularly together: why do birds matter? It is sobering to see that the need for intensified advoca-
masterful evocation of the species in sitú. “Mockingbirds cy is more urgent for bird lovers than it was in 1911, when
on Blossoming Bindweed,” 1961-66, presented by New We now know that common bird species are vital to eco- New Jersey Audubon widely distributed goldfinch buttons
Jersey Governor Richard J. Hughes to President Lyndon systems; they control pests, pollinate flowers, spread seeds for its under-18-year-old members in an educational cam-
B. Johnson as a gift from the Democratic Party at its 1964 and regenerate forests. Increasingly we’ve learned that paign. In “Fine Feathered Friends,” children are once
National Convention in Atlantic City, is an example of a they are valuable indicators of pollution, habitat quality again being asked to design and wear their own buttons
series of valued works that were commissioned for diplo- and biodiversity. They are also predictors of disease. — and to educate themselves on the impact of climate
mats and acquired by major museums. change.
And alarmingly they are disappearing at an astonishing
New Jersey was blessed to have an expert anatomist and rate. And so, it would seem if we love our birds, we must fight
artist in service as the state’s first taxidermist, and we see for them. As the evidence continues to accrue, slowing the
the brilliant work of William H. Werner, in conjunction The 2019 State of the Birds Report published by the US pace of climate change has become our great task. One can
with the Boehm collection, displayed to great effect. In this Committee of the North American Bird Conservation Ini- only hope that 2020 will be a fateful year for changing the
century-old collection, which has been cleaned and tiative, a coalition of 29 federal and state agencies, non- politics of climate and of renewed advocacy for our feath-
primped, we also encounter a number of birds, including profits and bird-focused partnerships concluded that ered friends.
the Carolina parakeet and the passenger pigeon, which “America’s birds are in crisis.” The pronouncement landed
have become extinct. on the heels of a similarly dire study that appeared in the The New Jersey State Museum is at 205 West State
journal Science, reporting there has been a net loss of 3 Street. For additional information, 609-292-6464 or
Original prints from John James Audubon’s (1785-1851) billion birds in the United States and Canada since 1970. www.statemuseum.nj.gov.
“Double Elephant Folio” edition of his Birds of North
America round out the show, including his famous depic- The issue has been hitting home personally for New Jer-
tion of an osprey in flight with a fish in its talons. This sey, where its state bird, the goldfinch, is now listed among
the 389 species that are threatened by climate change.
With the projected temperature increase of three degrees

Birds are the stylistic centerpiece of this sampler. All of the A songbird chorus adorns this attractive earth-
bird shapes are the same, but differ in color. This suggests enware vase decorated by Joseph Lauber and
the tremendous color diversity in the world of birds. Thir- made at Charles Volkmar Pottery, Greenpoint
teen-year-old Ellen Young made the needlework under the (Brooklyn). The bird holding the sheet music
instruction of Harriet Ann Wales. The sampler was made in may be a Northern mockingbird, a species known
Cape May, a major stop for migrating birds and now a top for its beauty of sound. Volkmar went on to estab-
birdwatching destination. Sampler made by Ellen Young lish another pottery studio in Metuchen, N.J.
(1820-circa 1910), Petersburg, Upper Township, Cape May Songbird Vase, Charles Volkmar Pottery, deco-
County, N.J., 1833. Silk and linen. Collection of New Jersey rated by Joseph Lauber, Greenpoint. N.Y., circa
State Museum. 1880. Earthenware. Collection of New Jersey
State Museum. W.T.C. Johnson Foundation Fund.
Sugarbirds are native to South Africa. They have curved beaks and long tongues that are
used for feeding on nectar. Edward Marshall Boehm’s sugarbird tribute was a monumental
achievement. The artist used 400 different mold sections to cast the 100 individual clay
parts that make up his porcelain masterpiece. “Sugarbirds” by Edward Marshall Boehm
(1913-1969), Trenton, N.J., 1961-1966. Porcelain. Collection of New Jersey State Museum.
Gift of O.H. Delchamps.

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

A First Look At The Winter Show

NEW YORK CITY — Diversity the best of the best from the material, if only by a smidgeon.
has long been the watchword of ancient to the contemporary. If It dropped the word “antiques”
the Winter Show, which this anything, it was even broader from its title. Among a handful
year signaled its inclusiveness this year. of new exhibitors, New York
in ever more ways. The fair, dealer Pavel Zoubok featured
which previewed on January 23 Benefiting East Side House witty, high-art interpretations of
and continues at the Park Ave- Settlement, the show directed traditional furniture forms by
nue Armory through February by Helen Allen and co-chaired contemporary makers. Similarly
2, has always favored quality by Lucinda C. Ballard and playful, the deceptively simple
over quantity, seeking to offer Michael R. Lynch strengthened paintings of contemporary Loui-
its embrace of contemporary siana artist Andrew LaMar
Hopkins, whose detailed depic-
“The Immaculate Virgin” by A little fantasy furniture? tions of Creole New Orleans
the Eighteenth Century Titled “Objectification,” this interiors reference history in
Ecuadorian carver Bernardo chair construction by ways fascinating to students of
de Legarda. Robert Simon Michael Zelehoski turned design, starred at Elle Shushan
Fine Art, New York City. heads at new exhibitor Portrait Miniatures.
Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, New
York City. The 2020 Winter Show is also
more global. Drawn from the
Kelly Kinzle, New Oxford, Penn. collections of the Hispanic Soci-
ety Museum and Library, the
loan show sets the tone, estab-
lishing a multilingual dialog
between old world and new. Lon-
don dealer Daniel Crouch Rare
Books picked up the theme with
“Globalism,” an engrossing dis-
play of more than 50 terrestrial
and celestial globes, some fash-
ioned as early as the Sixteenth
Century. On cue, Old Masters

Review and Photos by
Antiques and The Arts Weekly

Laura Beach, Editor

Arlie Sulka, left, adjusts the lighting at Lillian Nassau LLC,
which featured an early 1880s Aesthetic Movement center
table by Louis Comfort Tiffany and a Candace Wheeler
four-panel screen of about the same date.

New exhibitor Taylor Thistlethwaite, left, Carswell Rush Berlin, New York City, and
here with his brother Clay, juxtaposed gutsy Martyn Gregory, London, teamed up with
American furniture from several centuries. China Trade paintings and classical Ameri-
Highlights included the five-legged New can furniture. The late Eighteenth Century
York card table in the foreground and, rear, gouaches depict the production of porce-
a hanging cabinet by Paul Evans. lain. The circa 1815 New York rosewood
table is attributed to Duncan Phyfe.

Four lithographs from “The People Work” series by Benton
Spruance at The Old Print Shop, New York City.

Kevin Tulimieri and Arthur Liverant, Nathan Liverant and Thomas Colville hung the John Singer Sar- The delft flower vases of circa 1695 are
Son Antiques. Rear, the 1755-70 gilt-decorated mirror gent watercolor “Bologna Fountain,” left, marked with the insignia of Adrianus Kocx,
descended in the family of John Adams-relation Samuel circa 1906, next to Rockwell Kent’s “Fall the owner of De Grieksche factory. Aronson
Bass of Braintree, Mass. The signed blockfront chest next to Evening, Greenland” of 1931-33. of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
it is also from Massachusetts. Center is a chest-on-chest-on-
frame from Wethersfield, Conn.

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 33

This happened. At Barbara New York dealer Bernard and S. Dean Levy sold its center- Helen Allen, executive director of the Winter Show, wel-
Israel Garden Antiques, a piece, a ball-and-claw foot Chippendale sofa made around comed visitors as Philippe de Montebello, former director
carved well-head attracted 1768 in Boston or just north. Wallace Nutting illustrated the of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and co-curator of the
more than usual interest well-known sofa in his Furniture Treasury, volume 1. loan exhibition from the Hispanic Society Museum and
from a member of the show’s Library, looked on. Photo courtesy Winter Show.
construction crew, who took
a deep dive in search of a
misplaced item. Photo Cour-
tesy Barbara Israel.

dealer Robert Simon is showing David A. Schorsch-Eileen M. Smiles, Woodbury, Conn.
a welcome concentration of New
World Spanish paintings and in Boston or just north. Wallace “King Philip of the Wampanoag,” Daniel Crouch Rare Books of London organized the exhibi-
sculpture. Nutting illustrated the well- a circa 1840 sculpture probably tion “Globalism,” featuring roughly 50 antique globes.
known piece, retailed by Israel from Medfield, Mass.
After a glittering opening night Sack Inc and once in the collec-
on which Mikhail Baryshnikov tion of the Henry Ford Museum, The Winter Show is just get-
and Nicky Hilton were spotted in his Furniture Treasury, Vol. 1. ting going, so be sure to get there
in the crowd, the Winter Show this week. Hours are Monday,
bustled through opening week- “We sold seven things on open- Wednesday and Friday, noon to
end. More than 1,400 visitors ing night,” said Woodbury, Conn., 8 pm; Tuesday and Thursday,
crammed into the Wade Thomp- dealer David Schorsch, pleased noon to 4:30 pm; Saturday, noon
son Drill Hall during the fair’s to have parted with an 1875 to 7 pm; and Sunday, noon to 6
first two hours on Sunday. The Ohio farm scene on canvas by pm. Daily admission is $30 and
crush led to good sales for some. Henry Dousa and expecting includes a copy of the show’s cat-
Japanese art authority Joan B. action on his vibrant pair of alog.
Mirviss was on her way to sell- circa 1834 watercolor folk por-
ing out her themed exhibit “Gold traits of Isaac and Mary Orr by Watch for a wrap-up report on
+ Silver: Luster in Japanese Dr Samuel Addison Shute (1803- the 2020 Winter Show in a
Modern Art.” 1836). Schorsch and his partner future issue.
Eileen M. Smiles also wrote up
Other early successes included their folky wooden weathervane For additional information,
the sale of a rare carved sand- www.thewintershow.org or 718-
stone Abolitionist sculpture, 292-7392.
third quarter of the Nineteenth
Century, at Thistlethwaite
Americana, a new exhibitor
from Alexandria, Va.

New York dealer Bernard and
S. Dean Levy sold its center-
piece, a ball-and-claw foot Chip-
pendale sofa made around 1768

Lost City Arts, New York City

A circa 1860 Rubens Peale still life at Albert Bierstadt’s “Sunset Glow, Mount
Schwarz Gallery, Philadelphia. Shasta,” 1880s, at Menconi + Schoelkopf,
New York City.

Philadelphia dealer Elle Shushan intrigued visitors with
detailed paintings of Creole Louisiana by New Orleans art-
ist Andrew LaMar Hopkins (b 1978).

Japanese art authority Joan B. Mirviss gild- London dealer Martin Levy of H. Blairman & Pittsburgh, Penn., toy expert Ray Haradin manned the
ed the lily with the exhibition “Gold + Sil- Sons, Ltd, unveiled a recently discovered stand at Gemini Antiques, Oldwick, N.J.
ver: Luster in Japanese Modern Art.” oak cupboard designed by architect C.F.A.
Voysey (1857-1941) for his own use. It is docu-
mented in a previously unpublished draw-
ing, dated 1904, in the collection of the Royal
Institute of British Architects, London.

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

Transitions MacDowell Awards
Winter-Spring Fellowships To 87 Artists

Bonhams has appointed Eleonora PETERBOROUGH, N.H. — The Incoming artists (clockwise from top left) include playwright Madeleine
D’Ottavi as head of jewelry for MacDowell Colony has awarded fel- George, composer Mike Holober, poet Ruth Ellen Kocher, playwright
Italy. She is based in the company’s lowships to 87 artists from 21 states Haruna Lee, poet Dennis Nurkse, poet Charif Shanahan, visual artist
Rome office and will provide valuation and seven countries. The incoming Ellen Lesperance and writer Joyce Zonana.
services, and for fellows reflect seven artistic disci-
sourcing gems for plines and will arrive from locales as
sale in Bonhams’ far apart as Poland, Mexico, Belgium
jewelry auctions in and Israel, as well as Tennessee,
New York, London Washington and Minnesota. The fel-
and Hong Kong. lowships are for upcoming winter
D’Ottavi is the latest and spring residencies at one of the
addition to Bonhams nation’s leading contemporary arts
international jewelry organizations.
team following the
appointment late Seventy-six percent of the upcom-
last year of luxury specialist Bobbie Hu, ing artists-in-residence are first-time
who joined the company from Bulgari. fellowship awardees at MacDowell,
D’Ottavi joins Bonhams from Christie’s where the mission is to identify and
where she worked in specialist roles in curate both emerging artists as well
Milan, Geneva, Paris and Rome. She was as provide ongoing support for estab-
educated in London and Geneva and is lished art makers.
fluent in English, Italian and French.
This group of MacDowell Fellows
Hayward Gallery senior curator Zoe includes Obie Award-winning play- Hernández, and Andy Robert; and lit- in each discipline selects fellows
Whitley will join Chisendale Gal- wright Madeleine George, Grammy- erary translator Joyce Zonana. based on their talent and vision, as
lery as director in March, succeeding nominated jazz composer Mike evidenced by a work sample and proj-
Polly Staple. Whitley has 16 years of Holober, Golden Leopard-winning These highly competitive fellow- ect description. While at MacDowell,
curatorial experience, having worked filmmaker Denis Côté, European ships, each with an average value of fellows are provided a private studio
Book Prize-winning writer Anna more than $10,000, were awarded and
in senior positions Bikont, PEN/Open Book winner Ruth from a pool of 913 applications
at Tate Modern and Ellen Kocher and Lambda Literary received by the most recent of Mac- The MacDowell Colony is at 100 High
Tate Britain. She has Award-winner Charif Shanahan. Dowell’s three annual deadlines. A Street. For information, 603-924-3886
also worked for the panel of distinguished professionals or www.macdowellcolony.org.
Victoria & Albert Also included are architect Cassim
Museum and served Shepard; composer Anna Webber;
on the Artistic Direc- poets Dennis Nurkse and Brenda
tor’s Advisory Coun- Shaughnessy; playwrights C.A. John-
cil for Prospect 4, son and Haruna Lee; visual artists
the largest triennial Erica Daborn, Erick Alejandro
in the United States.
New Orleans Museum Awarded $1 Million Grant
From The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Internationally renowned artist Carrie NEW ORLEANS, LA. – The Andrew grown to 66), in 2019, the garden Alfred Stieglitz and Ilse Bing, indi-
Mae Weems is bringing her talent, W. Mellon Foundation has awarded expanded by 6½ acres, with 26 addi- vidual examples of Chinese and Jap-
experience and wisdom to Syracuse the New Orleans Museum of Art tional works. Now home to more than anese historic and contemporary
University when she arrives on campus (NOMA) a $1 million grant to sup- 90 works of art by Nineteenth, Twen- photographs, including the works of
on February 1, the start of a three-year port the planning and staffing of a tieth and Twenty-First Century art- Wang Qingsong and Kusakabe Kim-
University Artist in Residence position. new conservation initiative. The ists, the Sydney and Walda Besthoff bei, and larger groups of works by
A MacArthur Fellow- funds awarded by the foundation will Sculpture Garden is also the site of a African American photographers,
ship (a.k.a. “Genius” support the establishment of a con- sculpture pavilion that offers exhibi- including Gordon Parks and L.
grant) recipient servation center at NOMA and create tion space for indoor sculpture and Kasimu Harris, and African photog-
and the first African two new museum positions in the other works from NOMA’s collection raphers, such as Malik Sidibe. Fund-
American woman to areas of object conservation, includ- that complement the garden’s instal- ing from the Andrew W. Mellon Foun-
have a retrospective ing outdoor sculpture and photogra- lations. The Besthoff Sculpture Gar- dation grant will support the
at the Guggenheim phy conservation. These areas of den is free and open to the public establishment of the only photogra-
Museum, Weems has focus align with NOMA’s new mile- seven days a week and fulfills phy conservation program for much
used multiple medi- stones and historic strengths — the NOMA’s mission of sharing signifi- of the Southeastern United States.
ums (photography, recent 6½-acre expansion of the Syd- cant art and artists with the broad- This expanded department at NOMA
video, digital imag- ney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture est possible audience. will provide support and guidance to
ery, text, fabric and more) to explore Garden and the ongoing commitment a broad geographic area while also
themes of cultural identity, sexism, of NOMA as a center for the study for NOMA’s photography collection of offering opportunities to develop and
class, political systems, family relation- photography. more than 14,000 works includes present new conservation research in
some of the rarest examples and most the field.
The Sydney and Walda Besthoff significant achievements in photog-
Sculpture Garden is consistently list- raphy from the 1840s to the present. The New Orleans Museum of Art
ed among the top sculpture gardens Highlights of NOMA’s collection and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden
in the world. Originally opened in include European and American are at 1 Collins Diboll Circle. For
2003 as a five-acre site with 44 sculp- Modernist photographs by photogra- information, www.noma.org or 504-
tures (by 2017, this number had phers such as Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, 658-4100.

ships and the consequences of power. Howard University Gets 152 Works
Weems will report directly to John Liu,
interim vice chancellor and provost
and will engage with Syracuse Univer- Of African American Art
sity faculty and students.

WASHINGTON, DC — dential campaigns in the
Howard University has 1980s, Ronald received an
During a 22-year tenure, Patrick received a gift of 152 Afri- NAACP award or his role
Noon, who acquired dozens of can American artworks in the civil rights move-
masterpieces for the Minneapolis Insti- from the collection of arts ment in 2006. The univer-
tute of Art (MIA), will retire at the end patron Patricia Turner sity, which is already the
of January. A specialist in French and Walters. Valued at more home of the Ronald W. Wal-
British art from the 1700s and 1800s, he than $2.5 million, the ters Leadership and Public
served as senior curator of paintings, donation includes works by Policy Center, is planning
Robert S. Duncanson, to establish an endowed
Jacob Lawrence, Norman chair for race and black
Lewis, Grafton Tyler and politics in his name.
contemporary artists Bar- “This gift comes at the
kley Hendricks, Kerry perfect moment to expand
James Marshall and our students’ involvement
Kehinde Wiley. Walters in the political conversa-
also owns some of the ear- tions of our time,” Howard
liest surviving works by University president
African American artists Wayne Frederick said in a
in the United States, as statement. Commenting on
raising the museum’s international well as paintings, sculp- the collection, Patricia told
profile with blockbuster shows and tures, rare prints and pho- WAMU: “Back when I
enriching its collection with 150 paint- tographs from the Harlem Untitled landscape by Robert S. Duncanson from the started collecting in the
ings, including Claude Lorrain’s “Pasto- Renaissance and other Walters’ donation. Photo: Howard University. eighties, African American
ral Landscape” and Alexander Roslin’s notable eras. art was not really a high-
“Comtesse d’Egmont Pignatelle.” The Walters, who began collecting in the late 1980s, is the profile entity...I could not be more delighted about the
museum has not yet begun its search widow of educator and activist Ronald W. Walters, who decision to give my art collection to Howard, the institu-
for a new senior curator of paintings or served as dean of the school’s political science department tion that my husband cared so deeply about.”
department chair. and was a professor at the university for 25 years. Known Howard University Art Gallery is at 2455 6th Street NW.

for helping Reverend Jesse Jackson throughout his presi- For information, 202-806-7070 or www.art.howard.edu.

February 7, 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

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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 7, 2020

Auction Jill Holiday Abrahams, 92, American Folk Art & Antiques Dealer
Previews
DEVON, PENN. — Originally from New York wear firms in New York City: Banbury Cross,
Bodnar’s Auction City, Jill H. Abrahams (nee Newgarden) died Fiddlesticks and Littlesticks among them. In
Rare Comics....................... 7 on December 29, 2019, at the age of 92. She the 1970s the couple opened their NYC
Flannery’s was the devoted wife of the late Edward Abra- antiques and art shop, Jill of Story Hill, and
Scrimshaw Ditty Box........... 6 hams; beloved mother of Douglas (Rebecca), were frequent exhibitors at prominent
Kamelot Havertown, Penn., and Dana Christy, New antiques shows such as the Pier Show and
Mid Mod Online & Live York City; and loving grandmother of Nicholas, the Armory Show in New York.
Estate.................................. 4 Edward, Andrew, Luke, James, David and
Michaan’s Favia. She was predeceased by her parents, In the late 1970s, they relocated to the Phil-
Modernist Jewelry, Anne and Jack Newgarden, and her three adelphia area (Langhorne and West Chester)
Paintings & Jensen younger siblings, Jacqueline Pickard (Teddy), and continued to exhibit at antiques and art
Silver................................... 9 Albert (Dorothy), and Mark (Elaine). shows in Philadelphia and New York. Jill was
Miller & Miller most recently a resident of Lower Merion (20
Pottery, Canadiana, Jill attended Hunter High School and College years) and Devon (7 years). She was an avid
Folk Art............................. 18 and made her mark as a model, fashion design- supporter and collector of early American
er and antiques and art dealer. Jill was a female artists, with a particular focus on Lily
Show visionary and creative spirit whose passion for Martin Spencer whose paintings appear in
Previews interior and fashion design led to many suc- the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Smith-
cessful decades in both the garment industry sonian American Art Museum.
Antique Bottle & and the world of art and antiques.
Collectibles Show.............. 40 A private interment service will be held in
Long Beach Expo.............. 11 From the early 1950s-70s, Jill and her hus- March at Pine Lawn Cemetery, Farmingda-
band Edward owned several women’s sports- le, N.Y.

DATE LOCATION AUCTIONEER PG 8, Feb...................Glen Cove, NY.................. Roland Auctions...........53
8, Feb................Peterborough, NH....................The Cobbs................61
Every Tues............. Coventry, CT......................... Weston’s.................62 9, Feb..................Guilderland, NY................Mazzone’s Auction.........62
Every Thurs........East Windsor, CT.......... Golden Gavel Auctions......58 9, Feb................ Marlborough, NH...............Moggie’s Auction..........60
Now-9, Feb......... aarauctions.com...............Absolute Auctions..........64 10, Feb............ liveauctioneers.com........... Flying Pig Auctions.........57
31, Jan.................Jewett City, CT..................Leone’s Auction.............2 10, Feb.................Northfield, MA............... Northfield Auctions.........62
2, Feb.................... Coventry, CT.................... Ingraham & Co............63 11, Feb....... Stansted Mountfitchet, UK..............Sworders................3C
3, Feb.................. Saugerties, NY...................Donny Malone.............58 12-13, Feb............ Rushville, OH....................Mike Clum Inc.............6C
3, Feb.................. Willimantic, CT.................... E.S. Eldridge..............58 14, Feb.................Jewett City, CT..................Leone’s Auction.............2
6, Feb.................... Berkeley, CA......................PBA Galleries.............6C 14-16, Feb...............Detroit, MI......................DuMouchelles.............59
8, Feb..................... Bangor, PA....................Hartzell’s Auction..........60 15, Feb............. artemisgallery.com............... Artemis Gallery............2C
8, Feb.................. Frewsburg, NY.............Corey Brown Auctions......62 15, Feb................... Carlisle, PA................Elmer Murry Auctions.......56
8, Feb...................Glen Cove, NY.................. Roland Auctions.............2 15, Feb................... Copake, NY.....................Copake Auction............5C
15, Feb.................Harrisburg, PA........................ Cordier..................4C
15, Feb................ Lone Jack, MO..................Soulis Auctions............58
17, Feb................... Bangor, PA....................Hartzell’s Auction..........60
22-23, Feb.............Litchfield, CT........... Litchfield County Auctions.....2
1, Mar....................Bellport, NY...............Thos Cornell Galleries.........2
29, Mar............Bedford Village, NY....... Butterscotch Auctioneers......2
24, Apr.................... Dallas, TX.................... Heritage Auctions..........63
28, Apr............... Philadelphia, PA..................... Freeman’s................7C
2, May.................. Rockport, MA........... Rockport Art Association....62
5, May..................... Dallas, TX.................... Heritage Auctions..........56

EVENT 9, Feb................. Wallingford, CT.................... 53 Weekly Events
12-15, Feb............ Nashville, TN....................... 5 Sat...................... New York City..................... 25
DATE LOCATION PG 13-15, Feb............ Nashville, TN....................... 5 Sun.....................Jewett City, CT...................... 2
15, Feb................. Quechee, VT...................... 54 Sun....................... Milford, NH....................... 54
6-9, Feb..................Atlanta, GA......................... 3 16, Feb...................Enfield, CT....................... 39 Sun....................New Milford, CT..................... 2
9, Feb...................Hampton, NH..................... 25 21-25, Feb.............. Naples, FL........................ 8C
22-23, Feb...........Columbus, OH...................... 3 The Following Ads
22-23, Feb.............. Venice, FL........................ 40 May Be Found
29, Feb-1, Mar......Sarasota, FL...................... 40
7-8, Mar............... Chantilly, VA...................... 7C In Last Week’s (1/31) Issue
21-22, Mar...........Hampton, VA..................... 7C 2, Feb............... Alameda, CA...................... 3

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

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 37

85,000 Museum Artifacts Feared Lost In NYC Chinatown Fire

NEW YORK (AP) — Some school that more recently Maasbach said she was told by Fire blows out of a window in the Chinatown section of
85,000 artifacts that tell the housed a senior center, the Chen emergency responders that no New York, Thursday, January 23, 2020. New York City fire-
story of the Chinese migration Dance Center and a number of one will be able to enter the build- fighters battled a raging blaze at a building in the city’s
to the United States may have community groups. The muse- ing to retrieve items for at least Chinatown area Thursday night, Firefighters said they
been lost in a fire that struck a um is nearby and stored its col- three weeks. She said the muse- were called about 8:45 pm to 70 Mulberry Street for a fire
building in the heart of Manhat- lection in the structure that was um’s artifacts, which include tex- on the fourth and fifth floors of the building, NYFD officials
tan’s Chinatown, a museum offi- hit by fire. tiles, restaurant menus and tick- said. (Source: AP Photo/Robert Bumsted)
cial said Friday. ets for ship’s passage, have likely
A Fire Department spokesman been soaked by water and will be ret Chin tweeted that the fire “I know the neighborhood is in
The president of the Museum said the fire was still not under irreparably damaged by then. was “devastating.” “We will shock,” de Blasio tweeted. “We’re
of Chinese in America told The control Friday night, 24 hours work to make sure vital services going to help the community get
New York Times that most of after it was first reported. About 35,000 items in the col- aren’t lost,” Chin told WNBC. through this.”
the thousands of historic and lection had been digitized and
artistic items in its collection Videos and photos posted to those files were backed up, she
were probably lost in the fire social media Thursday night said.
that started Thursday night showed flames bursting out of
and tore through a building windows and flowing heavily Nine firefighters and a
where the museum’s acquisi- from the roof of the building, 59-year-old man were injured in
tions were stored. which Mayor Bill de Blasio said the blaze. The man was rescued
on Twitter was “a pillar to the from the fifth floor of the build-
“One hundred percent of the Chinatown community.” ing and was reported to be in
museum’s collection, other than serious but stable condition. The
what is on view,” said Nancy Yao Fire Commissioner Daniel firefighters sustained minor
Maasbach, the president of the Nigro said firefighters were injuries. The cause of the fire is
museum. She said that the col- forced to battle the blaze from under investigation.
lection was one of a kind and the outside.
that she was “just distraught” The fire comes ahead of the
after receiving the news. “The interior became unten- Lunar New Year, which is Sat-
able and the units had to be urday.
The fire started in a former withdrawn,” he said. “It was too
dangerous in the building.” City Council member Marga-

Leopards & Lions & INDEX - 72 Pages - INDEX
Lambs Oh My! Peaceable
Kingdom Achieves Heavenly antiques Show REVIEWS

Price For Christie’s (New York City) A First Look At The Winter Show............................................................................................ 32
(New York City) Outsider Art Fair Continues To Grow As Interest In Genre Builds........................................... 48

Auction reviews

(Beverly Hills, Calif.) Animation Art Sale Tops $2.9 Million At Heritage.............................................................. 6
(Los Angeles) Last Empress Lotus Bowl Stuns, Exceeds $1.5 Million At Kruse GWS..................................... 12
(Denver, Penn.) Morphy Sells American Furniture With A Bang....................................................................... 13
(Downingtown, Penn.) Chinese Vase Generates International Buzz At Pook & Pook....................................... 21
(Pittsburgh, Penn.) Rob Wilson Collection Part 1 Marches At Old Toy Soldier Auctions.................................. 25
(New York City) Southern African American Artists Star In Christie’s Outsider Sale........................................ 26
(New York City) Queen Anne Chair Climbs To $87,500 At Keno Auctions........................................................ 38
(Falls Church, Va.) Chang-Sup Chung Mixed-Media Art Cruises To $114,300 At Quinn’s................................ 38
(Hudson, N.Y.) Rare Haida Ceremonial Whale Bowl Reaches $209,100 At Stair Galleries............................... 38
(Knoxville, Tenn.) Preach It: Edmondson Sculpture Leads Case’s Auction At $540,000.................................. 38
(New York City) Crowd-Pleasing Buatta Sale Hits $7.6 Million At Sotheby’s.................................................... 38
(New York City) Sound The Alarm! Fire Pumper Weathervane Races Into Top Spot At Sotheby’s................... 38
(Pittsfield, Mass.) Fontaine’s Scores With Art Nouveau Lighting & More........................................................ 41
(Edison, N.J.) Bodnar’s Begins New Year Selling Trove Of Nakashima Furniture............................................. 44
(Columbus, Ohio) Enthusiastic Buyers Flock To Garth’s For Americana, Folk Art & Textiles............................ 45
(Sarasota, Fla.) Fast-Paced Holiday Sale Ushers In Amero Auctions............................................................... 55

NEW YORK CITY — A private collector bidding on the telephone ExHibitions
paid the highest price of any lot sold during Americana Week when
they purchased Edward Hicks’ “Peaceable Kingdom” for $4,575,000 (Sarasota, Fla.) “Salvador Dali: Gardens Of The Mind” At Marie Selby Botanical Gardens................................. 3
at Christie’s Important American Furniture, Folk Art & Silver Sale (Syracuse, N.Y.) Syracuse University Art Galleries Examine Black Subjects In Modern Media Photography..... 4
on Friday, January 24. The iconic work, of which the artist made (Los Angeles) The Autry Presents Its 23rd Annual Masters Art Exhibition & Sale............................................. 5
more than 60 known versions, had been consigned from a private (Los Angeles) Hammer Museum Examines McCarthy Drawing......................................................................... 9
New York collection and estimated at $1.5/3.5 million. Competition (New York City) Vida Americana! Viva Whitney!.............................................................................................. 10
on the lot came from two phone bidders and a trade buyer in the (New London, Conn.) A Century Of Connecticut Art From New Haven Paint & Clay Club................................ 11
room; the result elicited applause from the audience when auctioneer (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) “Louise Bourgeois: Ode To Forgetting” At Vassar College.............................................. 11
John Hays brought the gavel down to a near-capacity saleroom. The (Amsterdam) Drost Masterpiece Loaned To Rijksmuseum.............................................................................. 19
sale achieved a total of $9.5 million in a week of sales that grossed (Hartford, Conn.) Rijksmuseum’s Rembrandt Loan At Wadsworth.................................................................. 20
$14.7 million. A more extensive recap will follow in a future issue. (New Haven, Conn.) New Haven Museum To Host Chinese New Year Activities.............................................. 20
(Woodbury, Conn.) Colonial Life Of Women Series At Glebe House: Theorem Painting.................................. 25
Shute Portrait Makes
$100,000 At Doyle And Also...

NEW YORK CITY — A New Hampshire folk art portrait by Ruth Across The Block............................................................................................................................................... 8
Whittier Shute and Samuel Addison Shute was the top lot at Historic Homes Seven Vermont Communities Receive Support From Bruhn Revitalization Grant.................. 24
Doyle’s January 23 sale when it sold for $100,000. “Portrait of Two International............................................................................................................................................... 18-19
Children from the Prescott Family with a Dog” was dated circa 1831 Q&A Joel Third................................................................................................................................................... 1
and measures 24 by Services.......................................................................................................................................................... 44
20 inches. The water- Transitions....................................................................................................................................................... 34
color and pencil on (Tucson, Ariz.) Center For Creative Photography Celebrates Light Gallery......................................................... 3
paper work sold to (New York City) Japanese Works From Two Seminal Collections At Asia Society.............................................. 5
Steven Weiss, who (Los Angeles) Getty Granted Export License To Acquire Wright Painting.......................................................... 7
along with his broth- (Ottawa, Canada) Stan Douglas To Represent Canada At 2021 La Biennale Di Venezia................................... 18
er Leon owns Gemi- (Amsterdam) Experts Say Vincent Van Gogh Self-Portrait Is Genuine............................................................. 19
ni Antiques. Weiss (London) Don’t Stop Them Now: UK Coin Celebrates UK Music Legends, Queen........................................... 19
said he was buying (Tokyo) Japan Cultural Expo Launches Official Social Media Accounts.. .......................................................... 19
for a client. Gemini (Springfield, Ill.) Weaponizing Lincoln’s Top Hat: Part 1.................................................................................. 28
appeared in the list- (New Orleans, La.) Museum Awarded $1 Million Grant From Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.......................... 34
ed provenance on the (Peterborough, N.H.) MacDowell Awards Winter-Spring Fellowships To 87 Artists......................................... 34
piece, having owned (Washington, DC) Howard University Gets 152 Works Of African American Art.............................................. 34
and sold it one time (Williamsburg, Va.) 2019 American Ceramic Circle Book Award...................................................................... 12
prior. The work first (Newport, R.I.) Newport Mansions Hosted More Than One Million Tours In 2019.......................................... 39
appeared publicly at (Seattle, Wash.) Seattle Asian Art Museum To Reopen.................................................................................... 43
a John McInnis auc- (Cos Cob, Conn.) Greenwich Historical Society Honors Nineteenth Amendment Centennial........................... 52
tion in 1996 after (New York City) Rubenstein Gift Of Modern & Contemporary Works At Met Breuer........................................ 53
having descended in (New York City) Grolier Exhibits 500 Years Of Women’s Work – Lisa Unger Baskin Collection........................ 40
the family of the sit- (Los Angeles) “Vanity Fair: Hollywood Calling”: The Stars, The Parties & Powerbrokers................................ 52
ters. Watch for a full (Charleston, S.C.) Gibbes Museum Opens New British Sporting Art Exhibition............................................... 53
review in a future (Princeton, N.J.) Contemporary Princeton Sculpture Installation Examines History, Slavery, Etc.................... 54
issue. (Seattle, Wash.) Seattle Art Museum Exhibits Haida Manga In “Carpe Fin”..................................................... 54

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

Crowd-Pleasing Rare Haida Ceremonial
Buatta Sale Hits Whale Bowl Reaches

$7.6 Million $209,100 At Stair Galleries
At Sotheby’s
HUDSON, N.Y. —
NEW YORK CITY —Sotheby’s two- Stair Galleries’
day sale of property from the estate of Native American
decorator extraordinaire Mario Buatta Art auction on Jan-
(1935-2018) on January 23-24 bested uary 23 was replete
expectations, reaping nearly $7.6 million with fine examples
on roughly 1,000 lots. Artfully promoted of art, from a Crow
by the York Avenue auction house, the beaded hide and
eclectic slew of self-described “hoarder” trade cloth papoose
and society fixture Buatta elicited carrier to Native
intense interest from online and phone American prehis-
bidders for everything from sporting art toric clay storage
to chinoiserie cabinets. At $212,500 vessels; but it was
including premium, the sale’s top lot was a rare Haida paint-
“Deux Maisons,” an understated oil on ed wood ceremoni-
canvas street scene by Russian artist Yuri al whale bowl, with
Pavlovich Annenkov (1889-1974). Watch a modest $8/10,000
for a full report in a later issue of Antiques estimate, that
and The Arts Weekly. reached the top place selling at $209,100 with buyer’s premium.
Being day one of a two-day sale that included Americana and other
related wares, the 13¾-by-34-by-13½-inch bowl, raised on a metal
stand, had provenance to the Allan Stone Gallery, New York, 1990,
and was the subject of more than 60 bids as buyers competed to
own the rare object. It sold to an as yet anonymous private collec-
tor. A full review of the auction will appear in a future issue.
Preach It: Edmondson Sculpture Leads
Case’s Auction At $540,000 Queen Anne Chair
Climbs To $87,500 At
KNOXVILLE, TENN. — An “It was a pleasant surprise,” Keno Auctions
iconic William Edmondson said the firm’s president, John NEW YORK CITY — A Queen Anne low back upholstered mahog-
limestone sculpture and an at the Tennessee State Museum Case, acknowledging that the any open armchair was the top lot at Keno Auctions’ January 24
array of diamond jewelry from (1981) and the Frist Art Muse- price places “Preacher” in what sale when it sold for $87,500. Auctioneer Leigh Keno said the chair
multiple estates led the winter um (2006) in Nashville. is believed to be the second was likely from New York and relates to a small group of chairs
Case antiques auction on Janu- highest among Edmonson’s fig- with upholstered backs and seats, open arms and cabriole legs end-
ary 25-26. It was the first two- “The Preacher” depicts a min- ures sold at auction to date. “It’s
day sale format in the 13-year- ister with his left arm raised an iconic work, illustrating the ing in pad feet, two of
old company’s history and with a bible in hand, open eyes importance of the preacher in which are found at the
reflected a growing number of and mouth and attired in a the artist’s spiritual backstory.” Metropolitan Museum
consignments from across the long-tailed coat and bow tie, Case said there was strong of Art and one at Win-
Southeast. standing on a pedestal. The interest from the South, the terthur. Two addition-
sculpture is 23½ inches high. Midwest, the Northeast, even al chairs in private
Nashville native William by overseas bidders, three to collections were sold
Edmondson, the son of freed four weeks prior to the sale. “I by Israel Sack, Inc,
slaves, made history when he can tell you that it’s staying in one of which came
became the first African Ameri- the United States, having gone from the Davis collec-
can artist to have a solo exhibit to a buyer in the Northeast,” tion.
at the Museum of Modern Art said Case.
in 1937. He has been hailed as “It’s one of the great
one of the most important Out- In January 2019, Case sold rarities in New York
sider artists of the Twentieth Edmonson’s limestone statue of seating furniture from
Century. His carved limestone a woman carrying her bible and the mid-Eighteenth
depiction of a bible-waving pas- purse, a 15½-inch “Miss Lucy: Century,” Keno said.
tor in this auction was the sale’s An Uplifted Lady,” for $324,000 “This was an expen-
top lot, chased by eight or nine to a private collector. sive chair that would
phone bidders and finishing at have shown great
$540,000, including the buyer’s The top jewelry lot among wealth and influence.”
premium, well above its multiple large GIA-certified dia-
$70/75,000 estimate. The sculp- monds in the sale was a 4.18- Watch for a full
ture is well documented, having carat round brilliant diamond review on Keno’s sale
been photographed in Edmond- in 18K white gold pendant set- in a future issue.
son’s Nashville yard in 1941 by ting that brought $78,000.
Edward Weston and exhibited Sound The Alarm! Fire
Watch for a full review of the
sale in a future edition.

Chang-Sup Chung Mixed-Media Art Pumper Weathervane Races
Cruises To $114,300 At Quinn’s
Into Top Spot At Sotheby’s
FALLS CHURCH, VA. — A textured mono- 1984, sold for $114,300 (inclusive of the buyer’s
chromatic mixed-media painting by South Kore- premium) against an estimate of $6/9,000, on
an artist Chang-Sup Chung (1927-2011), titled January 25 at Quinn’s Auction Galleries.
“85988,” 64 by 40 inches, artist-signed and dated
Executive vice president Matthew Quinn
said, “There are a few reasons why the paint- NEW YORK CITY — The top benefit the Museum of Fine
ing attracted a six-figure price. First of all, price achieved at Sotheby’s Arts, Boston —had an estimate
Chang-Sup Chung is a major Korean artist. Americana Week sales was of $100/150,000. The sale real-
His sales have not been as strong, historically, $437,500, which a phone bidder ized $2.5 million in a weekend
in the United States as abroad, so with the paid for a copper and zinc that achieved $9.2 million and
consignor’s approval, we put a low estimate on horse-drawn fire pumper included the single owner sale
it. We looked at previous estimates for his work weathervane by Cushing & of the collection of Barbara and
at other American auction houses as a guide- White. The lot — one of 18 Arun Singh and Important
line. It didn’t surprise me when it rose to weathervanes offered in the American furniture, folk art,
$20,000 and $30,000, but when it cruised to January 25 sale titled “A New prints, silver and Chinese
$90,000 on the hammer, that did surprise me. Dimension of Tradition: Impor- export. Watch for a full recap of
There were three bidders still actively taking tant American Folk Art” sold to all sales in an upcoming issue.
part at the $60,000 mark. I think some of that
is attributable to the fact that we have had
strong Asian sales for many years, so we have
a following for Asian art, including Korean.
We’re near Washington, DC, which is very
international, so that also may have had some-
thing to do with it.

“As for the simplicity of the painting itself, you
have to see it up close to appreciate it fully. A top-
ographical view looks much different than just an
image of it in print. The artist had a technique
that included raised fiber elements to create
shadows and a dimensional effect. It’s much more
attractive displayed on a wall than as it appears
in pictures.” A full review of the auction will be in
a future edition.

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 39

Newport Mansions Hosted More Than One Million Tours In 2019

NEWPORT, R.I. — For the Visitors explore The Elms during Christmas at the Newport Visitors explore Marble House during Christmas at the
fourth consecutive year, the Mansions in December 2019. Newport Mansions in December 2019.
Preservation Society of New-
port County has hosted more regularly reach one million private and specialty tours as This year, three of the New- stow, Hunter House, Isaac
than one million tours, draw- admissions. The other three well as regularly offered port Mansions are operating Bell House, Kingscote and
ing visitors from all 50 states are in downtown Boston. audio and guide-led house daily year-round: The Break- Green Animals Topiary Gar-
and more than 100 countries. tours and self-guided land- ers, The Elms and Rosecliff; den — operate on a seasonal
The Preservation Society scape tours. Audio tours are Marble House currently is schedule from early spring to
This capped a landmark owns and operates seven available in several languag- closed until mid-February for late fall.
year for the society, which in national historic landmarks es in addition to English. This deep cleaning. The Preserva-
July delivered its 40 millionth and four other historic sites. year, youth and Mandarin- tion Society’s other properties For additional information,
tour of the Newport Mansions Guests can experience these Chinese audio tours of Marble — Chateau-sur-Mer, Chep- www.newportmansions.org or
since its founding in 1945. properties in a number of House are planned. 401-847-1000.
The total number of tours ways, including prearranged
given in 2019 was 1,006,190.

“The popularity of the man-
sions is a testament not only
to their beauty and grandeur,
but also to the hard work that
goes into preserving and pre-
senting them,” said Preserva-
tion Society chief executive
officer and executive director
Trudy Coxe. “We are very
proud that our high standards
have been recognized by
accreditation from the Ameri-
can Alliance of Museums as
well as visitors from around
the world.”

The Preservation Society’s
Newport Mansions are one of
only four museum organiza-
tions in New England that

Striking Power: Cumner Examines
Ancient Egyptian Iconoclasm

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — esput (reigned circa 1478-1458 about ownership, memory and
The newest exhibition at the BCE) and Akhenaten (reigned visual culture that are as rele-
Cummer Museum of Art & circa 1353-1336 BCE), as well vant today to us in Jackson-
Gardens, “Striking Power: as the late Antiquity (Third to ville as they were in ancient
Iconoclasm in Ancient Egypt,” Seventh Century CE). Egypt.”
presents pairings of damaged
works — from fragmented “Iconoclasm is a practice that The exhibition is organized
heads to altered inscriptions — spans history and continues to by the Brooklyn Museum in
with undamaged examples to the present day — we still collaboration with the Pulitzer
examine the patterns of dam- struggle with decisions about Arts Foundation and is curated
age inflicted on these sculp- what to do with contested pub- by Edward Bleiberg, senior
tures for political, religious and lic sculptures — and this show curator of Egyptian, Classical
criminal reasons in ancient sheds light on how other societ- and Ancient Near Eastern art
times. The exhibition will be on ies have dealt with similar at the Brooklyn Museum.
view through April 26. issues,” said Adam Levine, the
museum’s George W. and Kath- The Cummer Museum of
“Striking Power” examines leen I. Gibbs director and chief Art & Gardens are at 829
iconoclasm in Egypt, focusing executive officer. “This exhibi- Riverside Avenue. For more
on the legacies of kings Hatsh- tion will raise timely questions information, 904-356-6857 or
www.cummermuseum.org.

New England Air Museum Exhibits
Early Aviation Toy Collection

WINDSOR LOCKS, CONN. Courtesy New England Air Museum.
— If you were a young boy or
girl in 1927, you could build Spirit of St Louis construction Metalcraft construction sets,
your own “Spirit of Saint Louis” set, and a wide variety of Meccano, Erector, Tinker Toy
airplane if you bought a con- Depression-era TootsieToys. and Lincoln Logs all appeared
struction set from the Met- in the early Twentieth Centu-
alcraft Toy Company. After According to the brothers ry and were promoted as devel-
Charles Lindbergh made his Wilbur and Orville Wright of oping fine motor skills, encour-
transatlantic solo flight from Dayton, Ohio, it began for them aging free play, creativity and
New York to Paris and capti- with a toy from France. The introducing children to engi-
vated the world, the Metalcraft small helicopter-like toy had neering and construction
Toy Company saw an opportu- been brought home by their ideas.
nity and produced a line of air- father, Bishop Milton Wright,
plane construction sets that who had been a great believer The New England Air Muse-
you could build more than 200 in the educational value of um is at 36 Perimeter Road. For
different types of airplanes, toys. information, www.neam.org.
including the Spirit of St Louis.

Near Hartford’s Bradley Air-
port, the New England Air
Museum is featuring a new
exhibit of early aviation toys.
“Selections from the Robert
Davis Aviation Toy Collection,”
will be on view in the muse-
um’s Civil Hangar Mezzanine
through June 30. The exhibi-
tion highlights a collection of
early aviation toys, including a
number of rare pre-World War
I Müller and Kadeder hand-
cranked carousels, a Metalcraft

Litchfield History Lantern Tour February 11

LITCHFIELD, CONN. — warm up at the museum with m members, $20 for nonmem-
Bundle up for a special “lan- a historically inspired cocktail bers.
tern” tour of Litchfield’s His- (for guests 21 years and older)
toric District from 6 to 8 pm on and cookies. The Litchfield Historical
February 11. The Litchfield Society is at 7 South Street.
Historical Society will explore Wear comfortable walking For information or to register,
Litchfield’s history with a shoes and dress warm. Don’t 860-567-44501, www.litchfiel-
nighttime stroll down North wait to register! This tour sells dhistoricalsociety.org/calendar
and South Streets. Afterward out! or email registration@litch-
fieldhistoricalsociety.org.
The Lantern Tour is $15 for

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

Grolier Exhibits 500 Years Of Women’s Work:
The Lisa Unger Baskin Collection
NEW YORK CITY — Women’s work. women have supported themselves, artists and inventors.
The phrase usually conjures up domes- their families and the causes they “It’s an intentionally democratic exhi- “Sojourner Truth, I Sell the Shad-
tic duties or occupations largely associ- believed in. ow to Support the Substance,” 1864,
ated with women, such as teaching, bition,” notes Naomi L. Nelson, co-cura- cabinet card albumen photograph.
nursing or housekeeping. A new exhibi- “The women’s movement and my com- tor of the exhibit and director of Duke’s Lisa Unger Baskin Collection,
tion at the Grolier Club, “Five Hundred pelling interest in these untold stories Rubenstein Library, “featuring both the Rubenstein Library, Duke Univer-
Years of Women’s Work: The Lisa Unger ultimately led me to focus on unearth- famous and the forgotten.” sity.
Baskin Collection,” upends those associ- ing the histories of ordinary women —
ations and documents the often women who worked every day without According to Nelson, the exhibition The Grolier Club is at 47 East 60th
obscured, forgotten and overlooked work recognition or acknowledgment,” said also stands as a testament to Lisa Street. For information, 212-838-6690 or
and intellectual contributions of women Baskin, who co-curated the exhibit. Unger Baskin’s own vision, persistence www.grolierclub.org.
from the Renaissance to the modern era. and keen eye. “Women have long built
The result was a collection comprising private collections, but they have been
On view to February 8, the exhibit more than 11,000 rare books and thou- fewer in number than their male coun-
brings together many well-known mon- sands of manuscripts, journals, pieces of terparts and have only recently been
uments of women’s history and litera- ephemera and artifacts ranging from a welcomed as members in some biblio-
ture, as well as lesser-known work pro- copper token minted for the American philic circles,” she said.
duced by female scholars, printers, Anti-Slavery Society to pottery pro-
publishers, scientists, artists and politi- duced by Jane Addams’ Hull House A few highlights include correspon-
cal activists. Taken together, they com- Kilns in Chicago. dence by legendary American and Brit-
prise a mosaic of the ways women have ish suffragists Susan B. Anthony, Eliza-
been productive, creative and socially The earliest items on display include beth Cady Stanton, Emmeline
engaged over the centuries. one of the first books known to have Pankhurst and Emmeline Pethick-Law-
been printed by women (1478) and a rence; a publicity blurb for Sojourner
The collection was carefully assembled land grant from 1240 for a home for Truth’s Narrative handwritten by Har-
over 45 years by noted bibliophile, activ- repentant prostitutes in Pisa. Among riet Beecher Stowe; the first obstetrical
ist, collector and Grolier Club member the more recent are a selection of mate- book by a woman, the Seventeenth Cen-
Lisa Unger Baskin. She and her late rials related to the Twentieth Century tury Louise Bourgeois Boursier; a letter
husband, the artist Leonard Baskin, anarchist Emma Goldman. In between and needlework by Charlotte Brontë;
were both avid collectors in many areas. are more than 200 important works on and folio editions of the works of Dutch
Lisa Baskin began collecting materials women’s education, women’s rights, the artist and naturalist Maria Sibylla
related to women in the 1960s, seeking right to vote, slavery and abolition, Merian, the first scientist to study and
to recover and recognize the many ways women in science and medicine, as well depict the metamorphosis of insects in
as items produced by women publishers, the field.

50th Annual Antique Bottle & Collectibles Show & Sale February 16

PO Bo x 2 90 ; Wh i te P l a in s , N . Y. 1 0 6 0 5 ENFIELD, CONN. — The years of expertise with antique bottles, milk bottles, whiskies, stoneware and ceramics, plus
Somers, Conn., Antique Bottle bottles, glass and related col- perfumes, poisons, fruit (can- advertising tins and postcards
Club is pleased to present the lectibles are members, from ning) jars, insulators, lamps, for sale.
club’s 50th Anniversary Annual Connecticut, Massachusetts candlesticks, and whimsies will
Antique Bottle Show and Sale and other Northeast states. be among the offerings. Bottles In addition, educational exhib-
on Sunday, February 16, at made in New England glass its will showcase the diverse
Saint Bernard’s School, West Both new and experienced col- works from the early days of areas of collecting represented
Campus. The show and sale will lectors will find bottles, glass American glass making in the by club members. Show hours
feature more than 40 antique items and tabletop antiques Eighteenth and Nineteenth are 9 am to 2 pm with $3 admis-
dealers from the New England and collectibles from the 1700s Centuries will be featured. sion. Early buyers will be
States, New York and New Jer- through the mid-Twentieth admitted at 8 am for $10.
sey with 53 tables. Century. The Northeast was a Also featured will be “go-
major source of glass making, withs,” the associated tabletop Saint Bernard’s School, West
The Somers Antique Bottle resulting in bottles and other collectibles such as trade cards, Campus, is at 232 Pearl Street,
Club is one of the oldest clubs in items that are now a rich source advertising posters and bottle just off I-91, exit 47W. For infor-
the United States. Both collec- of local information for history and glass related books. Many mation, email show chair Don
tors and antique dealers with buffs. Flasks, patent medicine dealers will also have crocks, Desjardins at dondes@comcast.
net.

Maine Art Teachers Show Work At Saco Museum

SACO, MAINE — The Saco ral: Art by Art Teachers” fessional organization whose tors and retired art educators.
Museum presents, “It’s Natu- includes paintings, prints, members are committed to For more information, www.
ral: Art by Art Teachers,” an sculpture, photographs and excellence in visual arts edu- aeforme.org.
exhibition by the Maine Art fiber arts created by visual art cation. MAEA welcomes Visu-
Education Association. Works teachers from throughout the al Art educators from pre-kin- The Dyer Library/Saco
by members of MAEA will be state. dergarten through grade 12, Museum is at 371 Main Street
on display at the Saco Muse- higher education, art educa- (Route 1). For more informa-
um until March 27. “It’s Natu- The Maine Art Education tion students, museum educa- tion, 207-283-3861 or www.
Association is a statewide pro- dyerlibrarysacomuseum.org.

Eustis Estate Adds Ellen Day Hale
Landscape To Collection

MILTON, MASS. — In early “Mount Chocorua” by Ellen ton, a local reviewer praised
February, Historic New Eng- Day Hale (1855-1940), circa it as “refreshingly unconven-
land will add “Mount Cho- 1895, courtesy Historic New tional and lifelike.” After
corua,” a circa 1895 oil paint- England. returning from France in the
ing by Ellen Day Hale, to the prevailing style in France. Her mid-1890s, she and her com-
collection of paintings on dis- vertical format places more panion, Philadelphia artist
play at the Eustis Estate in emphasis on the water, which Gabrielle de Veaux Clem-
Milton. enables her to concentrate on ents, were among the found-
blues and violets. Hale sub- ers of the popular artist colo-
Ellen Day Hale (1855-1940) mitted “Mount Chocorua” to ny at Folly Cove on Cape
was one of the hundreds of the 1885 Salon in Paris, but Ann in Massachusetts.
women who trained as an while another of her paintings
artist in Boston and France was accepted, “Mount Cho- Hale’s father was author
in the last quarter of the corua” was not. When dis- and minister Edward Ever-
Nineteenth Century. She played two years later in Bos- ett Hale. Her brother Philip
studied in Boston with Wil- and sister-in-law Lilian
liam Rimmer in 1873 and at Westcott Hale were success-
the Museum School with Wil- ful artists. There are many
liam Morris Hunt and Helen powerful and creative women
Knowlton from 1874 to 1877. in her family, including her
She also trained at the Penn- great-aunts Harriet Beecher
sylvania Academy in 1878 Stowe and Katherine Beech-
and 1879, and in 1881 studied er and her first cousin, Char-
in France at the studio of Car- lotte Perkins Gilman, the
olus-Duran, who taught John author of the landmark femi-
Singer Sargent among others, nist novel The Yellow Wallpa-
and then at the Académie per.
Julian. More paintings from Historic
New England’s extensive col-
In the 1890s Hale traveled to lection will be on view when
Giverny to learn from the the exhibition, “Artful Stories:
Impressionist master, Claude Paintings from Historic New
Monet. Her colors became England,” opens in May.
lighter and her style more Eustis Estate is at 1424 Can-
impressionistic. “Mount Cho- ton Avenue. For information,
corua” is clearly impressionis- www.historicnewengland.org
tic, reflecting the artist’s inter- or 617-994-6600.
pretation of the newly

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 41

In A Million-Dollar-Plus Sale—

Fontaine’s Scores With
Art Nouveau Lighting And More

Auction Action In Pittsfield, Mass.

PITTSFIELD, MASS. — On absentee bids, and bidders in coiled decorations that curled
January 18, John Fontaine’s the room took many lots. Nega- at the ends, and the round
Auction Gallery conducted a tive weather forecasts may platform bottom was ribbed
successful sale of Art Nouveau have affected the size of the and on three ball feet.
lighting, art glass, Golden Age crowd in the room. Phone and internet bid-
bronzes and paintings and ders can be comfort-
more. The dozens of lighting The highest price of the day able with Fontaine’s
examples included lamps and was realized by a Tiffany Stu- cataloging. There
chandeliers by a variety of dios “Peony Border” floor lamp, were more than 30
makers: Tiffany, Pairpoint, which finished at $151,250, photographs online
Galle, Duffner & Kimball, Steu- selling to a phone bidder. Both for this lamp, and the
ben, Wilkinson, Unique and the shade and the base were imperfections were noted
others. Art glass included signed. The shade had a band in detail. The defects were pic-
examples by Tiffany, Steuben, of pink and red peonies sur- tured, the shade was pictured
Galle, Walter Nancy, Burgun & rounded by mottled green, red from all sides, the bronze base
Schverer and others. and amber leaves and stems. was shown — bidders could see
The bronze base had multiple
Was it a strong sale? Of the
first 15 lots, 12 sold for more Tiffany accessories included this Pine Needle pattern glove This Tiffany Studios Peony
than $10,000 each, and strong box. The undamaged box with caramel slag panels realized Border floor lamp, which
prices continued throughout $4,114. finished at $151,250, was the
the 400-lot sale, which grossed highest priced item of the
$1,106,053. Only 21 lots were day. Both shade and base
passed, resulting in about 95 were signed. The online
percent being sold. High esti- description of the lamp
mates were frequently exceed- included more than 30 pho-
ed, including the $48,400 tos.
achieved for a hand illuminat-
ed bible that was estimated at
$3/5,000. Three internet plat-
forms were in use, as many as
six phone lines were in use for
some lots, there were numerous

The day’s first lot, a rare
white/grey owl Pairpoint
puffy table lamp set the
tone. It sold to a phone bid-
der for $78,650, nearly twice
the high estimate.

There were several large “Golden Age”
bronzes. This oval French bronze planter,
weighing more than 48 pounds, earned
$2,723. It had busts of winged maidens at
each corner, plus numerous other decora-
tive castings.

Review and Onsite Photos by Mia Fontaine, John’s daughter, holding the
Rick Russack, Contributing Editor early illuminated religious text decorated
with birds, beasts and people.
Additional Photos Courtesy
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery

There were dozens of Art Nouveau lamps. All were lit and displayed in a separate room Furniture in the sale included a boulle inlaid table with
during the preview. designs of ebonized wood, burled walnut, brass and silver.
The top had mythical creature heads on each corner, and
the center was designed with scrolling filigree. There was
inlay on the stretcher, and it was a good buy at $1,815.

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

Fontaine’s Auction

In a rosewood case, this B.A. Bremond cylinder music box Bringing $6,050, more than From the Black Forest, this There was not a lot of jew-
on a matching base with a drawer for three additional cyl- twice its estimate, was a pur- 10-inch carved bear with a elry in the sale, but this Van
inders sold for $5,143. ple Tiffany Studios Favrile hollowed-out tree trunk Cleef & Arpels 18K yellow
These six-arm bronze gasoliers attributed to Cornelius and glass decanter with a gold iri- match holder over its shoul- gold lady’s watch with a
Baker would have to go in a huge home. Each had floral, descent pulled feather design der finished at $1,331. mother-of-pearl dial and set
filigree and draping designs, with six busts of women reach- around the shoulder. Tiffany Studios iridescent with more than 150 brilliant
ing out and holding up doves. Each was 48 inches tall and exactly what they were bidding chunk turtleback table lamp, and single cut diamonds
more than 40 inches wide. The pair earned $27,225. on. Six phone bidders compet- with five rows in the border fetched $7,499.
ed. and seven in the top, signed leaves, vines and flowers,
both on shade and base, fin- brought $6,655 even though
In general, Tiffany lamps, did ished at $14,520. the base had a long crack. A
well. A Tiffany Studios green to Daum Nancy cameo glass lamp
amber dichroic geometric table Other Art Nouveau lighting decorated with yellow-orange
lamp, signed on shade and also did well. The first lot of the maple leaves and maple “heli-
base, realized $26,200, while a day, a puffy Pairpoint owl table copters” on a matching base
lamp with a rare grey and sold for $3,933.
Perhaps dating to the Six- white owl shade over an owl
teenth Century, this illumi- base was estimated at $40,000 Art glass included examples
nated manuscript was bound but sold to a phone bidder for by several makers. Bringing
with silver repousse covers $78,650. The buyer said that he the highest price of the selec-
illustrating bible-related had an example with a brown tion was an unsigned set of 12
images. It was thought to be owl and “had always wanted a intaglio cut amber glass goblets
Armenian and was decorat- white one.” Fontaine said this that sold for $6,655. A purple
ed throughout with gilded coloring is “extremely rare” and Tiffany Studios decanter with a
images of birds, mythical only a few are known. gold iridescent pulled feather
beasts, human figures and design around the shoulder
incredibly small writing. It Another Pairpoint puffy table reached $6,050, and a Tiffany
was one of the pleasant sur- lamp, this one in the “Orange Studios Favrile glass floriform
prises of the day, selling to a Tree” pattern, sold for $33,800, vase with an inverted saucer
phone bidder from New York also well over the estimate. The foot reached $3,630. An inter-
for $48,400. signed reverse painted blown esting set of 15 Tiffany Studios
out shade featured butterflies, Favrile glass tiles, each with
leaves, oranges and orange unique designs and colors, sold
blossoms against a background for $3,025. One was marked,
of green leaves and branches. “Pat. Appl’d For” but nothing
One other Pairpoint puffy lamp more was known. There were
brought more than $10,000. It several Steuben Cluthra pieces,
was an “Appletree” pattern some sold in lots. One such lot
shade with butterflies and of six vases, each 7 inches tall,
bumblebees against a back- in a variety of colors, brought
ground of apples and apple $2,299. French cameo glass was
blossoms. It was on a signed represented by Galle and other
Pairpoint tree trunk base and makers. A blue Le Verre Fran-
finished at $14,520. cais cameo glass boudoir lamp
brought $2,178, and a three-
Other lamps that did well color Galle floral cameo glass
included a Duffner and Kim- vase, 9 inches tall, earned
berly #519 quatrefoil example $1,089. An enamel decorated
with a shade of amber and Galle perfume bottle with
green on a signed bronze base. transparent amber glass deco-
It realized $18,150. A green rated with floral patterns
Quezal lamp with a matching signed on the underside “E.
glass shade and base, both with Galle/depose” reached $2,299.
A colorful Galle pottery ewer

A portion of the Golden Age bronzes, some weighing close
to 100 pounds, on display during the preview.

Susan Waters (1823-1900) was a self-taught painter well The porcelain clock dial of this ani- “Across the Pond,” a large oil painting by Elliot
known for her “primitive” portraits. Later in her career she mated porcelain and bronze farm Dangerfield (1859-1932), earned $13,320. Danger-
painted animals. This landscape with cows sold for $6,655. scene was signed “Cronier Jeune, Rue field, who was one of North Carolina’s most pro-
de la Monnaie No. 6, a Paris.” The lific painters, served in the Confederate Army
clockwork mechanism operated both during the Civil War. His works are in the collec-
the windmill with its weathervane and tions of the National Gallery and the High Muse-
the clock. The farmyard included farm um of Art.
animals, trees and people. It was an
exceptional piece, well worth its sell-
ing price of $16,335.

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 43

One of the Pairpoint puffy lamps that The base of this Quezal floral deco- One of several Tiffany lamps, this Galle pieces included a scarce pot-
brought more than $10,000 was this rated lamp had a crack but it still green to amber dichroic geometric tery ewer decorated with a dragon-
“Orange Tree” pattern, which sold for finished over the estimate, selling table lamp, signed on shade and fly over a blue and red background.
$33,880. The signed reverse painted for $6,655. base, realized $26,200. Signed “E.G., E. Galle, Nancy,
blown out shade featured butterflies, depose,” it sold for $1,150.
leaves, oranges and orange blossoms
against a background of green leaves
and branches.

with enameled decoration probably dating to the late Six- online listings, and that trea- An unusual lot of 15 Tiffany Studios Favrile glass tiles, each
earned $1,150. teenth Century with the book sures continue to be unearthed. with unique designs and colors, sold for $3,025. One was
itself perhaps 50 years older. marked “Pat. Appl’d For.”
One of the particularly inter- That description stated that it John Fontaine commented
esting items in the sale was an had been done for an Armenian that this sale reflected the cur- up in our May 2 sale. That Prices given include the buy-
early illuminated manuscript monastery in Cappadocia, at rent trends of the marketplace. could be a half million-dollar er’s premium as stated by the
book cataloged as “Armenian that time part of the Ottoman “There were more lamps and piece. And this sale finished at auction house. For information,
bible with a repousse silver Empire. They described theirs smalls this time and less furni- more than $1 million — can’t www.fontainesauction.com or
cover with Jesus on the cross, as being on bombycine paper, ture. Furniture is soft right be unhappy with that number.” 413-448-8922.
above a skull and crossbones. (an early Greek paper), and now, so it doesn’t make sense to
Mary and Joseph standing on noted that the decoration try to sell material the market
either side of him; the back has included birds and grotesque is soft on.” After the sale, Fon-
the Nativity scene depicting figures, as did Fontaine’s exam- taine said he was pleased with
the infant Jesus surrounded by ple, which while certainly the results. “Obviously, we were
Mary, Joseph, shepherds, sheep intended for religious use, may pleasantly surprised by the
and angels. The spine is silver not have been a bible. Fontaine bible, but buyers find what
beaded mesh. The pages are said that there were more than they’re interested in. I was glad
beautifully hand painted and a dozen requests for condition to see that the better Pairpoint
done in Armenian manuscript.” reports, one of which requested lamps did well as there’s been
microscopic examination of the some softness in that market.
The catalog did not attempt to paper. Fontaine’s estimate was The Pairpoint and Tiffany
date it, but an early catalog $3/5,000, and a phone bidder lamps, overall, did well, as did
from the English bookseller paid $48,400, which would indi- the art glass. We’ll have an
Bernard Quaritich offered a cate that interested buyers are exceptional Tiffany Oriental
perhaps related example. That carefully scanning all auction Poppy chandelier with six addi-
description mentions the elabo- tional lily pad shades coming
rate repousse silver work as

Seattle Asian Art Museum To Reopen February 8
SEATTLE, WASH. — The Seattle Art Park; new gallery, education studio, con- Korea, Japan, India, Himalayas and vator. The first museum center of its kind
Museum (SAM) has announced that the servation center and community meeting Southeast Asia. The museum offers a wide in the western United States, the center is
Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM) in Vol- room; and the restoration of Olmstedian range of collection installations as well as devoted to the conservation, mounting and
unteer Park will reopen to the public on pathways in the park near the museum special exhibitions and can now expand its study of Asian paintings, serving SAM’s
Saturday, February 8, following a and three fountains and the cleaning and program with the addition of a new collection as well as institutional and pri-
24-month-long renovation and expansion. preservation of the original sandstone 2,650-square-foot gallery. vate collections in the region. A $3.5 mil-
The museum’s historic 1933 building façade and the cleaning of the façade’s Art lion challenge grant from the Andrew W.
closed to the public on February 27, 2017 Deco metalwork and reglazing of the glass. Organized thematically, rather than by Mellon Foundation established and
to address critical needs of infrastructure, region or time period, “Boundless” endowed the center. SAM is currently rais-
accessibility and program space. Now The project was funded by a mixture of embraces the complexity of Asian art by ing $2.5 million in matching funds needed
enhanced with a design by the Seattle- public and private funds, with a final bud- bringing together works that tell stories for its opening. To underscore the impor-
based firm LMN Architects (2016 AIA get of approximately $56 million. Of this about worship and celebration, visual arts tance of conservation for the understand-
National Firm Award) with landscape funding, $21 million comes from the City and literature, clothing and identity and ing and appreciation of Asian art, the cen-
architect Walker Macy, the building of Seattle, which owns the building. Addi- more. The presentation of 12 themes ter is constructed so that museum visitors
reopens as a modern museum within a tional government support includes $1.5 makes use of the building’s structure of will be able to observe some of its work
historic icon. million from the State of Washington and two wings divided by a central courtyard, through a viewing window, along with dis-
$1.4 million from King County. The with art related to material life in the plays featuring conservation projects and
A free community celebration will wel- remaining funds were raised through pri- north galleries and to spiritual life in the processes.
come visitors to the museum on February vate support. south galleries.
8 and 9. It will feature two 12-hour days The Seattle Asian Art Museum is at
(from 9 am to 9 pm) of programs reflecting One of only a few art museums in North The project has also added a new schol- 1400 East Prospect Street. For informa-
the 12 themes of the reimagined collection America dedicated exclusively to Asian arly resource to the museum with the tion, 206-654-3100 or www.seattleartmu-
galleries, “Boundless: Stories of Asian Art.” art, the Asian Art Museum maintains an Asian Paintings Conservation Center, led seum.org.
important collection of art from China, by Nicholas Dorman, SAM’s chief conser-
“This is a pivotal moment for SAM and
for the city of Seattle,” says Amada Cruz, Installation view of “Boundless: Stories of Asian Art” at the
the newly appointed Illsley Ball Nord- Asian Art Museum. ©Jueqian Fang.
strom director and chief executive officer Aerial view of the Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park. Photo:
of SAM. “With the completion of this proj- ©Tim Griffith.
ect, we unveil new spaces to connect the
museum’s extraordinary collection of
Asian art to our lives and experiences. I’m
grateful to the city of Seattle, the staff and
supporters of SAM and especially to my
predecessor, Kimerly Rorschach, for see-
ing this monumental project through.”

The Asian Art Museum’s historic Art
Deco building was SAM’s original home
and has not been substantially restored or
renovated since its construction in 1933.
The renovation and expansion project
have modernized and preserved the his-
toric building, expanded exhibition and
education space, and established a better
connection to the surrounding Volunteer
Park.

Highlights include a new glass-enclosed
park lobby on the east side of the building,
creating a visual connection to Volunteer

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

Bodnar’s Begins New Year Selling
Trove Of Nakashima Furniture

Auction Action In Edison, N.J.

A wall hanging sideboard by Nakashima was fought over
all the way to $12,600, purchased by a phone bidder.

Among the Erte pieces that brought solid A musical Faberge egg was fought over to
prices was this sterling and 14K gold moth- the price of $1,150.
er of pearl bangle that realized $1,120.

Bidding on a George Nakashima dining table with dovetail
joints over the two large slats and six Nakashima grass
seated wishbone chairs was hot all the way to $25,300, taken
away by an in-house bidder.

Artwork highlights included a pair of Frank English landscapes that brought $1,380.

EDISON, N.J. — On January for months prior, and the day said.
4, Bodnar’s Auction Sales of the sale all the excitement Bodnar’s Auction Sales has
kicked off the New Year with a came to a peak.
bang. The buzz was all around been in operation for more
the firm’s first sale of the year It all began in the fall when than 25 years. The firm runs
Joseph Bodnar received a auctions one to two times a
phone call from a man who month, and the sales draw in The James Rizzi three-dimensional Pop art work earned
needed his help with his aunt’s the crowds. What helps attract $800.
home in Metuchen, N.J. She many is the fact that the sales
had passed away and he was are unreserved. People know Within minutes, it was stand- Nakashima in the 1950s. Not
looking for help with the con- when they come in that the ing room only throughout most only did the owner take perfect
tents of her home. He knew he items they are bidding on are of the auction hall. At 11 am, care of all the furniture, but
had George Nakashima furni- really there to sell, and that the auction was off and run- she also had all the original
ture, and he had an idea of truly helped draw the crowds ning, and no one could believe receipts. There was not a
what it was worth. What he in for this event. That is not the prices that were being hol- scratch to be found anywhere.
needed, however, was an outlet the only factor that brought lered from the auctioneer’s First up was a George Nakashi-
to sell it. Bodnar’s Auction more than 500 registered bid- stand. The box lot section that ma dining table with dovetail
Sales was the perfect fit. After ders to this sale. normally sees $5-$50 bids were joints over the two large slats
that, all the estates he would consistently bringing more and six Nakashima grass seat-
go to look at all seemed to Bodnar’s Auction decided not than $100 a box. ed wishbone chairs. The bid-
highlight and fit right in to offer online bidding for this ding started quickly with an
around this Nakashima furni- sale. When asked, Bodnar said, The jewelry session was no in-house bidder opening the
ture. If you ask Bodnar him- “This is the kind of beautiful different. Being offered that bidding at $15,000. The bid-
self, he will tell you this is how furniture you need to see in day were some Erte pieces that ding was hot all the way to
it happens every month. “The person to bid on. It loses some- brought solid prices. An Erte $25,300, which was taken away
items all seem to come togeth- thing when you view it from a sterling and 14K gold mother by an in-house bidder. Next in
er and fit like a puzzle to cre- computer screen.” He said he is of pearl bangle brought $1,120; line was a pair of upholstered
ate one fantastic auction,” he one of the last true in-house a pair of Erte sterling and 14K lounge chairs that realized
auctioneers left in the tristate gold earrings realized $800; a $12,650 for the pair, again by
area. Most have moved to modern emerald and 14K gold another in-house bidder. Last
online-only auctions, and in his ring brought $2,070; and a vin- up was a round coffee table
opinion, you lose the excite- tage Tiffany & Co. mesh coin that brought $5,150, a pair of
ment and the true nature of purse was hammered down at end tables that were sold for
what an auction is when you $1,495. $4,250 and a wall hanging
are only selling to people on sideboard that was fought over
the other side of an electronic Once the main sale was all the way to $12,600, finally
device. This does not mean, underway, the prices kept soar- purchased by a phone bidder.
however, that the bidding was ing. Artwork highlights includ-
only in-house. There were call- ed a pair of Frank English Prices given include the buy-
ers from all over the world par- landscapes that brought er’s premium as stated by the
ticipating in this auction. He $1,380; and the multiple James auction house.
had more than 45 people call Rizzi three-dimensional Pop
who all wanted to be on the art pieces that were offered Bodnar’s Auction Sales runs
phone for various items earned $800 consistently. A one to two times a month,
throughout the sale, as well as musical Faberge egg was every month. The next auc-
more than 400 absentee bids. fought over to the price of tions are February 8 and 20.
$1,150.
The night before the sale, The sales are conducted at
doors opened for preview and it Finishing off the day was the the New Jersey Convention
was packed. Everyone wanted highlight of the auction. All the and Expo Center at 97 Sunfield
an early look at all the Midcen- George Nakashima furniture Avenue. For more information,
tury Modern furniture, art- came from one estate and was www.bodnarsauction.com or
work, jewelry and more that purchased directly from 866-349-7378.
was to be offered the next day.
Early the next morning, the
flood gates opened the moment
the doors opened at 9 am.

February 7, 2020 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 45

Enthusiastic Buyers Flock To Garth’s
For Americana, Folk Art & Textiles

Auction Action In Columbus, Ohio

Offered as the first lot on Saturday morning, a Schoharie From New England, this wonderful Ameri-
County, N.Y., pine painted blanket chest was also the top lot can decorated gameboard with original
of the day. The first quarter Nineteenth Century chest with painted checkerboard and flourishes on
an original blue painted field and flowers in seven different edges and a good, dry surface showing only
colors, ex Peter Tillou, sold at $7,800. minor wear, exceeded estimate when it real-
ized $4,680.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — There dressed gentleman. Jeffers said,
was no snow in Columbus on “you’d like to have him hanging Review by An Eighteenth Century Long Island, N.Y.,
January 18 and 19 and bidders on the wall, with his marvelous Antiques and The Arts Weekly gumwood kas with a red wash and ebonized
responded by filling the auction cartoonish face, he’s a good-look- Anne Kugielsky, Assistant Editor original feet, ex Philip Bradley (Pennsylva-
galleries at Garth’s for the com- ing guy.” Purportedly the sitter nia), sold at $5,880.
pany’s Americana, Folk Art and was Ebenezer Zane (1747-1811), Photos Courtesy of Garth’s
Textiles sale. With day one fea- the founder of Lancaster, Ohio,
turing the 30-year collection of a and the provenance included ex From the upper peninsula of Michigan, this Auctioneer Jeff Jeffers said about this por-
gentleman from New York State Robbins Hunter (Ohio), ex Clark remarkable folk art wall-mounted, carved, trait of a man, “you’d like to have him hang-
that included painted furniture, Garrett (Ohio), ex David Good stag’s head with real antlers and even some ing on the wall, with his marvelous cartoon-
pottery and folk art, and day (Ohio). The 23¼-by-19½-inch oil deer hide still attached and polychrome ish face, he’s a good-looking guy.” Bidders
two folk art and textiles from on canvas sold after strong bid- paint, more than tripled its high estimate agreed competing for the oil on canvas,
the collection of two sisters from ding from the gallery and across when it sold at $3,060. circa 1810, well-dressed gentleman, pur-
Washington, DC, the sell- platforms, at $5,520 ($2,5/4,000). portedly Ebenezer Zane (1747-1811), the
through rate was 98 percent by founder of Lancaster, Ohio, until it reached
lot according to chief executive “Our location [Columbus, $5,520.
officer and principal auctioneer, Ohio] makes it easy for inter-
Richard “Jeff” Jeffers. ested buyers to come here. We Principal auctioneer and chief executive officer, Richard “Jeff” Jeffers welcomes some 175-
also have a lot of absentee bid- 185 bidders to the gallery with over 250 online and “lots of absentee and phone bidders.”
“Overall I see some upward ders, including those who place
movement in price for furniture a bid for us to execute, phone
and folk art; look at corner cup- bidders live and left bids. I’d say
boards, we had four or five nice the majority of our sales are
examples, with good proportion, absentee,” Jeffers said.
architectural form and surface.
And they did well. The prices on A fabulous folk art carved stag
day one tell the story, with good head drove the form to another
prices for high quality.” level, Jeffers said. From the
Upper Peninsula of Michigan,
For example, an American cor- the third quarter Nineteenth
ner cupboard, first half of the Century wall mounted head
Nineteenth Century, offered with its original polychrome
early in the day, sold for $4,125, paint and real antlers still
above its $1,5/2,200 estimate for sporting some hide, came up
a poplar cupboard with its origi- with a $600/900 estimate; the
nal red paint exterior and blue 32-inch-high head sold to a col-
interior. It featured 12 panes on lector at $3,060.
top and a base with inset mold-
ed panels and scroll cutout feet Then a wonderful American
with spurs; standing 87½ inches decorated gameboard found in
high (7 feet 3½ inches), “there is New England sold above its
just so much value for buyers $3,000 high estimate at $4,680.
who are willing to look,” Jeffers The late Nineteenth Century
said. single board checkerboard had
original paint with flourishes on
An early Nineteenth Century the edges.
pine New England cupboard
also sold overestimate. The flat- Weathervanes are the quintes-
wall cupboard, 80 inches high sential example of folk art, and
with a door-over-drawer-over- there were several in the New
door arrangement and original York gentleman’s collection. A
painted yellow surface had large (27 inches high) copper
shelves inside and an overall quill weathervane, late Nine-
worn but attractive surface. teenth Century, with a verdigris
Coming to the block with a patina, sold at just about its
$900-$1,200 estimate, it sold on high estimate at $3,360; and
the phone at $3,360. another late Nineteenth Centu-
ry vane, a full-bodied copper
Leading the two-day auction cow with a cast zinc and iron
was the first lot to cross the head, 23 inches high and 35
block: a Schoharie County, N.Y., inches long (including the base),
decorated blanket chest with by Harris & Co., Boston, sold
impeccable provenance that within estimate at $5,040.
“retained its bright blue painted
field with seven-color decoration A copper apothecary mortar
of flowers that reached up into and pestle trade sign with origi-
the trim decoration, unusual,” nal sizing under the original
Jeffers said. Estimated at gold leaf, purchased in Vermont,
$4/6,000, the late Eighteenth or sold at $3,600. A rare large size
early Nineteenth Century dove- from the second-half of the
tailed case with square nails, Nineteenth Century, the sign is
19½ inches high by 42¼ inches 21 inches high.
wide by 17½-inch-deep chest (ex
Peter Tillou) sold to an East Rounding out the top lots of
Coast dealer for $7,800. day one were a Connecticut
apothecary, first half Nine-
Folk art was also strong teenth Century, that brought
throughout the sale. A circa $5,750. The one-piece pine, open
1810 unsigned Ohio portrait of top apothecary in its original
a man in an original red frame red painted surface had 36
with corner blocks was of a well- dovetailed drawers and prove-
nance to John Keith Russel

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

A circa 1800 American Chippendale spice cabinet was This Harris & Co., Boston, late Nineteenth Century full-
something of a sleeper on day two. The walnut with poplar bodied copper cow with cast zinc and iron head weather-
and ash secondary cabinet was estimated at $600/900 but vane sold within estimate at $5,040.
sold at $2,160.

A powder horn attributed to Timothy Tansel (Indiana, 1810- Selling at $3,375, this Hep- (New York). A circa 1730-40 was not the biggest collector, but
1852), showed a large engraved eagle with American shield plewhite inlaid tall case Massachusetts tavern table in they both had a passion for folk
and banner and partial image of a hunter shooting deer, clock had been sold by maple had an old surface and art and textiles that made them
with the date 1821 scratched/carved. The 13-inch long horn Garth’s in 1990 to a collector molded apron on Queen Anne smile. The collection was put
sold for $2,640. who decided to sell it after ball feet. With early nails pres- together, Jeffers said, with love,
American engraved powder horn with “James Smith, 30 years. Another collector ent on top, it went to $4,200; an for rarity and color — if the item
August 1, 1816” and an eagle with shield, fish, trees, dogs, bought the Western Penn- early wall cupboard with Shak- was not “perfect” that was okay.
whale, whaling ship and initialed “J.M.” in rectangle, sold sylvania early Nineteenth er attribution sold at $3,720; a This collecting attitude
for $2,000. Century cherry clock with a New Jersey cupboard, from appealed to bidders who
painted iron face and inlaid Hackensack, late Eighteenth or responded with enthusiasm.
medallions, inlaid diamond early Nineteenth Century, a
and turned finial. two-piece corner cupboard with Fine art, not all from the
arched door, double inset panel Washington sisters’ collection,
Garth’s doors, carved shells and star was offered during the second
bursts sold at $4,200 for an day. A late Nineteenth Century
attractive grain-painted yellow oil on canvas after Emanuel
over the original red. Leutze (Germany/New York
City/Washington, D.C., 1816-
Selling at $5,880 — a good buy 1868), of “Washington Crossing
said Jeffers — was an Eigh- The Delaware,” realized $4,800.
teenth Century Long Island, The unsigned but well-done
N.Y., gumwood kas with a red early copy after the 1851 origi-
wash and ebonized feet. The nal version in the Metropolitan
dovetailed case with original Museum of Art showed some
feet was constructed with roseh- restoration. Two works by Penn-
ead nails and was ex Philip sylvania artist Walter Emerson
Bradley (Pennsylvania). Baum (1884-1956) crossed the
block. The cover lot was sold on
On Sunday, the collection of day one — a Pennsylvania win-
two Washington, DC, sisters had ter scene of Green Street, Sell-
lots with a slightly different ersville, Penn., was signed and
focus. The one surviving sister

A late Nineteenth Century American quill weathervane A rare large size copper apothecary mortar An English silk on linen sampler, estimated
made of copper with verdigris patina sold for $3,360. and pestle trade sign with original sizing at $400/800, sold at $2,750 with its alphabet
under the original gold leaf, purchased in in a pyramid, verse, birds and “Eliza
Vermont, realized $3,600. Gravner, Aged 12 years, Halvergate School”
adding to its charm.

Friendship quilt from the Swank and Black families of This American crazy quilt, pieced with ani- The Washington, DC, sisters collected what
Somerset, Penn., dated 1891, had a pattern with a house, mals and birds of assorted fabric, including they loved, and bandboxes were high on the
tulips, geometric shapes and the names Black, J.A. Ditmer, silk and mohair, with several of them list. Collecting large boxes with scarce dec-
initials and others embroidered in the 62-by-70-inch quilt. stuffed, proved popular and realized double orations, this second-quarter Nineteenth
Estimated at $400/800, it sold for $3,240. its high estimate at $2,400. Century oval cardboard box certainly quali-
fied. At 18 inches long and with block print-
ed wallpaper of white squirrels on blue
background, the interior was lined with an
1831 newspaper mentioning Wilmington.
Estimated at $600/900, it sold for $1,875.


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