Auction News Network

Colonial Chair May Exceed $1m

What makes a chair worth $1m? It doesn’t hurt if it’s a colonial rarity, like the Chippendale “easy” wing chair that’s the highlight of Sotheby’s Americana sale in New York later this week. Carved in Philadelphia circa 1775, in the style of Nicolas Bernard, it’s finely ornamented with front cabriole legs with acanthus-carved knees and claw feet. At the time of their crafting, these chairs were produced for only the wealthiest Americans. That’s a pattern that’s unlikely to change with its estimate of $800,000-$1.2m.

Rare Colonial Cabinet Leads Americana Sale

Back in 2005, the Metropolitan Museum in New York held an exhibition of the work of John Townsend, one of the highest regarded Colonial cabinetmakers. Just a few blocks away, in the townhouse of a family that had owned it since around 1770 but no longer had any sense of its value or provenance, sat one of Townsend’s rarest pieces. It was a four-shell kneehole Chippendale bureau table, discovered a visit last fall by Christie’s John Hays. One of only seven examples known to exist, it’s expected to sell for $700,000 -$900,000 at Christie’s Americana sale later this month in New York.

Upwards of $900,000 Expected For Chippendale Chair

There are chairs, and then there are chairs. A case in point: a Chippendale carved mahogany easy chair that dates from 1760-1765, for which Christie’s is expecting as much as $900,000 at its American Furniture auction on September 24^thin New York.The mastry of its carver, an anonymous craftsman known as “Garvan,” is what gives this chair its unusual value. The seller doesn’t hurt either. It’s being consigned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art to benefit its acquisitions fund.

Distinguished McCue Shaker Furniture Collection Will Be Sold

From the late 18^th to the mid-19^th centuries, the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing or the Shakers, as they were better known, attracted as many as 20,000 to their monastic, celibate way of life. These days, they’re more likely to be known for the stern simplicity and beauty of the furniture they created.  Next month in Marshfield, Massachusetts, Willis Henry Auctions will offer a particularly distinguished collection of their work, assembled over some 50 years by the McCue family. The sale’s star is likely to be a trestle table, dating from 1820-1840, that’s expected to sell for $70,000-$90,000.

$3.55m For Townsend Chest

John Townsend, the celebrated 18th Century New England cabinetmaker, was not much more than a lad when he crafted his “masterwork” high chest of drawers that sold at Sotheby’s Americana Sale in New York for $3.55m. The piece had been in the family that commissioned it for the past 255 years. Townsend liked it so much he signed and dated it two times, (1756) and added his maker’s mark five times.

Silver Cups From Salem Witch Trial Judge

Not quite a decade after the notorious Salem Witch trials of 1692, the judge who presided commissioned a pair of silver standing cups, made in 1701 by the goldsmith Jeremiah Dummer of Boston. That judge was Governor William Stoughton of Massachusetts, whose cups will be a highlight at Sotheby’s Americana sale on January 20-21^st in New York. They’re expected to sell for $1m-$2m.

Millions Expected For Ott Furniture Collection

Few collectors were as knowledgeable about American antiques, and in particular the distinguished 18^th century furniture makers of Rhode Island, than Joseph K. Ott. During his lifetime he and his wife assembled an extraordinary collection, which Christie’s will auction on January 20^th in New York. A standout is likely to be a Captain Anthony Low Queen Anne mahogany marble slab table built by John Goddard (1724-1785), estimated at $2m-$3m.

Noted Thoroughbred Breeder’s Collection

The late Edward P. (Ned) Evans was a racehorse breeder of some renown. His 3,000 acre Spring Hill Farm is the largest breeding farm in Virginia, and it was also home to his collection of 19^th and 20^th century paintings as well as English and American furniture, silver, ceramics and decorative works of art. Sotheby’s will sell that collection on September 29^th in New York, where the highlight is expected to be a rare mahogany Chippendale games table circa 1770, estimated at $60,000-90,000.

Tony Curtis Estate Heads To Block

Tony Curtis acted in over 100 films, but he’ll always be best known for his hot streak in the late 1950’s and early 60’s, when he established his chops in both drama (“Sweet Smell of Success” and “The Defiant Ones”) and comedy (the classic “Some Like It Hot”). Along the way Curtis, who died last September, was also a serious painter. On September 17 Beverly Hills-based Julien’s will sell his art collection and memorabilia, including the iconic yachtman’s jacket he wore in his kissing scene with Marilyn Monroe in “Some Like It Hot.” It’s estimated at $10,000-$15,000.

Keno Offers Winslow Homer & Americana

Americana specialist Leigh Keno, of Antiques Roadshow fame, launched his Keno Auctions with a sale last May. On January 18th,  he’ll stage another in New York, offering a mix of paintings, American furniture, decorative arts, silver, and items of Americana. Two highlights are an 1880 watercolor, “Five Boys at the Shore,” by Winslow Homer (est.$350-$450,000), and a number of sketches by Andrew Wyeth.

Update: the Winslow Homer sold for $340,000, just under the low estimate. A William and Mary veneered high chest of drawers scored a $260,000 sale, more than twice its high estimate, but a “monumental” Federal mahogany dining table, estimated at $60-$90,000, failed to find a buyer.

Keno Launches Auction House

As a regular on Antiques Roadshow, Leigh Keno is, along with his twin brother Leslie, well established in the collecting world as an expert in antiques and furniture. Earlier this week he launched another enterprise, Keno Auctions, with an inaugural sale of furniture and art that took in just under $6 million.

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