Sotheby Americana Folk Art Furniture Chippendale '2004'

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Title: Sotheby's Important Americana  

Auction held in: New York

Sale Date:  1/15 - 16 & 18/04

No. of Lots: 675

No. of Pages: 388

Condition:  Excellent

Sotheby's January 2004 sales of Americana, including furniture, folk art, silver and other decorations brought a total of $13,575,920. The four-day series of sales had been estimated to bring $8.1/12.4 million. Highlighting the series was a Philadelphia mahogany tall case clock that set an auction record when it sold for $803,200.

"We are delighted with the results achieved over the past several days," commented Andrew Holter, Director of Sotheby's American Furniture Department. "The strong prices seen this season are a very good indication of the strength of the Americana market, and there was a healthy mix of private and trade buying."

In the final minutes of the last session of Americana sales, a bidding battle ensued for an important Chippendale carved and figured mahogany tall case clock, with musical works, a dial inscribed Paul Rimbault, London, and carving attributed to Nicholas Bernard and Martin Jugiez, Philadelphia, circa 1775. When it finally sold to a private collector for $803,200, well over the presale estimate of $400/600,000, it set a new auction record for an American clock at auction.

There were many other examples of American furniture achieving strong prices, including a Chippendale carved and figured mahogany games table, New York, circa 1765 which sold for $388,800 (est. $100/150,000), and a Chippendale carved cherrywood side chair, Philadelphia, circa 1770 that brought $153,600 (est. $50/100,000).

Selling for a remarkable price was a fine carved and painted pine cigar store Indian, attributed to Melchers, Detroit, late 19th century that brought $153,600 (est. $30/50,000).

The sale of Americana from various owners also offered collectors an outstanding array of American silver, highlighted by a silver sugar bowl and cover, Paul Revere, Jr., Boston, circa 1762. This outstanding example of Revere's rococo style attracted numerous bidders finally selling for $232,000, nearly twice the $120,000 high estimate. Also impressive was a silver and mixed-metal "Japanese Style" centerpiece, Tiffany & Co. New York, circa 1880. This piece, probably from the Collection of Mary Jane Morgan, one of Tiffany & Co.'s most enthusiastic and important patrons, sold for $159,200 (est. $70/90,000). Kevin Tierney, head of Sotheby's Silver Department, commented "We saw a tremendous response for the best examples from the 18th century to the late 19th century - from Revere to Tiffany. Overall, this was a very nice sale with collectors eager to acquire works of great quality."

The section of American Folk Art from various owners also saw strong results, totaling $1,966,900. Highlighting the session was Ralph Fasanella's vision of New York City from 1956/57. Consigned by a friend of the artist and the work's only owner, the painting sold for $366,400, above a high estimate of $150,000. The sale also featured a fine and rare carved and painted pine American eagle by Wilhelm Schimmel from the Collection of George and Florence Dittmar which more than tripled its high estimate of $30,000 to sell for $108,000.

The Egan Collection totaled $1,157,240, surpassing a high estimate of $818,000. Highlighting the sale was the painting of Virginia Ada Wright, circa 1840, by M. W. Hopkins, which was the subject of a battle between two bidders, finally selling to the original bidder for $232,000, against a high estimate of $80,000. William Kennedy's Little Girl and Her Black Cat was also sought-after, bringing $164,800, more than three times the high estimate of $50,000. A rare and unusual obelisk barber pole and trade sign from the shop of Charles Behm, Cazenovia, New York, circa 1890 was an additional highlight, soaring past a high estimate of $10,000 to sell for $45,000.

Nancy Druckman, Director of Sotheby's American Folk Art Department, said, "I am very pleased with the results of Friday's sales of American Folk Art from The Egan Collection and from various owners, which together totaled more than $3.1 million. As seen with works like Hopkins' portrait of Virginia Ada Wright from the Egan Collection, and Fasanella's view of New York City, consigned by another owner, property which was fresh to the market, in good condition and in appealing forms brought outstanding prices from enthusiastic bidders."

In an overflowing salesroom Saturday morning, collectors competed for American furniture and decorations from the outstanding Collection of Alice and Murray Braunfeld. The sale brought a total of $3,710,600, over a presale estimate of $2.3/3.5 million.

Highlighting the offering was a superb Chippendale carved cherrywood serpentine-front chest of drawers, Connecticut River Valley, Massachusetts, circa 1800 that brought an impressive $377,600, far surpassing the $80/120,000 estimate. Also attracting numerous bidders was a lovely pair of Federal carved and satinwood-inlaid mahogany side chairs, attributed to John and Thomas Seymour, Boston, circa 1805 that brought $142,400 (est. $60/90,000), and a set of four 19th century Chinese School paintings which sold for $102,000, well above the $8/12,000 estimate. Credit: Sotheby's Press.

SOME EXAMPLES FROM THE CATALOG: A PAIR OF CHINESE EXPORT FAMILLE VERTE ECUELLES AND COVERS 1720 ($2,000-3,000); TWO CHINESE EXPORT POWDER BLUE AND FAMILLE VERTE PUNCH BOWLS 1700 ($5,000-7,000); A CHINESE EXPORT BLUE AND WHITE MONTEITH ($8,000-12,000); A FINE EXPORT AND LARGE CHINESE EXPORT HUNTING BOWL 1785 ($8,000-12,000); A MASSIVE CANTON ROSE MEDALLION PUNCH BOWL 19TH C. ($3,000-4,000); W.H. BARTLETT " A COLLECTION OF NEW YORK VIEWS" ($3,000-4,000); CURRIER & IVES "AMERICAN HUNTING SCENE" ($4,000-5,000); AND MUCH MORE

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