BOSTON, Mass – www.skinnerinc.com – Skinner, one of the nation’s leading auction houses, will host an auction of American furniture and decorative arts on Sunday, June 8, 2008 at 11 a.m. in its Boston gallery. The sale will feature well over 500 lots of material from American craftsman and artists.
Paintings and portraitures
A number of impressive works grace the sale including a French School, 18th century portrait of the Marquis De LaFayette (lot 18, est. $6/8,000) that had previously been on exhibit at the Fogg Museum of Art; an American School, 19th century fanciful interpretation of the Battle of Bunker Hill (lot 20, est. $20/30,000); Portrait of a Sea Captain (lot 218, est. $10/15,000) attributed to George G. Hartwell, one of the Prior-Hamblin group of painters; and an American School, 19th century Action at Sea Between USS Kearsarge and CSS Alabama (lot 224, est. $15/20,000) – representing one of Civil War’s most memorable naval actions in which the Kearsarge was victorious.
Another feature of the sale is a lot of four profile portraits of the Phillips family: Israel Phillips (1771-1844), brother-in-law of the artist; his wife Mercy Bascom Phillips (1774-1853), sister of the artist’s husband (Ezekiel Lysander Bascom), their son Simon Cady Phillips (1819-1906), nephew of the artist, and his wife Rossy Sofia Ballard Phillips (1818-1875) by Ruth Henshaw Bascom (lot 62, est. $30/50,000). The artist was related by marriage to Mercy Bascom Phillips. The portraits descended through the family of the sitters.
Timepieces
Keeping in Skinner tradition, several incredible timepieces will be offered. Highlighted in the sale is a Elnathan Taber federal mahogany tall clock (lot 37, est. $30/50,000), circa 1795; a B.D.Bingham, Nashua, NH, mahogany patent timepiece or “Banjo Clock” (lot 157, est. $3/5,000); and a “Don’t Give Up the Ship” navel battle enamel decorated silver pocket watch (lot 16, est. $4/6,000), London, 1803.
Shelf clocks in a variety of shapes and sizes will go on the block on the 8th, with one of the featured items a mahogany patent alarm timepiece or “Lighthouse” clock (lot 131, est. $75/100,000) from Simon Willard & Sons, Boston. Other mantel pieces include an Orsamus R. Fyler mahogany triple decker shelf clock (lot 209, est. $8/1,200); an Eli Terry, Jr. & Co. mahogany shelf clock (lot 210, est. $2/4,000), of which this rare group of early brass manufactured clocks is discussed in Roberts and Taylor’s Eli Terry and the Connecticut Shelf Clock; and a Brewster & Ingraham rosewood veneered ogee “Gothic” shelf clock (lot 211, est. $6/800).
Additional shelf clocks likely to draw significant interest include a Birge & Fuller twin candlestick wagon spring shelf clock (lot 212, est. $2/4,000); a mahogany double steeple fusee shelf clock (lot 213, est. $5/800); a J.C. Brown ripple-front beehive shelf clock (lot 214, est. $2/3,000) and an Atkins rosewood mantel clock (lot 215, est. $2,5/3,500).
Furniture
The sale features several pieces attributed to John and Thomas Seymour of Boston. Of particular note is a federal carved mahogany and bird’s-eye maple inlaid sideboard (lot 126, est. 15/25,000), provenance of Celia Thaxter of Kittery, Maine as seen in her 1883 watercolor titled Madame Champernownes Parlor. Other Seymour pieces being offered include a federal carved mahogany and satinwood inlaid card table (lot 127, est. $1/1,500); a federal inlaid jewelry box (lot 128, est. $3/5,000); and a federal mahogany inlaid commode chest (lot 129, est. $8/12,000).
Other highlighted furnishings include a Chippendale mahogany dining table, (lot 38, est. $20/40,000) and a pair of maple carved side chairs (lot 41, est. $6/8,000), descended from the family of Governor Bull.
Other Decorative Arts
More than 30 lots of redware jars, cups, dishes, bowls and jugs will be up for bid. Lots 74 through 108 have estimates ranging from $200 on the low end to $5,000 at the high. Additional decorative arts highlights include a Bennington stoneware crock with cobalt blue stag (lot 400, est. $10/15,000); a turned covered ash burlwood bowl (lot 59, est. $15/25,000); two 18th century wool and linen canvaswork pockets (lot 25, est. $8/12,000); and an engraved New York map powder horn (lot 249, est. $20/30,000).
Silver pieces of note include an Edward Winslow trencher salt (lot 43, est. $25/35,000) engraved “SM” for Sarah Middlecott of Boston; a coin porringer (lot 44, est. $3/5,000) attributed to John Burt; a pair of sugar scissors (lot 45, est. $3/5,000) by Jacob Hurd; and a Peter, Ann, and William Bateman teapot from 1802 (lot 47, est. $1,5/2,500).
Two painted boxes are expected to draw significant interest: one, a rare painted and decorated white pine and maple storage box (lot 117, est. $50/75,000) from the 18th century, which is one of a small group of interrelated objects that share exuberant geometric polychrome decoration and origins in the Connecticut River Valley; the other an academy-painted slide-lid pencil box (lot 124, est. $6/8,000) attributed to Roxana Stratton Washburn of Vermont.
Rounding out the decorative arts offerings are several carvings of American eagles including a carved and painted pine American eagle wall plaque (lot 219, est. $30/50,000) attributed to John Haley Bellamy; a plaster sculpture mold “American Eagle” (lot 220, est. $3/5,000) by Paul Wayland Bartlett; a carved and gilded wooden eagle plaque (lot 221, est. $8/1,200); and a gilt and polychrome painted carved wooden American eagle and shield (lot 222, est. $7/900).
Previews and Special Event
Previews for the auction will be held Wednesday, June 4th from 12pm-5pm, Thursday, June 5th from 12pm-8pm, Friday, June 6th from 12pm-8pm, Saturday, June 7th from 12pm-5pm and Sunday, June 8th from 8am-10am.
Catalog Information
Illustrated catalogue #2412 is available by mail for $32 ($39 for foreign requests) from the subscription department at 978-779-6241 x240. It is also available at the gallery for $29. Prices realized will be available at www.skinnerinc.com during and after the sales. For more information on the auctions, auction preview times, and the gallery walk, visit Skinner’s website at www.skinnerinc.com. Skinner’s site also allows users to view all lots in the auctions, leave bids, and order catalogs online.
For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com