| Press Contact: | Stephen Fletcher, Director | Catherine Riedel, Director |
| American Furniture & | Marketing & Public Relations | |
| Decorative Arts | Skinner, Inc | |
|
978-779-6241 ext. 228 |
978-779-6241 ext. 231 |
RECORD-BREAKING AMERICANA AUCTION AT SKINNER
Japanned High Chest Of Drawers Sells for Record $1,876,000
BOSTON, Mass. - November 12, 2004 – www.skinnerinc.com - Hundreds of people packed Skinner's Boston gallery for its fall auction of American Furniture and Decorative Arts on November 8. The auction proved to be the house's most successful sale to date, grossing $4,363,324, and setting a world record price for japanned furniture, as a rare Queen Anne high chest of drawers brought $1,876,000 (lot 230). The bid was also the highest ever paid for a piece of American furniture in New England, surpassing Skinner's previous record price of $1,766,000, set in November 2003 by a Chippendale mahogany carved scroll-top bombé chest-on-chest. The japanned high chest was only the fifth such piece known to have been preserved in such untouched condition, and only the second high chest known to have been signed by Robert Davis, a well-known Boston japanner from the first half of the eighteenth century. The chest was found in an old Massachusetts industrial city, in an unoccupied farmhouse, which had been in the same family for generations. "It was remarkably well-preserved, in "as found" condition with no restoration. In thirty-five years, we've never seen anything to rival it," remarked department director Stephen Fletcher and specialist Martha Hamilton. Fletcher went on to note, "The consignor told me that a man had knocked on the door annually for years, repeatedly offering her $200 for the piece. She's glad she turned him down."
Furniture
Auction highlights featured other offerings descended in families, and fresh to the market. This group of discoveries also included a New York Chippendale carved mahogany bureau table (lot 116), found in a New Hampshire home. New York bureau tables of this type are very scarce; less than ten are known to exist. "It was a very desirable form that ultilized fine craftsmanship and dense mahogany," said Fletcher. The bureau table realized $171,000. Matching this price was a Chippendale carved mahogany Newport, Rhode Island dining table attributed to John Goddard (lot 127). This rare large table, made circa 1760-1775, directly descended in the family from shipbuilder and merchant Jerathmael Bowers from Somerset, Massachusetts. A marked different Shaker cherry ministry dining table with arched base from the Harvard, Massachusetts community (lot 72) sold for $64,625.
Portraiture
Crowning the selection of portraiture in the sale was a striking full-length portrait of Webster Tucker deaccessionaed from a Massachusetts educational institution, attributed to Deacon Robert Peckham in 1844 (lot 167), that sold to a dealer in the room for $182,000. Peckham had studied under Ethan Allen Greenwood, but soon far exceeded and surpassed his teacher's abilities. "This portrait is beautifully executed, especially with regard to the shading and highly developed facial features of the young man.
A miniature portrait of Stephen Decatur, Jr. (lot 112) by William Russell Birch also caused intense competition. The bust-length enamel on copper portrait depicting Decatur in brilliant colors was executed in 1807, and bore the artist's label on the reverse of the frame. During the exhibition it was discovered that the painting also was signed, initialed close to the edge of the portrait, not visible in its frame. The discovery created considerable excitement late in the exhibition period, which carried over to the auction. The portrait sold far above previous expectations for $88,125.
Clocks
A rare and important neoclassical cast-brass and mercury gilded mantel clock (lot 126) captured the attention of a host of telephone bidders shortly afterwards. The clock incorporated a standing uniformed figure of George Washington on a brass base with neoclassical motifs and the words, "WASHINGTON First in WAR, first in PEACE, First in the HEARTS of his COUNTRYMEN." Fletcher recalled overhearing a comment during preview hours that "this is the example against which all others must be compared." It truly was an extraordinary piece, beautifully cast, and in superior condition. It was sold accompanied by its original glass dome, under which it had been kept, undisturbed for decades. "It is without question the finest example of this type I've ever seen," remarked Fletcher. It sold, following intense competition, for $314,000, a new record price.
Other selections included a Federal mahogany inlaid shelf timepiece bearing the signature "Joshua Wilder, Hingham" on the white painted and gilded iron dial (lot 131) that brought $99,500. "Wilder shelf clocks are very rare, and this example was in an extraordinary state of preservation," said Fletcher. Clocks also included a Federal mahogany inlaid tall case clock by John Bailey, Jr., of Hanover, Massachusetts (lot 132) that realized $30,550, a Federal mahogany inlaid tall case clock signed "Walter Cornell, Newport" (lot 134) that sold for $22,325, and a fancy painted pine tall case clock by Luman W. Watson of Cincinnati, Ohio, the antithesis of more formal clocks, reached $21,150.
Additional Highlights
The diversity of additional highlights demonstrates the breadth and depth of the auction. These included a significant selection of painted country furniture, led by a set of six painted bow-back Windsor chairs (lot 60) that garnered $19,975, a fancy painted pine tall case clock by Seth Thomas (lot 57) that sold for $15,275, and an early 19th century paint decorated and grained pine chest over drawers (lot 43) that brought $9,400. Chinese export offerings featured a late 18th century hunting punchbowl (lot 117) that sold for $11,750, and a 19th century Chinese School View of the Praya Grande from the North, Macao, circa 1850 (lot 125) that reached $35,250. Needlework included a remarkable sampler, "Malvinia I. Huggins Aged 19 Yrs Cornish August 28 AD 1818" (lot 65) that drew stiff competition from all quarters. The work was in perfect condition, having been kept folded in a bureau drawer for decades, and sold well above estimate for $17,625. Rounding out the selections, a carved life-size kingfisher with perch by A. Elmer Crowell (lot 3) reached $17,625, a partial Etruscan Revival pottery dinner service (lot 141) sold for $14,100, a pair of late 19th century Italian bronze patinated classical figures (lot 332) realized $13,513, a sailor-made ivory and bone yarn swift with a wood case (lot 309) brought $10,575, and a wrought iron and brass adjustable floor candlestand (lot 425) fetched $9,400.
Upcoming Auction Information
Skinner is currently accepting consignments for its next auction of American Furniture and Decorative Arts, which will be held in Boston in February 2005. Prices realized at the November 7th auction are available at www.skinnerinc.com. For more information, visit www.skinnerinc.com. Skinner's site also allows users to view all lots in the auctions, leave bids, and order catalogues online.
Note to Editors: Photos available upon request. Contact Catherine Riedel at 978-779-6241 x 231.
About Skinner:With galleries in Boston and Bolton, Mass., Skinner is a full-service auctioneer and appraiser of antiques and fine art. Regularly seen on the PBS series, Antiques Roadshow, Skinner is one of the nation’s leading auction houses. Skinner conducts auctions year-round and has received world-record prices for many pieces sold at auction. Departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, Paintings & Prints, English & Continental Furniture & Decorations, Fine Ceramics, Jewelry, Couture, 20th Century Furniture & Decorative Arts, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Art, Fine Judaica, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Science & Technology, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographica, and Discovery. For more information on upcoming auctions, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.