SKINNER AMERICANA AUCTION SETS NEW WORLD RECORD
FOR ANTONIO JACOBSEN PAINTING
Ship Portrait of the DREADNOUGHT Sold for
And the Folk Art Collection of Barbara and Edwin Charles Braman
Key lots include: 4, 49, 58, 59, 81, 104, 105, 106, 107, 109, 111, 112, 113, 114, 141, 155, 228, 313, 343
BOSTON, Mass. - February 19, 2006
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www.skinnerinc.com - Skinner, one of the nation's leading auction houses for antiques and fine art, set a new world record for an Antonio Jacobsen painting in its auction of American furniture and decorative arts on Sunday, February 19, 2006. The painting, Fetching the Mark, attributed to Jacobsen, sold to a bidder in the room for $281,000. It was the top lot in a sale that achieved just shy of its high estimate and grossed over $2 million.
Said Stephen Fletcher, director of American Furniture & Decorative Arts, "The interest in this painting was tremendous. But I'm not surprised--it was a remarkable work and the best painting by Jacobsen that I've ever seen."
I'm very pleased with the 19th century American marine paintings is
The folk art collection of Barbara and Edwin Charles Braman of Minneapolis, was another highlight of the sale and a diverse and interesting selection of 18th and early 19th century furniture, among other highlights.
Attributed to Jacobsen
Of particular interest to aficionados of
The Folk Art Collection of Barbara and Edwin Charles Braman
When Minnesota native Barbara Braman first saw a collection of Pennsylvania furniture and fraktur at the age of 12, she knew that she wanted to surround herself with American folk art. She married her husband, Edwin, in 1952. In 1966, the couple visited the American Folk Art Museum in New York City, where they learned of dealer Robert Bishop, who eventually became the director of the museum. Over the years they bought a sizable portion of their collection from Bishop. Finding the Americana that they loved whole living in Minnesota proved difficult, so Barbara and Edwin annually attended the Winter Antiques Show in New York. "We were the first in line with our noses pressed to the glass," laughed Barbara, remembering her buying days. They bought from top dealers, including Gerald Kornblau, Patty Gagarin, George Schoelkopf, and American Hurrah. "We bought something only if we both loved it," said Barbara. "Collecting was something we did together." Sadly, Edwin passed away in December 2004, and Barbara feels it is "time to pass it along." The collection has been widely written about in publications such as House Beautiful, Country Living, and American Country: FOLK ART, published by Time-Life books. Some of the pieces have been exhibited at Williamsburg's Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, St. Louis Art Museum, and the Museum of American Folk Art. The collection in its entirety also comprised an exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
an early 19th century painted fireboard, depicting a Federal farmhouse with two smoking chimneys, a white split-rail fence and tree-lined road, with distant hills (lot 104,
a Double Portrait of Asa and Susannah Caverly, attributed to Joseph H. Davis lot 105 In Folk Art's Many Faces, by Paul S. D'Ambrosio and Charlotte M. Eman, New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York, p. 63, the latter painting was one of six attributed to Davis depicting Caverly family relatives from New Hampshire.
Also attributed to Davis is the Portrait of Lydia Ann Tasker (lot 106, $10/15,000). Additional highlights include Portraits of a Lady and a Gentleman, attributed to Jacob Maentel (lot 107, $12/18,000).
Furniture
A mahogany slant-front desk, made by John Townsend of Newport, Rhode Island, c. 1780, and bearing his label (lot 49, $20/30,000); and a Massachusetts mahogany carved blockfront slant-front desk (lot 196, $20/30,000).
Earlier pieces include a William and Mary diminutive painted maple gate-leg table (lot 259, $12/15,000), and
a New England William and Mary walnut and pine slant-lid desk (lot 257, $8/10,000). From the Queen Anne period, the sale features a cherry dressing table, possibly from western Massachusetts (lot 313, $15/20,000);
a Massachusetts maple high chest of drawers (lot 383, $8/12,000); and a tiger maple chest-on-chest on frame, probably from New Hampshire (lot 33, $10/15,000).
Additional highlights include a classical New York mahogany carved and mahogany veneer brass-inlaid work table, possibly by Michael Allison or Duncan Phyfe (lot 199, $12/15,000);
a classical mahogany carved sofa, attributed to Samuel Field McIntire of Salem, Massachusetts (lot 198, $10/15,000); and a classical dressing table, attributed to Anthony Quervelle of Philadelphia (lot 227, $7/9,000). Rounding out the offerings is a selection of Federal pieces, including a New England mahogany inlaid sofa (lot 61, $4/6,000)
a New York mahogany and mahogany veneer inlaid sideboard (lot 82, $4/6,000).
Clocks include a Federal mahogany and mahogany veneer tall case clock by Joakim Hill of Flemington, New Jersey, c. 1810-15 (lot 66, $4/6,000).
Portraiture and Paintings
Portrait of an Elegantly Dressed Lady attributed to Erastus Salisbury Field (lot 81, $12/16,000). Also included are
a Pair of Portraits of Two Children and Portrait of a Girl Holding a White Rose (lots 109 and 110, $8/12,000 and $6/8,000), both attributed to James Sanford Ellsworth; and a 19th century American School Schoolgirl Portrait of Her Seminary and Grounds (lot 108, $8/12,000).
Also included is the Nathaniel Currier View of San Francisco, California. Taken from Telegraph Hill, April 1850 by Wm. B. McMurtrie, Draughtsman of the U.S. Surveying Expedition, 1851 (lot 228, $8/12,000)
the collection of the late Dr. Arthur Localio of Deerfield, Massachusetts.
a late 18th/early 19th century pen and ink sketchbook of New England and Newport, Rhode Island, scenes, attributed to Joseph Harris of Nantucket, Massachusetts (lot 59, $4/6,000)
19th century American School The Great Providence, Rhode Island, Hurricane of 1815 (lot 58, $3/5,000).
Decorative Arts
a cast zinc and molded copper "Index" Horse weather vane, attributed to J. Howard & Co. of West Bridgewater, Mass., c. 1860 (lot 111, $30/50,000)
a molded copper horse and rider weather vane, possibly by A. L. Jewell of Waltham, Mass. (lot 112, $10/15,000)
a late 19th century molded copper cow weather vane, a flattened full-body cow figure with copper horns, ears, and tail (lot 113, $10/15,000).
Decorative arts also include an early 19th century painted dome-top pine box with red, yellow and green flower sprig borders and the initials "L.L.C." on the front (lot 101, $4/6,000), an early 19th century polychrome painted box depicting a meetinghouse in Charlestown, Mass. (lot 11, $3/4,000)
a large selection of wallpaper-covered bandboxes,
Also offered is a lot of thirty-eight assorted presentation pieces of coin, sterling, and silver plate relating to John Chase, c. 1846, descended in the family of the consignor (lot 29, $3/5,000),
a walnut carved and painted folk art chair, attributed to Henry Leach (1809-1885), probably made in Massachusetts in the third quarter of the 19th century (lot 97, $10/15,000).
Previews and Special Event
Previews for the auction will be 12 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, February 15th and Thursday, February 16th, 12 to 8 p.m. Friday, February 17th, 12 to 5 p.m. Saturday, February 18th, and 8 to 10 a.m. Sunday, February 19th. On Friday, February 17th, there will be a gallery walk at 6:30 p.m., featuring Stephen Fletcher and Martha Hamilton, who will discuss highlights of the upcoming auction. Reservations are limited for the event, which will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. All those interested in attending should R.S.V.P. to 617-350-5400.
Catalogue Information
Illustrated catalogue #2308 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 catalogues online.
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About Skinner
Skinner, Inc. is one of the nation's leading auction houses for antiques and fine art and the only major auction house headquartered in New England. With expertise in over 20 specialty collecting areas, Skinner draws the interest of buyers from all over the world and its auctions regularly achieve world record prices. Skinner provides a broad range of auction and appraisal services, and it is widely regarded as one of the most trusted names in the auction business. Skinner's appraisal experts regularly appear on the PBS-TV series, Antiques Roadshow, and its specialty 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 & Ethnographic Art, and Discovery. Skinner galleries are located in Boston and Bolton, Mass. For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner's web site
www.skinnerinc.com.
