Record Breaking Americana Weekend at Skinner
Bolton, MA - Unprecedented success defined the August 12 and 13 Americana auction at Skinner in the form of an all-time high gross of $3,037,727.50, with highlights including a Chippendale cherry molded and carved bird cage tea table which brought a record $409,500 and a crown great chair that sold for $68,500. The sale generated a great deal of interest beforehand, much of which was focused on property from the collection of well-known and respected dealer Paul Weld, who passed away earlier this year, and his wife Margaret.
The Philadelphia tea table highlighted a very strong selection of furniture in Saturday's auction. Other notable offerings included a rare Queen Anne scrolled-top veneered high chest with family descent from renowned collector Hollis French that sold well above expectations for $57,500. Also from the French collection was a rare Federal mahogany inlaid tambour writing desk and bookcase, sold for $34,500, which French had purchased from the widow of eminent Boston collector Eugene Bolles. An early 19th century blue painted pine cupboard sold for $34,500, and a Federal mahogany with bird's eye maple and crossbanded rosewood veneer sideboard attributed to the workshop of Thomas Seymour, with family descent from Boston merchant Thomas Adams, realized $31,050. Additional highlights included a Classical Revival rosewood and gilt Grecian stenciled couch selling for $18,400, a Chester County, Pennsylvania Chippendale walnut glazed corner cupboard for $14,950, and an 18th century painted and turned side chair for $13,800. An early 19th century paint decorated pine apothecary cupboard and a Queen Anne walnut drop-leaf tea table sold for $10,925 each.
Marine portraiture in the auction featured two works by Antonio Jacobsen, Portrait of the Steam-Screw "Yorktown" and Portrait of the Eastern Steamship Corporation Ferry Boat "Bunker Hill," that brought $16,100 and $10,350 respectively; and a 19th century American School Portrait of the Three-Masted Ship "Swallow" that fetched $10,350. Paintings also featured a mid-19th century American School oil on canvas Winter Scene that soared beyond a modest estimate of $3,5/5,500 to sell for $24,150. Also selling high were a copper and zinc rooster weather vane attributed to Howard & Co. of West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, that realized $18,400 and a 19th century carved and painted wooden horse weather vane that reached $11,500. A Federal giltwood mirror sold for $12,650 and a painted Charles Looff carousel horse for $10,350.
The Perfect Sale
Sunday's auction was dedicated entirely to the Paul and Margaret Weld Collection, a selection of folk art collected throughout the couple's 70-year marriage. This portion of the auction was particularly remarkable for several reasons: much of the collection had not been seen on the market for decades, the condition of the objects was in most cases pristine, many of the forms were rare and unusual. These factors, coupled with the strength of today's folk art market and the provenance of the collection, led to the rare occurrence of a perfect sale where all lots sold, and the total for the day more than tripled all expectations at $1,669,616. Bidding came from all quarters, and was enthusiastic to the end.
In addition to the crown great chair, highlights from the collection included an early 18th century pine blue painted box, possibly from Acton, Massachusetts that sold well above estimate at $40,250, and an early 19th century red and green painted splint basket that garnered $29,900. Midway through the auction, an early 19th century New England painted pine and cherry glazed candle lantern came on the block, introduced by department director and auctioneer Stephen Fletcher as "the best I've ever seen." Others agreed, as the piece sold for an impressive $25,300.
The sale offered an exceptionally fine group of painted furniture. Leading the selection were the crown great chair that sold on the telephone after intense competition for $68,500, and a Delaware Valley maple armchair, c. 1770, that reached $33,350. Additional highlights included an early 18th century pine chest over drawers that sold for $27,600, a small red pine cabinet that went for $24,150, and a late 18th century maple tavern table that fetched $19,550. An 18th century small pine slant back cupboard sold for $18,400. Additional highlights included a late 18th century pine six-board chest selling for $17,250, a mid-18th century pine chest of drawers for $16,100, and an early 19th century paint decorated six-board chest for $13,800. Highlights in unpainted furniture included a maple chest over two drawers from the first half of the 18th century, an early 18th century oak and cherry joined chest of drawers, and a mid-18th century pine cupboard that each sold for $18,400.
Two Prior-Hamblin School portraits dominated the artwork in the collection. Portrait of a Child Dressed in Red Holding a Horn and Portrait of a Child Dressed in Orange Holding a Hoop sold for $48,875 and $40,250 respectively. Other offerings included a 19th century American School "Wall - Street. Kingston" that sold for $34,500. The quality and breadth of the collection was evident from other highlights in the sale as well. Selected pieces included a late 19th century painted wooden trade sign, "CASH STORE," that sold far above any expectations for $17,250, a burlwood sugar bowl with dome lid, c. 1800, that sold for the same amount, and a 19th century slip decorated Redware bottle that brought $16,100. A late 17th century oak and pine box and a late 18th century pieced and quilted linsey woolsey coverlet sold for $14,950 each. Weather vanes included a late 19th century ram flattened body molded copper weathervane that realized $13,800, and a late 19th century Colonel Patchen molded copper horse weathervane that reached $8,625. An early 20th century carved and polychrome painted wooden pecking toy sold for $12,650, and a chalkware cat for $10,350.
Skinner's next auction of Americana will be held October 28 and 29 and will feature the estate of Malcolm S. Burroughs, as well as other selected furniture and decorative arts. Highlights will include an extraordinary group of Currier & Ives prints, superb marine art, Historic Blue Staffordshire, Liverpool Creamware, and clocks. For further information, call the Americana Department at 978.779.6241, fax 978.779.5144.