Regency Ormolu Nine-light Figural Centerpiece, London, early 19th century (Lot 359, Estimate $8,000-$12,000)
Two-day Auction Spotlights Superb Collections of Early English Oak, Wedgwood, Fine Silver, and More
BOSTON, MA – June 26, 2015 – Skinner, Inc. announces an outstanding two-day auction of European Furniture & Decorative Arts, taking place July 18th and 19th in Boston. Twelve-hundred lots, distributed evenly over the two days, showcase a wide range of fine furniture, ceramics, bronze works, sculpture, silver, glassware, and more, with many examples hailing from significant private and museum collections.
Session I: July 18th, 2015 at 10AM
The Sara and Bob Hunt Collection of Early English Oak
Session I includes The Sara and Bob Hunt Collection of Early English Oak, featuring more than 60 lots of fine oak furniture and objects dating to the 16th century. The Massachusetts couple’s passion for collecting led them to acquire such important pieces as a magnificent late 16th/early 17th century Elizabethan oak withdrawing table (Lot 12, estimated between $10,000 and $20,000), which was illustrated in Fiske & Freeman’s, Living with Early Oak: Seventeenth-Century English Furniture Then and Now. The collection also includes such impressive and intricately-detailed pieces an inlaid oak court cupboard (Lot 13, $6,000 to $8,000), an oak court cupboard (Lot 193, $2,000 to $4,000) and an oak paneled settle (Lot 14, $3,000 to $5,000), all crafted in 17th century England.
Decorative Arts
Aubusson Chinoiserie Tapestry, France, late 18th century (Lot 552, Estimate $8,000-$10,000)
An excellent assortment of bronze works is a further draw in Session I, highlighted by a beautiful grouping of table service pieces, once owned by George IV: a Regency ormolu nine-light figural centerpiece, made by Rundell, Bridge & Rundell (1751-1843) (Lot 359, $8,000 to $12,000) and a seven-piece Empire ormolu surtout de table, Paris, in the manner of Pierre-Philippe Thomire (Lot 364, $10,000 to $20,000). Bronze sculpture up for auction includes the heroic Arab Falconer, after Pierre-Jules Mêne (Lot 322, $10,000 to $15,000).
Impressive marble works are exemplified by a Victorian marble lion garden table, late 19th century, once owned by Giraud Foster, of the famed Berkshire estate Bellefontaine (Lot 163, $8,000 to $12,000), and a 19th century Italian carved marble chair (Lot 207, $3,000 to $5,000)
Two exquisite examples of Meissen porcelain are also being offered: a large Meissen Elements ewer “Water,” depicting a fleet of ships and sea creatures, with Nereid and Neptune in a shell-form chariot drawn by Hippocampi, after 18th century models by Johann Kändler (Lot 136, $4,000 to $6,000) and “Air”, depicting the figure of Juno with a peacock and Zephyr (Lot 137, $4,000-6,000).
Glass offerings include several lots of stained glass panels attributed to the Doig-Bernadini Studios in New York City, a well-known supplier of furnishings for Catholic, Protestant and Jewish houses of worship from the late 19th through 20th centuries (Lots 144,145, 365, 366, 389, 444, and 475, estimates between $300 to $500 and $2,000 to $4,000). Also available are 60 lots of American cut glass, in a variety of designs.
Skinner also affords the opportunity to celebrate vintage travel style with a suite of Louis Vuitton luggage (Lots 507 to 510, 589 to 592, various estimates).
Session II: July 19th, 2015 at 10AM
Jeweled Coalport Porcelain Perfume Bottle and Cover (Lot 943, Estimate $1,500-$2,500)
Fine Ceramics
Session II, beginning on Sunday, July 19th, is replete with ceramic works from highly sought-after English, Dutch and German makers. Wedgwood is well-represented, with a strong grouping of Fairyland Lustre (Lot 866 to 879, various estimates), in addition to a major collection arriving from the Saint Louis Art Museum, to benefit then institution’s acquisition fund. A rare offering of 60 lots of late 19th century jeweled Coalport porcelain shines, as well (Lots 940 to 999, various estimates).
Skinner will also offer a wide variety of Dutch Delftware, encompassing chargers, dishes, and vases – among them, a wonderful blue and white five-piece garniture (Lot 897, $800 to $1,200).
Fine Silver
A robust section of over 200 lots of American, English and Continental silver rounds out Session II. Leading an extensive offering of American silver are examples from Gorham, Whiting and Tiffany & Co. – including a Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Aesthetic Movement Pitcher, 1873-91 (Lot 1117, $2,000 to $3,000) – as well as a selection of Kirk repousse-decorated hollowware. For the sporting enthusiast, a sterling silver-mounted engraved metal horseshoe commemorating a Seabiscuit win in Massachusetts, 1937, will also be on the block (Lot 1139, $2,000 to $4,000).
An important highlight in this section is a William IV Sterling Silver Entree Dish, retailed by Rundell, Bridge, & Co., as part of King William IV and Queen Adelaide’s royal dinner service and bearing the monogram of both monarchs (Lot 1022, $4,000 to $6,000).
Silver from the Continent includes a desirable Danish Champagne pattern flatware service from the mid-20th century (Lot 1066, $4,000 to $6,000). From Norway, circa 1896, an extensive David Andersen sterling silver and cloisonné-enameled tea and coffee service delights with its beautiful blue and white decoration (Lot 1047, $3,000 to $5,000). Russian enameled silver is highlighted by a Fabergé .916 silver-gilt and cloisonné enameled Kovsh, which depicts a stylized dragon’s head (Lot 1077, $5,000 to $7,000). A six-piece .800 silver tea service from Vienna, circa 1890, stands out among a selection of Austrian silver on offer (Lot 1044, $5,000 to $7,000).
Previews, Catalog, Events, and Bidding
Previews will be held on Thursday, July 16th, from noon to 5 P.M., Friday, July 17th from noon to 8 P.M., and Saturday July 18th, from noon to 5 P.M.
Illustrated catalogs are available from the Subscriptions Department, at 508-970-3240, or from the Gallery. Prices realized will be available online, at www.skinnerinc.com, both during and after the sale. The Skinner website enables users to view every lot in the auctions, leave bids, order catalogs and bid live, in real-time, through SkinnerLive!
About Skinner
Skinner auctions draw international interest from buyers and consignors alike, with material regularly achieving record prices. The company’s auction and appraisal services focus on fine art, jewelry, furniture, and decorative arts from around the globe, as well as wine, fine musical instruments, rare books, Asian art, clocks, Judaica, and more. Monthly Skinner Discovery auctions feature a breadth of estate material. Widely regarded as one of the most trusted names in the business, Skinner appraisers have appeared on the PBS-TV series, Antiques Roadshow, since the show’s inception. Skinner has galleries in Boston and Marlborough, Massachusetts, as well as in New York City and Miami, Florida, with bidders participating in person, by phone, and online. Join auctions live with SkinnerLive! and Bidsquare. For more information and to read our blog, visit the website at www.skinnerinc.com, find us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
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Contact Us
Stuart Slavid
Director of European Furniture & Decorative Arts
508-970-3203
european@skinnerinc.com