Stories for May '22
(Fragment)“Lincoln Pass” Leads to Lawsuit, Appeal, and Award
In May 2019 dealer Richard Thorner of Manchester, New Hampshire, was in Pennsylvania for a wedding when he got a call from his friend Bob Lucas, a dealer who was set up at the Forks of the Delaware Historical Arms Society show in Allentown, Pennsylvania, commonly called the “Gun Show.” ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)American Silver Collection Goes to Harvard
The Harvard Art Museums announced the gift of 21 works of 18th-century American silver from the collection of Daniel A. Pollack and Susan F. Pollack. The gift of cups, bowls, spoons, tankards, and teapots by noted silversmiths from Boston, New York, and Philadelphia includes a caudle cup made by Edward ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Maine Antiques Festival—“The Union Show”—Canceled
The 2022 Maine Antiques Festival in Union, Maine, has been canceled. Commonly called “the Union Show,” it was scheduled for August 12 and 13.
According to Paul Davis, promoter and owner of the show, he needed 90 dealers to verbally commit to the show by March 1. Only 36 dealers did ... (Read More)
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(Issue Story)Auction Prices Realized, May 2022
Here are a few notable prices of antiques sold recently at auction, as provided by press releases. All prices include the buyer’s premium when charged. We’re always looking for news of prices realized at auctions, particularly unusual or top lots. Send pictures, complete descriptions, and information to A.P.R., Maine Antique ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Taradash Joins Marion Antique Auctions
Nicholas Taradash has joined Marion Antiques Auction of Marion, Massachusetts, as a junior partner, according to co-owners Frank McNamee and C. David Glynn.
Taradash majored in history at Northern Vermont University, graduating in 2014. He then began working in the curatorial department of the New Bedford Whaling Museum. After two and ... (Read More)
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(Issue Story)Endowed by Their Owner
Beneath the Surface
You would not know we are antiques dealers by the state of our house. Or maybe you would. We seem to be accumulating household additions as fast as we accumulate inventory. Things sneak in around the edges: a “new” stoneware crock on top of a shelf, another glass ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Use of Tax ID Number Leads to Felony Charge
On February 16 a criminal complaint was filed against dealer Gary Wayne Clearwater, 70, of Dauphin, Pennsylvania. The charge was retail theft—under-ring, a felony.
According to an affidavit, Pennsylvania State Trooper Logan Spiece was dispatched to the Silver Moon Consignment Barn in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. A dealer in the shop said he ... (Read More)
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(Issue Story)Letter from London, May 2022
Once again a mix of both London and provincial sales fills this month’s “Letter”—and a very mixed bag it really is!
The most heavily illustrated piece features a selection of Lalique scent bottles that brought the sweet smell of success to a Scottish saleroom. Sold in London, a Japanese Great Wave ... (Read More)
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(Issue Story)Editorial, May 2022
What’s Old is What’s New Again
In these days of super-connectivity, it’s good to remember the old ways of marketing antiques still work.
Ruby Lane (www.rubylane.com), the e-commerce website established in 1998 by Tom Johnson, a high-level computer programmer, recently held an old-fashioned marketing event: a 30% off, 96-hour “Red Tag” sale, ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Auction Houses to Pay Restitution for Shill Bidding
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced the resolution of a December 2020 lawsuit filed against Phoenix auction companies Auction Nation, LLC, and its owners Brian Long and Gabriel Prado; and Auction Yard, LLC, and its owner William Russell. They will pay a total of $260,000 in restitution to customers as ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Martha Willoughby to Be Next Editor of American Furniture
Martha Willoughby, whose scholarly essays on American furniture in Christie’s auction catalogs in the last quarter century have been as informative as the articles in the Chipstone Foundation’s annual American Furniture journal, has been named to succeed Luke Beckerdite as editor of the journal.
Since 1993 Beckerdite has edited American Furniture, ... (Read More)
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(Issue Story)Court to Settle Dispute over du Pont Promised Gifts
“It really was a TV table,” said one person familiar with the collection of William “Bill” Kemble du Pont.
The “TV table” refers to the Richardson family William and Mary walnut dressing table, circa 1735, that was estimated at $8000/12,000 at Sotheby’s. The differing nomenclature is a big factor in an ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)New Executive Director of Wright’s Ferry Mansion
James Archer Abbott became the new executive director of the Wright’s Ferry Mansion, Columbia, Pennsylvania, February 1.
Abbott is a graduate of Vassar College (B.A.) and the State University of New York Museum Studies Program through the Fashion Institute of Technology (M.A.). Most recently he served as the executive director and ... (Read More)
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(Issue Story)Hanging with Laura Doyle
It’s a family affair at Doyle. Upon entering the East 87th Street gallery in New York City, one is greeted with “Welcome to Doyle.” The family-owned auction house, celebrating its 60th year, is under the leadership of Laura Doyle, who became chief executive officer in 2019. The auction house was ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Barber Joins Doyle
Chris Barber has joined Doyle in New York City as a vice president and director of American furniture and decorative arts.
Since 2004 Barber has worked in the American furniture and decorative arts department at Skinner, Inc., in Boston, first as cataloger and specialist and then since 2012 as deputy director. ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Wayne County, Pennsylvania, Art and Antique Show Returns
The 58th annual Wayne County Art and Antique Show and Sale will return after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. The July 9 and 10 show, to be held at the Wayne Highlands Middle School in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, is produced by the Women’s Club of Honesdale.
The show will feature artworks ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Bonhams Acquires Skinner, Inc.
While rumors of the sale of Skinner, Inc., have persisted for some time, it was confirmed March 16 by announcements from both auction houses that Bonhams has acquired the auction house. The company will be known as Bonhams Skinner, part of Bonhams America. Financial terms have not been disclosed.
Skinner was ... (Read More)
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(Issue Story)Exhibitions, May 2022
Delphin Enjolras (1857-1945), Nu Allongé, pastel on paper, 1918.
—Through May 28 —New Orleans, Louisiana
Au Naturel: The Art of the Female Form at M.S. Rau explores the subject of the female form in fine art. The exhibit features paintings and sculpture by masters such as Jan Brueghel the Younger, Guillaume Seignac, ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Gold Daniel Morgan Medal Brings $960,000
The only Daniel Morgan at Cowpens medal known in gold—the sole gold example struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1839—sold for $960,000 (includes buyer’s premium) April 4 at a sale conducted by Stack’s Bowers Galleries in Costa Mesa, California. The estimate was $250,000/500,000. The winning bidder remains anonymous. The underbidder ... (Read More)
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(Show)The Found Object Show: Art without Intent
A new show in a pop-up gallery on Rivington Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side took place over the weekend of March 24-27. The Found Object Show: Art without Intent was put together by Adam Irish of Old as Adam, Providence, Rhode Island, and New Yorkers Steven S. Powers and ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Americana at Brunk Auctions
Brunk Auctions, Asheville, North Carolina
Photos courtesy Brunk Auctions
“Americana is having a good moment,” said Brunk Auctions’ American art specialist Nan Zander a week before the two-day “Premier” sale. On March 26, the sale’s second day, Asheville, North Carolina, was Americana central, and its good moment experienced a growth spurt.
Images of ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Flea Market Find Brings $38,400
Casco Bay Auctions, Freeport, Maine
Photos courtesy Casco Bay Auctions
Casco Bay Auctions held a 491-lot Americana sale in Freeport, Maine, on March 12. According to auctioneer Andrew Davis, the total was $152,900. Approximately 25% of that total was for one lot: volume 1 of The Pennsylvania Magazine: Or, American Monthly Museum, ... (Read More)
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(Issue Story)Online Jewelry Auctions Popular with Buyers
Antique Jewelry & Gemology
Photos courtesy Skinner
Skinner’s first fine jewelry online auction of the year was held from February 26 through March 8, and the presale announcement on its website beckoned to us: “Spring is coming, and what better way to brighten up your wardrobe than with something that sparkles? The auction ... (Read More)
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(Show)The 2022 Outsider Art Fair
New York City
The Outsider Art Fair (OAF), now in its 30th edition and the tenth under the tutelage of Andrew Edlin’s Wide Open Arts, roared back to Manhattan’s Metropolitan Pavilion March 3-6. Its return to a live event after two years was eagerly anticipated by collectors and dealers alike.
After three ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Americana Shows Its Strength
Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, Mt. Crawford, Virginia
Photos courtesy Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates
Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates conducted its winter Americana auction in four sessions, March 2-5, at the firm’s gallery in Mt. Crawford, Virginia. Over 2400 lots were offered during the four sessions. Every conceivable category of Americana ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Decoys and More Sold at Copley
Copley Fine Art Auctions, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Photos courtesy Copley Fine Art Auctions
Copley Fine Art Auctions livestreamed its winter sale from Plymouth, Massachusetts, March 4 and 5. Fine collections migrated to other collections, and new records were set.
As befits the master, the first 26 lots on day one were devoted to decoys ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Sale of Smitty Axtell’s Collection
Skinner, Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts
Photos courtesy Skinner
When Richard Smith “Smitty” Axtell of Deposit, New York, died last spring, he left behind mourners across the antiques community and a fine selection of favored Americana objects. Those lots, a little shy of 400, found welcomes from new owners at Skinner’s online auction in ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Warhol Tops Thomaston Auction
Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, Thomaston, Maine
Photos courtesy Thomaston Place Auction Galleries
On February 25-27, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries staged a 1330-lot three-day sale in Thomaston, Maine. The sale covered plenty of categories and totaled approximately $1.8 million.
Andy Warhol (1929-1987), Campbell’s Soup I (Tomato), 1968, serigraph on paper, signed on the reverse ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Winter Marine Sale
Eldred’s, East Dennis, Massachusetts
Photos courtesy Eldred’s
Maritime art of a great variety was on offer at Eldred’s February 24 auction in its East Dennis, Massachusetts, gallery. Scrimshaw, whaling irons, prisoner-of-war objects, instruments, and paintings from collections were fresh to the market and well received. Of the 60 lots of scrimshaw, a ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Design, Art, and Furniture Sales
Toomey & Co., Oak Park, Illinois
Photos courtesy Toomey & Co.
We’ll say this about Toomey & Co.: within the past several years the Oak Park, Illinois-based auction house has experimented with sales held in enough differing configurations of dates that heads were spinning. Not that they were caroming all over the ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Wyoming Art Auction Brings Nearly $1.3 Million
Jackson Hole Art Auction, Jackson, Wyoming
Photos courtesy Jackson Hole Art Auction
Online-only auctions continue to impress. Just ask Kevin Doyle, Jackson Hole Art Auction’s new managing director and partner. Doyle, who joined the business in November 2021, was impressed but not surprised that the second annual Wyoming Art Auction, held February ... (Read More)
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(Show)Successful at Every Level
The Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville, Nashville, Tennessee
After a year on pandemic pause, the Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville returned February 11-13 to the Music City Center at the heart of this vibrant city, and the crowds came back determined to buy. This is an event that is ... (Read More)
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(Show)The Columbus Bottle Show
Columbus, Ohio
After having to cancel last year’s event because of the pandemic, the Columbus (Ohio) Bottle Show was back with its 51st annual outing on February 13. Held by the Central Ohio Bottle Club, the event featured 59 tables and drew a crowd of about 200.
Dealers featured a wide-ranging mix of ... (Read More)
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(Auction)$4.26 Million Sale of Lincolniana
Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas
Photos courtesy Heritage Auctions
More than 150 years after his death, Abraham Lincoln remains one of the most beloved and admired presidents in U.S. history. Memorabilia from his life and presidency continues to be highly coveted among collectors and history lovers, who are willing to pay extraordinary prices ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Vintage Posters
Potter & Potter Auctions, Chicago, Illinois
Photos courtesy Potter & Potter Auctions
With 825 lots to sell on January 29, Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago had something to offer many of the myriad subsets of poster collectors: propaganda, women designers, travel (especially Air India, with destinations such as Australia and New ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Ducks and Dragons Brighten a Winter Day
Leland Little Auctions, Hillsborough, North Carolina
Photos courtesy Leland Little Auctions
During a 2007 televised memorial to movie critic Joel Siegel (1943-2007), ABC TV news anchor Charles Gibson said, “With all his intelligence and with all his sophistication, he [Joel] was a young boy at heart.... He collected antique toys, which was ... (Read More)
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(Auction)The Sayman Collection Sold
Stair Galleries, Hudson, New York
Photos courtesy Stair Galleries
Dr. Wynn A. Sayman (1926-2015) and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth F. Sayman (1929-2021), were doctors who collected English 18th-century pottery and porcelain. In 1980 Wynn retired as chief surgeon at Berkshire Medical Center, and they founded Wynn A. Sayman Antiques and soon were ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Decorative Arts Auction
Treadway Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio
Photos courtesy Treadway Gallery
The online-only decorative arts auction held on January 16 by Treadway Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio, was one of those events where the biggest surprise might have been the lack of surprises. Nothing sold stratospherically high. Nothing was dragging in the dirt. And having prices fall ... (Read More)
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