Freeman’s, Philadelphia
Photos courtesy Freeman’s
Auction houses were busy this summer cataloging material from estates, downsizings, museum deaccessions, and stock from dealers closing their doors. These end-of-the-season sales cleaned the bins, making room for higher-end sales held in the fall and winter, and kept the staff busy in the summer.
Freeman’s “Collect: American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts” auction on August 18 offered property consigned by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Illinois that was acquired for use in the Greek Revival Clarke-Ford House built in 1836. It is Chicago’s oldest house. It was built by Henry Brown Clarke, a New Yorker who came to Chicago with his wife, Caroline Palmer Clarke, and established a hardware business.
The house was cared for in the 1970s by Bishop Louis Henry Ford and his wife, Margaret, and renamed the Clarke-Ford House in 2022. It is operated as a historic house museum by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the state of Illinois, which provides the period furnishings. Following a recent reinterpretation of the site, some gifts and purchases made long ago were deaccessioned, consigned to Freeman’s for sale, and shipped to Philadelphia.
Some furniture in the sale came from the collection of Michael and Patricia Corbett of The Federalist Antiques, Kenilworth, Illinois. After 54 years in business, the Corbetts closed The Federalist, and the furniture was included in the sale that took place in Philadelphia, but the furniture stayed in Chicago for the preview.
Most of the Benjamin Franklin portraits in the sale came from the collection of Jay Snider, who sold highlights from his large Benjamin Franklin collection at Sotheby’s in June (see pp. 58-60). The rest will be offered in a book catalog by James Cummins.
Consignments from other estates, collections, and institutions were cataloged by Freeman’s specialists Ben Fisher, Lynda Cain, and Andrew Taggart for the online sale, which was held without any in-person bidding or live-streaming. Viewing was by appointment at Freeman’s Girard Avenue warehouse in Philadelphia, where reports were being prepared and posted online during the final days before the sale. The 20 or so people who came to preview could pick up an illustrated catalog listing. The online-only sale was offered on three bidding platforms, and there was some phone bidding. When the word “room” occasionally appeared on the screen, it indicated the bid was made on behalf of the reserve.
Of the 375 lots offered, 263 lots sold for a total hammer of $234,325, for a 70% sell-through rate.
Sand art bottle by Andrew Clemens (1857-1894) of McGregor, Iowa, inscribed “Grandma,” 5¾" high, sold to a collector on the phone for $38,400 (est. $30,000/50,000).
Marble bust of George Washington, 23½" high, attributed to Horatio Greenough (1805-1852), sold for $12,160 (est. $8000/12,000). Greenough is known for creating the 12-ton marble statue of George Washington in a toga, modeled after a 5th-century B.C. statue of Zeus, to commemorate the centennial of Washington’s birth in 1832. The 12-ton statue is now at the Smithsonian and is often called “GW after a shower.” Greenough busts of Washington are found in museum collections.
An Andrew Clemens (1857-1894) sand art bottle, made in McGregor, Iowa, with the word “Grandma” in red and blue sand, sold for its reserve, which came to $38,400 (est. $30,000/50,000) with buyer’s premium. It was the top lot of the sale. A marble bust of George Washington, 23½" high, attributed to Horatio Greenough (1805-1852), sold for $12,160 (est. $8000/12,000). Sixteen hand-colored engravings by Alexander Lawson (c. 1773-1846) and John G. Warnicke (d. 1818), after Alexander Wilson (1766-1813), sold for $10,880 (est. $3000/5000). No other lot topped $10,000.
For more information, contact Freeman’s at (215) 563-9275 or check the website (www.freemansauction.com).
This brass and etched glass solar lamp by Cornelius & Co. (1838-51), Philadelphia, circa 1849, mounted on a marble base, with label reading “Cornelius & Co., Philad. / July 24th, 1849, Patent. / April 1st. 1843,” the shade etched with Gothic motifs, 20¼" high x 8½" diameter, consigned by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the state of Illinois, sold for $384 (est. $500/800).
The wallpaper-covered fireboard depicting the “Robert Fulton in Rough Waters,” circa 1850, 33½" x 45 5/8", purchased from Frank and Barbara Pollack of Highland Park, Illinois, in 1986 for the Clarke-Ford House and deaccessioned by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the state of Illinois, sold for $1280 (est. $2000/3000).
Classical carved rosewood armchair, circa 1835, on brass casters, 43½" x 30" x 24", sold for $1408 (est. $500/800). In need of reupholstering, the armchair will become an inviting addition to someone’s parlor.
This Sèvres bisque porcelain bust of Benjamin Franklin, second half of the 19th century, after the Franklin bust by Jean-Jacques Caffieri (French, 1725-1792), marked “D.80.4 SEVRES,” the base with red Sèvres stamp, 13" high, from the collection of Jay Snider, sold on Invaluable for $1920 (est. $1000/1200).
Two 19th-century carved and figured maple scoops, Northeastern Woodlands, one with a handle in the form of a snake with copper-studded eyes, a ring around its neck, inlays, and small copper rivets, 12" long, sold for $960 (est. $1500/2500). It was part of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the state of Illinois consignment.
This pair of Classical veneered mahogany and upholstered settees, 1840-50, each 32" x 40", covered in horsehair, once part of the Metcalfe family collection of “Ravenna” in Natchez, Mississippi, consigned by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the state of Illinois, sold for $1024 (est. $1000/2000).
This set of 16 hand-colored engravings of various birds, published 1808-14, by Alexander Lawson (c. 1773-1846) and John G. Warnicke (d. 1818), after Alexander Wilson (1766-1813), sold for $10,880 (est. $3000/5000).
This rare Rockingham-glazed earthenware two-piece flower pot/urn, United States Pottery Co. (1852-58), Bennington, Vermont, 1849-58, the upper section with a hole for drainage, the lower section with a basin for water, 13¼" high x 10" (overall diameter), used in the Clarke-Ford House, sold for $512 (est. $800/1200).
By tradition this late Federal two-part carved mahogany dining table is attributed to Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854) of New York City. With one leaf and brass clips and 29" x 55" x 79" (without leaf), its provenance includes a New York estate, dealers Ginsburg and Levy, and a New Jersey collection. It is illustrated in Nancy McClelland’s Duncan Phyfe and the English Regency, 1795-1830 (1939). It sold for $2560 (est. $1000/2000), which seems like a bargain.
This reverse-painted glass silhouette profile portrait of George Washington, dated “1797,” 4½" x 3 5/8" (panel), from the collection of Jay Snider, sold for $1792 (est. $600/800). Images of Washington have a ready market.
This southern Classical mahogany bed, said to have been made by Green & Brothers, Alexandria, Virginia, 1835-40, 47" x 72 1/8" x 79¼", deaccessioned by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, sold for $768 (est. $800/1200).
Jean-Baptiste Nini (Italian, 1717-1786), terra-cotta portrait medallion of Benjamin Franklin wearing a fur hat, signed and dated “Nini / F 1777” and dated again “1777,” with legend “B. FRANKLIN AMERICAIN,” medallion 45/8" diameter, in a 7" diameter frame, from the collection of Jay Snider, sold for $3200 (est. $3000/5000).
This silhouette profile portrait of William Russell Birch (1755-1834), an enamel painter, engraver, etcher, and father of artists Thomas and George Birch, attributed to Peale’s Museum of Philadelphia, 4¾" x 3¾" (sight size), from the collection of Ron Hoffman and Tony Gampetro, sold for $448 (est. $400/600). A typed note on back reads “William Russell Birch / Enamel Painter/ Cut at Peale’s Museum Philada. and given to / me by his grandson George R. Birch in 1870. / C. H. Hart. / From the original inscription on the back of / a frame containing the advertisement of G. Sauter / Picture Frames, 217 S. 11th Street, Philadelphia, / in the handwriting of Charles Henry Hart. / Removed from the back by J.H.M. in 1926 / for the purpose of preservation,” and signed in ink “J. H. Morgan.” Charles Henry Hart (1847-1918) was an attorney, art historian, and academic.
This woven wool ingrain carpet, circa 1840, 128" x 108", purchased from David Dunton of Woodbury, Connecticut, in 1987 for use in the Clarke-Ford House, sold for $1152 (est. $1500/2500). Period floor coverings are hard to find.
This printed glazed cotton Philadelphia Centennial Exposition pennant inscribed “1776 / Centennial / 1876,” 16¾" x 22¾", by descent in the family of consignor, sold for $2880 (est. $800/1200).
Sailor’s valentine, probably Barbados, 19th century, 8 5/8" x 8¾" (when closed), housed in a hinged double-sided octagonal case, with a variety of shells in a design of flowers, heart, and concentric circles, inscribed “With Love,” accompanied by a copy of Sailors’ Valentines (2002) by John Fondas, sold for $4480 (est. $1500/2500).
This Chippendale maple tall chest of drawers, New England, late 18th century, 59" x 39½" x 19¾", from the Patricia and Michael Corbett collection in Illinois, sold for $1088 (est. $1000/1500).
This 38-star hand-sewn American flag commemorating Colorado statehood in 1876, 1877-89, stitched with cotton stars on wool stripes, 69" x 137½", sold for $3200 (est. $300/500).
Found-object birdhouse, from a New Jersey collection of 20th-century Outsider art sculptures, painted wood, sheet iron, saw blades, cast-iron and miscellaneous fittings, 13" tall (without hanging device) x 12" diameter x 5" depth, sold for $704 (est. $800/1200). Not shown, an alligator trade sign reading “Boats 4 Hire,” by the same maker and from the same collection, sold for $1792 (est. $1000/2000).
American school 19th-century portrait of a lady, circa 1830, oil on canvas, 26¼" x 23", from the collection of Patricia and Michael Corbett, Kenilworth, Illinois, sold for $1920 (est. $800/1200).
This Federal mahogany pillar-and-scroll shelf clock by Eli Terry Jr. & Co., Terryville, Connecticut, circa 1820, with a broken-arch pediment surmounted by three wood finials, a painted wood face, the door with an églomisé panel depicting a riverside house, flanked by two turned colonnettes, over a shaped apron with bracket feet, the interior retaining the original label, 30" x 16¾" x 4½", sold for $1024 (est. $400/600).
Pair of southern Chippendale mahogany side chairs, Eastern Shore, Maryland, 1760-80, each with a shaped crest with scrolled ears, pierced vasiform splat, and slip seat on square legs with carved brackets and H-form stretchers, 38" x 19½" x 19", sold on LiveAuctioneers for $2048 (est. $300/500). Southern furniture brings a premium.
Presidential porcelain water pitcher associated with President Chester A. Arthur (1829-1886), 1881-85, with molded and gilt-accented ivy motifs, each side bearing the Great Seal of the United States, 10" x 7" x 6" sold for $1216 (est. $1000/2000). It is the only one known. It previously sold at auctions at Sotheby Parke Bernet in 1973 for $350, then at Butterfield and Butterfield on November 4, 1992, and at the sale of the collection of Paul and Gladys Richards at Collector’s Sales and Service, Middletown, Rhode Island, in March 1994. It was exhibited at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 1952.
This Federal mahogany barrel-back easy chair, circa 1810, 38" x 28" x 27", property of a mid-Atlantic institution, sold for $2048 (est. $1500/2500). Chairs with a presence are not overlooked, even if they need expensive upholstery.
This large painted wood purple martin house, “Hotel Vogelzang / 1906,” 33" x 51" x 22½", old for $1280 (est. $2000/3000).
Originally published in the November 2026 issue of Maine Antique Digest. © 2026 Maine Antique Digest
