Freeman's Celebrates 200 Years With A Solid And Stylish Sale

PHILADELPHIA, PENN.

: With a steeped history of conducting important and record-setting auctions over the past two centuries, one might think that it would be hard to top the landmark sales witnessed throughout the history of Freeman's auction house. Yet the hallowed firm of Samuel T. Freeman & Co., under the leadership of Samuel "Beau" Freeman and his two sons, Samuel and Jonathan, has just concluded what must surely be considered one of its finest moments.

Marking 200 years in business, Freeman's, the nation's oldest auction house, conducted four consecutive days of eye-opening auctions during which reputations were honed and records toppled. The auction began on Saturday, November 19, with The Bicentennial Pennsylvania Sale that started with 100-plus lots of important Books, Manuscripts, Atlases and Prints, and then proceeded with 300 lots of stellar Pennsylvania Americana. The sale continued on Sunday with a selection of Modern including a private New Hope collection of furniture by legendary Pennsylvania maker George Nakashima, and then continued that day with an additional 400 lots of Americana.

The real action, however, came as the auction proceeded into days three and four, Monday and Tuesday, November 21 and 22, as the esteemed collection of Pennsylvania materials from the estate of Esther H. Ludwig was offered. During the final session of the auction, Freeman's not only established a record price for a paint decorated Pennsylvania box, but it also set a high water mark for the most expensive piece ever sold by the auction house.

The shining moment came early on Tuesday morning as the second session of the Ludwig estate began. Offered as the fifth lot in the morning session, the rare candlebox with slide top had attracted the attention of folk art enthusiasts nationally. Freeman's had estimated the lot at a mere $8/12,000, yet as soon as the auction catalogs got into the hands of collectors and dealers, the excitement began mounting. Pictured in a group shot with four other paint decorated boxes, the rare piece stuck out like a sore thumb.

"It jumped right off the page," commented one dealer at preview who was scrutinizing the vividly painted and incised decorated box. Painted in a wonderful blue ground with large red and white stylized tulips centered on the front and flanked by stylized potted tulips on each side, the box was also decorated with small folky chickens beneath the tulips and was further painted with crisp paisley corners. The decoration on the top of the box began at one end with a colorful half-round hex-type motif that widened and extended all the way to the far side ending in a rainbow type form.

Everyone that attended the auction took the time to look the rare box over and it single-handedly created the most excitement of the sale, from the moment preview opened to the time the last item was sold.

The rare box had a sketchy history as it appeared and disappeared from the eyes of collectors and the trade. It had been publicly seen for the first time in 1925 when an article by Esther Stevens Fraiser appeared in The Magazine Antiques. It was illustrated in the Index of American Design and was also published in Jean Lipman and Alice Winchester's book The Flowering of American Folk Art. It then quietly disappeared, apparently back into the Ludwig collection where it is thought to have remained for the past 70 years.

Patrick Bell of Olde Hope Antiques was one of the 14 phone bidders lined up to do battle and after previewing the box he declared it the most "incredible painted box that I have ever set my hands on; it is just a unique piece," he said. Notwithstanding his enthusiasm, Bell never got to execute a single bid despite having strong six-figure interest that peaked at "half-a-million."

Auctioneer Beau Freeman had barely gotten up to speed as lot five crossed the auction block, however, when he asked for an opening bid of $20,000 and it came immediately from an anxious buyer in the room, he was off to the races. Four bidders in the gallery expressed serious interest in the lot and the piece bounced back and forth between a couple of the phone bidders and the room all the way to the $200,000 mark where it became all telephone action. Moving methodically in $10,000 increments, the price continued to escalate. Each time the advancing price wounded one of the soldiers on the phone enough to make them surrender, another brave phone bidder stepped forward. The price continued to advance in $10,000 increments as it escalated to a stunning selling price of $744,825, including premium, establishing records all along the way.

"The market spoke," commented the jubilant successful bidder David Schorsch when contacted at his Woodbury, Conn., shop moments after the hammer for the rare box. "It is the best box that has ever surfaced, it is the best box that has ever been sold," commented Schorsch. "If you had a short list of the top two or three American folk art boxes, this would make the list." The dealer remarked that the box could easily be compared with the "Strawberry box from the Met and some of the boxes in Ralph Esmerian 's collection."

"The quality of this object speaks for itself, the history is impeccable," stated Schorsch. "It is the kind of quality, that when it comes out, we just don't know what the monetary value is. It really didn't surprise me, to be honest with you," he said of the price realized. "I don't think I even got a bid in until around $600,000; $610,000 was my first bid."

When Schorsch was asked if he had purchased the candlebox for stock and whether it would appear on the floor at the Winter Antiques Show in January, he laughed and commented that it had been purchased for a client. "I've got other great things for the Winter Show but this one is destined to for a private collection.

"I think it is a priceless piece and it is an honor to be able to handle something like that," concluded Schorsch.

Books And Manuscripts

On day one of the auction, the sale began with an offering of more than 100 lots of Books, Manuscripts, Atlases and Prints and the serious action started right from the hammer falling on the first lot, an Eighteenth Century German Bible that sold well above estimates at $3,346. A lot of Eighteenth Century publications pertaining to Native Americans attracted quite a bit of attention, selling at more than four times the high estimate at $23,900, while a Benjamin Franklin book also exceeded estimates at $10,158.

The real action of the morning session came as the first public printing of the United States Constitution was sold. The rare Constitution, printed by the Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser newspaper, was dated Wednesday, September 19, 1787, and was in overall excellent condition. This printing had been preceded by only two draft printings of the Constitution that were used only by delegates to the Continental Congress. Bidding on the rare printing opened at $50,000 with competition coming from two phone bidders and two bidders in the room. In the end, a bidder in the front row competed with a bidder standing in the rear of the gallery with the latter claiming the lot for $207,225.

Another lot of interest was a 1784 survey and town plan for Pittsburgh, executed by Colonel George Woods for the Penn family. Strong interest was expressed for the manuscript document that sold between estimates at $65,725.

The Bicentennial Pennsylvania Sale

The top lot of the Bicentennial portion of the auction came as rare Horace Pippin oil on board depicting an ice fisherman sold. The unusual piece with natural oak board showing through on the unpainted and wood burned figure of the fisherman, was estimated at $60/100,00. Bidding on the lot was brisk with it selling well beyond estimates at $162,425.

Other paintings sold included an unsigned landscape view of Mauch Chunk, Penn., now known as Jim Thorpe, with a mining encampment in the crook of the river. Estimated at $12/18,000, the lot saw substantial interest expressed with it hammering down at $59,750. A Nineteenth Century oval miniature oil portrait on paper of Captain Yerkes of Bucks County, attributed to the Prior-Hamblin school, did well with it bringing nearly 20 times the high estimate as it sold for $23,900. A folky watercolor in vibrant colors depicting the death of General Andrew Jackson also did well, selling at $10,158.

Furniture from Philadelphia included a walnut high chest with scalloped base and trifid feet that went out above estimates at $20,315, a Chippendale walnut lowboy with ball and claw feet that realized $17,925 and a pair of nice Chippendale side chairs with shell carved crests and ball and claw feet that brought $11,353.

An Eighteenth Century daybed with strong turnings did well selling at $14,340, a Montgomery County walnut tall case clock by Jacob Godschalk fetched $10,755, and a nice Soap Hollow paint decorated stand in a red finish with bright yellow decoration sold for $7,170.

Other items sold during Saturday's session included a large carved and painted diorama of a crowded bar scene with a array of figures playing shuffleboard, drinking, fraternizing with the opposite sex, smoking, throwing darts and a variety of other pub pastimes. It was carved by Emory Takacs, who was doing a stint at the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia on an armed robbery charge between 1943 and 1953. The piece, which descended in the Takacs family, was reportedly an accurate depiction of the people and activities at the Gay 90s Bar at 10th and Race in Philadelphia. With 46 hand carved and painted figures and a dog, as well as bar stools and other pub accoutrements, the piece sold at the low end of estimates for $35,800.

A paint decorated seed chest attributed to Joseph Lehn was actively bid to $38,240, and the Schwenkfelder woolwork townscape that depicted the village, animals, people and roads went for $29,875. Other items sold included a Wilhelm Schimmel carved and painted eagle that brought $19,120, a mahogany cigar vending machine at $13,145 and a five-piece silver set by R&W Wilson, Philadelphia, circa 1830, that realized $10,755.

Modern

The Sunday session of the auction opened up with 25 choice lots of Twentieth Century items, all with a Pennsylvania connection. The first few lots were from a selection of metalwork by Philadelphia Arts and Crafts master metalsmith and designer Samuel Yellin. Highlights included a three-legged wrought iron candlestick with twisted standard and a deep dish-form bobeche that more than tripled estimates as it sold for $10,158. A Yellin wrought iron bench with oak plank seat and brass finials went out at $14,340, as did a rare signed wrought iron floor lamp with floriform finial.

Arts and Crafts was further represented in the sale with two oak carved oak chairs from the Rose Valley community, located just outside of Philadelphia, who along with the Byrdcliffe community were noted as the most successful of the artists colonies. Both chairs handily exceeded estimates with the first selling at $13,145, while a different style chair brought slightly more at $14,340.

A collection of George Nakashima consigned from a private New Hope collector met with mixed results. The anticipated top lot of the selection, a rare music stand with free-form walnut burled top, fell short of expectations, and was bought in against an estimate of $50/70,000.

Leading the group was a large walnut conoid bench with free-form slab seat and spindled back. A large butterfly tenon had been used in the construction the bench, which Freeman's had cataloged as being "extraordinary." Easily exceeding the presale estimates, the bench sold at $47,800. Another of the top lots was a stunning tiger's-eye maple burl table with free-form top and a walnut Minguren geometric base that also handily exceeded estimates, selling at $32,625.

Other Nakashima pieces in the auction that did well included a set of chairs at $14,340, a tall drum-form floor lamp at $15,353 and a walnut sideboard with sliding doors that brought $11,353.

The occasion of offering such a grand selection of Nakashima furniture prompted Freeman's to schedule a luncheon/lecture with Mira Nakashima during preview the previous Friday. The event was well attended and an insightful talk by Mira on the history of her father and his designs was well received.

Estate Of Esther Ludwig

The Esther Ludwig estate offered up a bunch of surprises, including the aforementioned painted candlebox. The Ludwig collection had been amassed during a time period from 1930 to the end of the 1940s. It was regarded as an amazing collection, especially in light of the fact that it had been compiled by an unmarried woman who collected from her late twenties to her early forties. While Ms Ludwig kept scant records, it is believed that the Reifsnyder sale of 1929 piqued her interests and set her on a mission to amass a comprehensive collection of thousands of pieces of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Pennsylvania furniture, folk art and accessories.

The leading piece of furniture from this session came as a paint decorated arrow back Windsor settee was sold. The rare double wide chair with a crest carved to look like two individual pieces was in an ochre paint with red and yellow floral decoration. Estimated at only $600/800, the rare settee rocketed off the auction block with a host of phone bidders banging heads, including Schorsch who commented that he "never even got a chance to bid" at all. As the action subsided the rare settee ended up selling at a hefty $95,225.

Other furniture included a nice two-part Chippendale mahogany chest with arched cabinet top that was thought to have originated from the Reading area of the state. Several in the room chased the lot with it ultimately selling for $41,825. Another arched top cupboard, of petite proportions, also did well with it selling for $28,680.

Painted furniture included a nice Central Pennsylvania dower blanket box on a bracket base that tripled estimates, selling at $38,240. The piece in a light ochre color had blue and red compass star painted faux-panels and was marked "Lesley Anne Cer, 1827."

Several tall case clocks were attracting the attention of bidders with an unsigned walnut example with elaborate inlay, scrolled pediment top and moon phase dial selling at $25,095, a Chippendale walnut clock by Daniel Rose, Reading, realized $23,900, and a walnut tall case clock by Samuel Breneisner with an elaborate double scroll bonnet went out at $17,925.

A sleeper of the sale was Federal demilune card table with shell and bellflower inlaid taper legs that never even got photographed for the catalog. Estimated at $300/500, the piece was actively bid with it selling at $35,850. A classic Pennsylvania walnut step back cupboard did well at $21,510.

A large collection of paint decorated tole was offered with the highlight from the category coming as a red painted rectangular bread tray was offered. The rare tray, with rolled edge rims, was in pristine condition, decorated with vibrant yellow and green leafy border and fruit on the bottom. It sold for $29,875. A pressed Sandwich glass canary compote in the princess feather pattern was actively bid with it bringing $23,460, and three pressed glass Sandwich salts in cobalt realized $20,315.

A couple paintings from the collection that attracted interest included a portrait of a horse pulling a driver in a cart by Edward Clarkson that was dated 1857. It was knocked down at $31,070, while a folky watercolor portrait of a young girl with a parasol standing on a blue carpet brought $26,680.

Ludwig Ceramics

The Ludwig collection of ceramics was stellar and the preview area more closely resembled a museum than an auction house. Case after case of historical blue Staffordshire, more than 350 pieces; spatter, more than 275 pieces; and Gaudy Dutch, more than 475 pieces; had both collectors and the trade salivating.

Historical blue Staffordshire was well received with a large soup tureen and ladle topping the selection. The rare Clews piece measuring 17 inches in length and 10 inches high was decorated with the Landing of Lafayette transfer and it sold for $19,120. Six pieces including an oval strainer decorated with Capitol Washington, a Mount Vernon teapot and covered vegetable, and three plates with Washington transfers sold for $16,730, as did a group of nine various plates by different makers including transfers of castles and romantic views. Six Clews plates decorated with various scenes including Peace and Plenty, Erie Canal and Battle, New York.

The collection of spatterware was highlighted by a group of four red edged teabowls with saucers that were decorated with the "boat" motif with two men in a red boat on green water. The rare set caused quite a commotion in the room as it shot past the $300/400 presale estimates, finally hammering down at $31,070.

Yellow thistle spatter also drew substantial interest with a set of 18 pieces sold in three lots and bringing a cumulative price of $47,800. The first lot from the set consisted of an open vegetable dish and a teapot with it selling at $9,560. Five 91/2-inch plates, three soup plates, a luncheon plate and a desert plate brought $20,315, and the final lot from the group, a set of 11 teabowls and saucers, sold at $17,925.

Green was also a popular color among the spatter buyers with two "schoolhouse" plates selling at $10,755, as did a pair of red house plates that were sold with a teabowl and saucer. A group of red schoolhouse spatter items also did well with a dinner plate, four luncheon plates and two teabowls and saucers going out at $10,158.

Four Gaudy Dutch soup plates in the Sunflower pattern were actively bid with the rare set soaring past estimates to a final selling price of $23,900. A single Dahlia pattern 8-inch plate brought $6,573, a large grape pattern pitcher $9,560, and a small group of butterfly plates and creamer went for $3,884.

Redware brought strong prices with a lot of several pieces including a small scalloped rim dish with yellow and green slip, a rare redware pepper pot and a slip decorated creamer bringing $33,460. A green glazed jar with sgraffito decoration and the name "Mary Lee" emblazoned in a wreath across the front was hammered down at $23,900, and a Shenandoah Valley corseted vase with applied slip decorated flower realized $21,510.

Prices include the buyer's premium charged. For further information contact Freeman's, 1808 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA 19103; 215-563-9275, or view www.freemansauction.com

Freeman's annual December sale of fine American and European paintings and sculpture has become a can't miss event for private collectors of American art, particularly Pennsylvania Impressionists, and the 195-lot sale on December 4 did not disappoint. Leading the way were works by Edward Redfield, George Sotter, Fern Coppedge and Kenneth Nunamaker, but the day's biggest news may have been the enthusiastic response to the sale's Modern offerings. Eighty-three percent of lots sold, generating a total of $3,732,000 - nearly $1 million above the sale's low estimate and an average lot price of nearly $25,000. Eighteen of the top 20 lots in the sale sold to private collectors.

The top two lots of the day were both works by Edward Willis Redfield, both of which sold to private collectors. "Washington's Birthday, New Hope," a 32-by-40-inch oil on canvas depicting a winter scene in the center of New Hope, came to Freeman's from a Pennsylvania collector and sold for $453,625. The painting had been bought by the consignor at auction in New York, but brought to Freeman's for sale due to Freeman's long list of world-records for Pennsylvania artists. A smaller work from Redfield, "Snow Storm - Limeport," sold to a New Jersey collector for $252,025.

Other top results achieved for Pennsylvania Impressionists included an example of Sotter's night scenes, "A Winter's Evening," at $229,625, and Fern Isabel Coppedge's "Old House, Point Pleasant," which soared well beyond its $70/100,000 estimate to fetch $184,825. Other notable prices included $151,225 for Daniel Garber's "The Long Farm" and $162,425 for "Center Bridge, PA" by Kenneth Nunamaker, a world record for the artist. "The Bathers," a large oil by Everett Lloyd Bryant, nearly tripled the previous world record for his work, with a result of $95,225. A world record also was set for the work of R.A.D. Miller, an artist whose work seldom appears at auction, with "Kitchen's Lane, New Hope" selling for $19,120.

The Modern section was led by three works from the Pennsylvania sculptor Harry Bertoia; all spurred contentious bidding and exceeded estimates. A 78-inch "Sound Sculpture" and an unusual "Sound Pod" with accompanying mallet both sold for $47,800, while a monumental 103-inch "Sound Sculpture" reached $77,675. One of Richard Pettibone's miniature appropriations, "Stella-Gur II 1967," sold for $34,655 against an estimate of $15/25,000.

Modern European works performed especially well, led by "Quiete Lunare" from the Italian artist Carlo Fornara, which came to Freeman's from a Maryland collection and quadrupled its estimate to reach $53,375. Jean Dufy's "Honfleur" sold for $38,838, while works from fellow Frenchmen Vu Cao Dam, "Le Cheval Blanc," and Le Pho, "Still Life of Flowers," both reached $25,095. The work by Vu Cao Dam came to Freeman's from the North Carolina estate of Charles and Pauline Hayworth, material from which will be featured in a number of sales at Freeman's in the upcoming months.

The American section was led by a depiction of "The Clipper Ship Clara Haxall at Full Sail" executed by an unknown artist of the Anglo American School. Interest in the painting was especially strong during exhibition, leading paintings department head Alasdair Nichol to single out the lot as a potential "sleeper," and his prediction proved correct. Phone bidders from around the country fell off one by one until the work fell to a private collector from New York at $95,225. The same result was achieved for a work by the Ashcan School painter George Luks for "Young Girl with Doll," which came to Freeman's from a local estate.

Other American highlights included Reginald Marsh's "Woman with Black Beret," at $26,290, and Alfred Thompson Bricher's "Sailboats at Sunset," at $47,800.

Freeman's next sale of fine art will take place on June 25, with consignments accepted through early May. For information, 215-563-9275 or www.freemansauction.com.