: Fresh-to-the-market items commanded strong prices at Copake
Auctions' cataloged Americana February 11 sale that featured the
contents of a Hudson River museum and more.
While furniture may have comprised the bulk of the lots, the top
lot of the day was a William Trost Richards work that realized
$9,900.
The oil on panel, "Guernsey," with full provenance on the back
from William Vareika Fine Arts in Newport, R.I., was inscribed
with location on verso and signed lower left. It descended in the
family of the artist.
Auctioneer Michael Fallon said the painting attracted a lot of
attention during preview and this lot proves the value of
provenance and buying quality merchandise from a good dealer.
"I was very encouraged by this sale. It was 99 percent estate
fresh and we had a really lively crowd," he said.
The Nineteenth Century New York pier table with a marble top
sold for $9,625.
Furniture offerings were primarily Eighteenth and Nineteenth
Century American and Continental. A Nineteenth Century Federal
carved mahogany multipart secretary desk with a detachable molded
cornice above a bookcase section with unusual mullioned doors that
sold for $3,300. The circa 1820-25 piece after Duncan Phyfe was set
on a three drawer mid-section on base with fold down writing board
and kneehole desk having drawers and flanking cabinet doors and
raised on acanthus carved hairy paw feet.
A Nineteenth Century classical period New York pier table with
Egyptian marble top above a convex apron realized $9,625 after
stiff competition between a phone bidder and a left bid from a
dealer. The circa 1825 table was set on Egyptian marble columns
above a plinth base with turned and carved feet.
A Nineteenth Century Hepplewhite mahogany tall case clock, case
having a tombstone door with quarter columns, molded panel under
door, and stepped out molding, sold for $3,300. The clock stood
90 inches and was signed Walker & Hughes.
An Eighteenth Century Queen Anne Spanish foot armchair with a
rush seat and bold front stretcher fetched $2,200.
A Federal carved mahogany multipart secretary's desk after
Duncan Phyfe, circa 1820-25, sold for $3,300.
A Nineteenth Century Hepplewhite French foot inlaid cherry
chest retaining its original brasses sold for $1,430 while a very
decorative Nineteenth Century Continental single-door cupboard with
extensive paint decoration of flowers, birds and the like realized
$825.
A Tiffany floor lamp with gilt patina, base signed "Tiffany
Studios New York #678A," was hammered down at $825.
Other fine art standouts included a watercolor on paper signed
"Geo. Howell Gay" and titled on verso, "Fall River Landscape"
that sold for $935 in its possibly original frame and a Twentieth
Century oil on board showing a view from West Point showing a
Nineteenth Century Hudson River with boats and titled on the back
"Veronica B. Nemethy Scene on Hudson," that realized $412. The
diminutive work was signed on the front by the artist, whose
family is known for its Hudson Valley scenes. A painting on
Masonite of a white horse set against a landscape background, 26
by 33 inches, unframed, realized $1,265.
A framed Chief Two Moon Bitter Oil cardboard advertising sign
with provenance sold for $1,045.
Textile standouts included a well-executed Princess Feather quilt
with bold border and poppy flower corners that realized $1,100.
The never-washed quilt still bears pencil markings. Samplers
maintained their popularity with a fine "Amerika My Nation 1817 A
Maine" example featuring a seascape and ship with American flag
that realized $742 and "Miss Anna Olson's School 1800, Sarah
Simms age 7 years" that showed buildings, birds, baskets of
flowers and butterflies that realized $880.
A buyer with a mind to historical preservation snapped up a set
of four cast iron General Electric lampposts with original GE
globes from the Rip Van Winkle Bridge for $1,650. The 7-foot,
2-inch-high posts had been restored and electrified.
Amid all the Americana was a touch of modern with a pair of reed
and tubular steel chairs that sold for $800.
All prices reported include the ten percent buyer's premium. For
information, www.copakeauction.com or 518-329-1142.
