The Herter Brothers American Renaissance carved, inlaid and ebonized bed, originally commissioned for Milton Slocum Latham's Thurlow Lodge, became the top lot of the auction as it sold for $326,000. The inlaid and carved ebonized mirrored dresser brought $103,700, and a pair of night stands realized $23,180. All three lots were claimed by New Orleans-area collectors Judy and Max Foote.
:Scheduled as the first of the major auctions conducted during Americana Week, UK-based Bonhams got the ball rolling on January 22. With yet another first, the inaugural furniture sale was conducted in the auction house's new and stylish Madison Avenue showroom.
The auction met with enthusiasm from the large crowds that made their way through preview, resulting in a series of highs witnessed throughout the day, although a series of lows were also noted. The sale featured more than 300 lots and resulted in a sale total of nearly $2.3 million.
Originally known as Butterfields and generally regarded as a West Coast-based auction house that focused the majority of its attentions there, Bonhams acquired the firm in 2002. According to the firm's website, "It started in 1865 when William Butterfield turned in his sheriff's badge and six-shooter for an auctioneer gavel. The doors to Marble Head Auctioneers, on what is now the site of an icon in the San Francisco skyline, the Transamerica Pyramid, first opened for business catering to thriving Gold-Rush Californians.
"At first, the offerings consisted mainly of surplus goods consigned by sailing ships entering the San Francisco harbor," the site continues, "As the city became more prosperous and sophisticated and the Victorian era unfolded, demand for fine art and furnishings grew. Mr Butterfield realized the need for a place where private people could buy and sell their possessions and adapted his business accordingly."
The Herter Brothers cabinet brought $230,000, selling to California dealer Brian Wetherell. "They were purchased for a client and we are taking them back home to California,” stated the dealer of his many purchases.
"Head East, young man," may very well have been the call heeded by Bonhams' Americana experts Brooke Sivo and assistant Gary Espinosa, as the pair saddled up for their premier stint in the Big Apple.
Following a tried and true format that has long been established at the New York Americana sales, Bonhams led its sale with a selection of American silver. The first lot to cross the block was an Eighteenth Century Philadelphia-made teapot by Joseph Anthony that sold just below estimate at $3,660. The next few items offered would establish a tone that would resonate throughout the day, with four out of the first five lots failing to find a buyer.
The result of today's marketplace, or the result of pieces in less than perfect condition, the auction posted a sold rate of just over 50 percent. In regard to the first 29 lots of silver, 24 were bought in.
Country smalls were offered next, with more action seen in the room. A group of watercolor portraits, folky paintings, carvings, weathervanes, textiles and paintings were included. A late Nineteenth Century carved oak architectural figure of an Indian princess, measuring 37 inches tall, soared past the $3/5,000 presale estimate, bringing $42,700.
A folky watercolor depicting a herd of cows at the base of a barn, signed "H. Bush, animal delineator, Columbus, Ohio," brought $10,980. A silk sampler dated 1786 sold well beyond the $1,5/2,000 estimate at $9,760, and a large cast iron figure of an eagle attributed to the Daniel Meeker Foundry in Newark, N.J., realized $9,760.
The Chippendale block and shell carved cherry tall case clock by Squire Millerd sold at $47,500.
Ceramics of American interest included an assortment of wares from the collection of Dr James and Ruth Inglis. Leading the assortment was a set of three Staffordshire figures, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, that hammered down at $7,320.
A Staffordshire tureen with blue transfer decoration of "Fair Mount near Philadelphia" attracted attention, with it selling at $5,795, a delft wine bottle dated 1646 brought $4,184, a salt glazed "camel" teapot realized $3,660, and a delft fundle cup with pewter lids went out at $3,355.
American furniture and accessories were the next items to cross the block, with the first lot to attract substantial attention coming as a small sampler was offered. From the Boston School, the rare Eighteenth Century work depicted a gentleman holding a basket of fruit in one hand. Flowers, animals and a rolling landscape further highlighted the piece, as did trees flanking the works, one with a large bird perched in the branches and birds flying between them. Estimated at $6/8,000, the wool and silk canvas work sold at $27,450.
Early American furniture was highlighted by a Chippendale block and shell carved cherry tall case clock from the fourth quarter of the Eighteenth Century that piqued the interest of bidders. Made by Squire Millerd, a captain for the American army during the Revolutionary War, the handsome tall case clock sold at $47,500. Also exciting clock collectors was a late Nineteenth Century American Renaissance walnut astronomical regulator by E. Howard & Co. of Boston. Carrying a top estimate of $18,000, the lot touched off frenzied bidding, bringing more than double its estimate by achieving $52,460.
A late Nineteenth Century carved oak architectural figure of an Indian princess, measuring 37 inches tall, soared past the $3/5,000 presale estimate, bringing $42,700.
A set of six Queen Anne side chairs with nicely carved crests and Spanish feet carried a provenance of Israel Sack and a conservative presale estimate of $6/8,000. The chairs had been illustrated in Nutting's
Antique Treasury
, and had also been previously sold by both Florene Maine and Sotheby's. Bidding on the lot was brisk, with the set selling at $24,400.
A porringer top tea table was another lot to handily exceed estimates as it soared past the $3,5/5,500 mark to sell at $19,520. A Pennsylvania Chippendale piecrust tea table ($5/8,000) also exceed estimates at $25,620.
On the other end of the spectrum, a Boston Queen Anne wing chair with nice cabriole legs saw reluctance from buyers, with it selling at $15,250 against the $20/30,00 estimate.
An attractive Federal carved mahogany settee that was cataloged as "possibly the workshop of Duncan Phyfe or one of his contemporaries" and estimated at $80/120,000 sold to a buyer in the room for $85,400.
As the sale was drawing to a close, a select assortment of American Renaissance furniture by Herter Brothers created quite a bit of excitement. Consigned from the Warner Bros Studios collection were 15 pieces of furniture by the noted New York cabinetmakers.
Bonhams' Americana expert Brooke Sivo with the rare Eighteenth Century wool and silk canvas work from the Boston school. It sold at $27,450.
"It was especially fitting that Bonhams was chosen to market this collection — thought to be one of the finest studio collections available — as these handsome pieces had previously been offered and sold in 1942 at our legendary auction of the contents of Thurlow Lodge," said American furniture specialist Sivo.
Like a scene from the movies, and many of the items may very well have once appeared there, a rare Herter Brothers American Renaissance carved, inlaid and ebonized bed, originally commissioned for Milton Slocum Latham's Thurlow Lodge, became the top lot of the auction.
Banged around in the Warner Bros prop rooms and storage facilities, condition was a factor on many of the pieces, although rarity ruled the day.
The selection of materials began with rare parcel-gilt and carved walnut folio stand that had been commissioned from Herter Brothers for the first-floor parlor at Thurlow Lodge. Estimated at $40/60,000, the lot opened for bidding at $35,000 and bounced back and forth between a collector seated in the second row of the gallery and a telephone bidder. The lot eventually sold to an order bid for $85,400.
The collectors seated in the second row were Judy and Max Foote of Louisiana, avid collectors of important American Renaissance works by Herter Brothers and their contemporaries, and they would go on to play an active role in the auction. The Footes related that they have furnished their entire home, custom built with salvaged 1870s period architectural ornaments, paneling, stained glass ceilings and fireplaces, and also among their collection is the bed slept in by Mrs Bates in the Alfred Hitchcock thriller from 1960,
Psycho
.
The next lot to be offered was a parcel-gilt, carved and inlaid rosewood music cabinet that was also hotly competed for, with the Footes once again letting the piece go as it sold for $85,400 to a buyer seated in the front row, California dealer Brian Wetherell. Among the other lots purchased by Wetherell: a large ebonized cabinet from the first floor bedroom at Thurlow Lodge that doubled estimates at $230,000, and a heavily carved walnut buffet at $194,000. "They were purchased for a client, and we are taking them back home to California," stated the dealer.
Max Foote, left, being congratulated after the auction by Gary Espinosa and Brooke Sivo.
The Herter Brothers bed was offered next, and the lot opened at $150,000, with bids coming from the telephones and several in the room. The Footes would eventually claim the lot at $326,000.
Other lots purchased by the Footes included an inlaid and carved ebonized mirrored dresser at $103,700, a rare shaving stand at $61,000 and a pair of night stands at $23,180.
Items from the Warner Brothers collection that had been commissioned from Herter Brothers by Mark Hopkins for his Nob Hill residence in San Francisco were also offered, with a secretary cabinet leading the group. The Aesthetic Movement carved and inlaid cabinet was actively bid, with it selling to Manhattan dealer Margot Johnson for $91,500. "It was the best piece in the sale," proclaimed the Herter Brothers specialist.
Prices reported include the buyer's premium. For information, 415-503-3238, or
www.bonhams.com/usfurniture
.
