The Mercury carved umbrella stand and coat rack from the early 1900s was the sale's marquee lot. Wearing his winged shoes and carrying the caduceus, a staff with two entwined snakes, the unique full-standing carving brought a high bid of $6,600 from a doctor bidding on the telephone.
:It was billed as an "Auction Spectacular" and "Furniture Buyer's Dream" in advertising leading up the May 3 sale, and for Kenneth E. Carden, owner of Carden Family Auction Services, those words were "no brag, just fact." Contacted after more than 150 pieces of high-quality furniture — from Victorian oak, walnut and mahogany to signed R.J. Horner pieces — had been lugged home or shipped to the winning bidders, Carden characterized the sale as "the best auction that's ever been conducted in this area, within a 100-mile radius."
A total of between 250 and 300 people packed into the auction gallery that sits in a shopping plaza off Route 30 next to Jo-Ann Fabrics. They joined competitors on the phones and online, as well as those who had left bids, for a veritable showroom of bookcases, chests, sideboards, desks, cabinets, dressers and stands, not to mention some non-furniture items like sterling silver dinnerware, oil paintings and smalls.
Mercury, the winged messenger and god of profit and commerce, fittingly topped the successful sale in the form of a fantastic carved umbrella stand and coat rack. Wearing his winged shoes and carrying the caduceus, a staff with two entwined snakes, the unique full-standing carving brought a high bid of $6,600. The price includes Carden's five percent buyer's premium. Mercury came out of one man's collection from St Johnsville, N.Y., according to Carden, as did 98 percent of the furniture lots in the sale. One would think the umbrella stand and coat rack, made in the early 1900s, would be a natural for a doctor's office, and, sure enough, it went to a doctor bidding by phone, whose bidding was more fleet-footed than the other three phones chasing the piece.
A rare oak corner hall seat in original finish made at the turn of the century was so unique that Carden allowed that it was the first of its kind he had ever seen. "Everybody said they'd never seen one like it," said Carden. Hall seats are not uncommon, but ones crafted to fit into a corner are. The other thing the piece had going for it and contributing to its $3,308 price, according to Carden, was that the quartersawn oak piece had never been refinished. "Serious collector's want it that way," he said. The seat sold to a private bidder in the house.
Robert J. Horner, who established R.J. Horner & Co. on East 23rd Street in New York City in 1886, used the best mahogany and quartersawn oak hardwood, creating heavily carved masterpieces in the form of chairs, sofas, complete parlor sets, hall trees, benches, partner tables and dining sets. At quality antique furniture sales, Horner pieces elicit much excitement, and several pieces sold well at this auction. A large oak sideboard of quartersawn oak had been refinished, but professionally so. It brought $2,100. Said Carden, "I believe it would have brought more had it not been refinished." It had all the hallmarks of a fine R.J. Horner sideboard — a bonnet top, reeded columns with double drawers in the columns and massive feet. Signed on the back, it went to a doctor bidding in the gallery.
An R.J. Horner & Co. large oak sideboard of quartersawn oak had been refinished, but professionally so. It brought $2,100, going to a doctor bidding in the gallery.
There was also a heavily carved R.J. Horner bookcase with ten shelves, three doors and a three-drawer drop center that went slightly under the money at $1,785. It had original finish and sold to a dealer in the gallery. Carden said that while high-quality furniture still sells well at auctions, prices seem to be 25–30 percent lower than about three years ago.
Also attributed to Horner, a great settee — "one of the nicest ones I've ever seen," said Carden, of spindled oak with lion's head carving went to a Manhattan doctor bidding on the floor for $1,313. That was followed by a great Morris chair featuring large carved winged griffins and a wing spanned carved top. It was also attributed to Horner, and sold for $1,050, a bargain, according to Carden, who added that its unfortunate reupholstering choice may have detracted from it achieving a higher price.
An R.J. Horner table with seven leaves and split pedestal went out at $1,995 to a New York City doctor bidding on the floor.
His and hers desks — well, cowboy and cowgirl desks — were a complementary pair of lots, but went off in two different directions as separate bidders won them for $1,680 and $1,050, respectively.
Call 518-369-1467 or visit
www.cardenauction.com
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