An Angel Gabriel molded-copper weathervane, New England, Nineteenth Century, $1.33 million ($1.2/$1.5 million). Sotheby’s Stephen and Petra Levin Collection.

By Laura Beach

NEW YORK CITY — As illustrated in this article, the Americana Week sales at Sotheby’s and Christie’s produced a slew of memorable results. Sotheby’s kicked off events on Wednesday, January 20, with property from the estate of longtime collectors Irvin and Anita Schorsch and continued on Saturday, January 23, with high-impact American folk sculpture gathered by Florida collectors Stephen and Petra Levin. In between, Christie’s brought to market a choice and previously unknown Hadley chest, a handsome collection of formal furniture and accessories assembled by Mr and Mrs Max R. Zaitz and Outsider art.

The marathon Schorsch sale realized $10,262,129 over three days and five sessions. Studded with treasures, this richly varied sale featured a Salem, Mass., bombe secretary desk of 1770, $970,000; a carved mahogany Philadelphia easy chair, $322,000; and a pair of Ralph Earl portraits of the Litchfield County, Conn., couple Jared and Apphia Ruggles Lane, $274,000.

The Levin folk art collection generated $5,104,500. Though some lots were passed due to high reserves, the sale’s many successes included an Angel Gabriel weathervane that brought $1.33 million, the top price of the session and for the week overall. Also of note was a cigar store figure of Lord Dundreary by Samuel Robb, $322,000, and a racetrack tout by Charles Dowler, $454,000.

The various owners sale at Sotheby’s was interrupted by Saturday’s blizzard. With the final session postponed by a day, Sotheby’s wrapped its week up on Sunday, January 23, with its $3,569,439 sale of property from various owners. Highlights included a monumental bronze painted cast zinc and iron elk by J.W. Fiske, $225,000, and James Bard’s oil on canvas portrait of the schooner Norma, $200,000.

In all, Sotheby’s Americana Week sales tallied $18.9 million.

From a California consignor, in whose family it descended, this circa 1715 joined oak and pine paint decorated Hadley chest from the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts went to Atlanta dealer Deanne Levison for $1,025,000. Christie’s Various Owners Sale.

With the Schorsch sale ongoing at Sotheby’s, Christie’s started Americana Week on Thursday, January 21, with Chinese export art. The 160-lot selection realized $2,183,625 and was topped by a porcelain punch bowl, $87,500, decorated in grisaille with a panoramic view of the hongs of Canton.

Christie’s returned on Friday, January 22, with Liberation Through Expression, a dedicated session of Outsider and vernacular art marketed with its own catalog. The sale, which generated $1,549,375, saw William Edmondson’s circa 1936 sculpture “Boxer” reach $785,000, an auction record.

Important American furniture, folk art and silver at Christie’s garnered $4,490,875 on January 22. Crowning the presentation were two choice, early pieces, both of which sold to Atlanta dealer Deanne Levison on behalf of a client. Effusively painted with flowers, vines and pinwheels, a joined oak and pine chest in the Hadley tradition hit $1,025,000. A flourish of baroque curves, a Philadelphia William and Mary dressing table of 1700–1730 reached $665,000.

Off the market for many years and distinguished by its formal elegance, Philadelphia Splendor: The Collection of Mr and Mrs Max R. Zaitz was a success for Christie’s, bringing in $2,633,750. Heading the selection was a Philadelphia card table and two side chairs with Deshler Family provenance. The card table made $509,000; the chairs $149,000 and $173,000, all going to consultant Luke Beckerdite.

A detailed analysis of the Americana Week auctions will appear in a later issue.

Gallery

Deshler Family Chippendale carved mahogany card table, probably the shop of Benjamin Randolph, the carving attributed to John Pollard, Philadelphia, circa 1769-70, sold to Luke Beckerdite for $ 509,000 ($ 300/500,000).
The Virginia-based decorative arts authority also acquired two related Deshler family Philadelphia side chairs for $ 149,000 ($ 100/150,000) and $ 173,000
($ 100/150,000). Christie's Mr and Mrs Max R. Zaitz Collection.

"Race Track Tout" by Charles Dowler, Providence, R.I., circa 1880,
$ 454,000 ($ 200/300,000). Sotheby's Stephen and Petra Levin Collection.

"Baseball Player" carved and painted pine trade figure by Samuel Robb,
New York, circa 1890, $ 550,000 ($ 450/600,000). Sotheby's Stephen and Petra Levin Collection.

"The Schooner Norma" by James Bard, signed, titled and dated 1858,
$ 200,000 ($ 150/250,000). Sotheby's Various Owners.

Bronze painted cast zinc and iron figure of an American elk by J.W. Fiske, New York, circa 1892-1900, $ 225,000 ($ 50/100,000). Sotheby's Various Owners.

Chippendale carved mahogany easy chair, Philadelphia, circa 1755,
$ 322,000 ($ 300/500,000). Sotheby's Irvin and Anita Schorsch Collection.

Filigree hanging wall sconce, Boston, circa 1730, $ 125,000 ($ 150/200,000). Sotheby's Irvin and Anita Schorsch Collection.

Pair of portraits of Jared Lane and his wife, Apphia Ruggles Lane, by Ralph Earl,
$ 274,000 ($ 25/50,000). Sotheby's Irvin and Anita Schorsch Collection.

Burnham-Manning family Chippendale carved and figured mahogany bombe bonnet-top chest on chest, probably Salem, Mass., circa 1770, $ 970,000
($ 800,000-$ 1 million). Sotheby's Irvin and Anita Schorsch Collection.

Lewis Family William and Mary inlaid walnut tall case clock, case probably by Thomas Thomas, works by John Wood Sr, Philadelphia, circa 1730, $ 162,500
($ 50/75,000). Sotheby's Irvin and Anita Schorsch Collection.

William and Mary dressing table, 1700-1730, mahogany and maple, sold to Atlanta dealer Deanne Levison for $ 665,000 ($ 250/0,000).
Christie's Various Owners Sale.

Sold by the Philadelphia Museum of Art to benefit its acquisition funds, this Philadelphia Queen Anne walnut compass seat armchair of circa 1755 fetched
$ 545,000 ($ 500/800,000). Christie's Various Owners Sale.

Retailed by John Walton, Inc, in 1953, and consigned by the Rosebrook Collection, this Chippendale turret-top mahogany tea table, Boston, 1750-60, sold for
$ 485,000 ($ 300/0,000). Christie's Various Owners Sale.

Sold for $ 149,000 ($ 150/$ 250,000), this engraved silver serving platter dating to 1689-1700 bears the mark of Jeremiah Dummer of Boston.
Christie's Various Owners Sale.

Pair of silver nine-light candelabra and silver bowl by Tiffany & Co. of New York, circa 1885, $ 149,000 ($ 150/$ 250,000). Christie's Various Owners Sale.

A dedicated session of Outsider and vernacular art generated $ 1,549,375 on roughly 50 lots. Topping sales was William Edmondson's "Boxer," $ 785,000
($ 150/250,000). Acquired from the artist in 1949, the circa 1936 sculpture tripled the previous record for the artist and set a new auction record for Outsider art. Christie's, Outsider and Vernacular Art.

Attributed to the shop of Henry Clifton and Thomas Carteret of Philadelphia, this carved mahogany dressing table of circa 1755 went to the phone for $ 287,000
($ 100/150,000). Christie's Mr and Mrs Max R. Zaitz Collection.