At the sale’s helm was this marine painting by Joseph Mallord William Turner (English, 1775-1851). Measuring 38 by 33 inches framed and inscribed “Shipwreck — Wales / J.M.W. Turner / 1805” on the reverse, the painting was bid to $21,600.
Review by Carly Timpson
SWAMPSCOTT, MASS. — On November 9, Kaminski Auctions brought auction excitement to the Anchorage House, a French chateau-inspired manor on the water in Swampscott. About 25 years ago, Frank Kaminski, the firm’s owner, conducted an auction for the family who then owned Anchorage House, so this sale, as the most recent owners moves to a new home, was a full-circle moment. Kaminski shared, “Twenty-seven years ago, I had an auction at the same property. It was owned by a doctor then, who passed away, and we were hired to do an auction. About 20 years ago, the house burned down and they refilled it with beautiful French furniture and silver and antiques.”
With a tent set up beside the ocean in the property’s back yard, Kaminski conducted the 539-lot sale, which also featured partial contents from a Fifth Avenue, New York City, estate that was decorated by Metropolitan Opera designer David Laurence Roth. Diane Riva, Kaminski’s director of marketing, shared that there were 50 to 70 people in the audience at any given point during the auction, with many more active online and some on the phone. Kaminski added, “Fortunately, the tent was heated because it can be cold and windy on the ocean. I auctioned for 7½ hours straight and it was a great sale! We had a lot of online bidding and there were about 60 people under the tent with people coming and going throughout the day.” Coincidentally, some lots stayed with the home’s new owner. One such example: “There was really nice stone statuary, which we initially had in the auction, but the new owner bought it directly from the consignor before we could sell it.”
Achieving $8,125 was this C. J. Vander, English, sterling silver swan centerpiece, 11 inches high by 12 inches long.
Selling to a buyer over the phone for $21,600 and becoming the highest-priced lot in the auction was a marine painting by Joseph Mallord William Turner. The work, which was titled, signed and dated “Shipwreck — Wales / J.M.W. Turner / 1805” on the reverse, also included a dedication inscription reading, “To my friend the Earl of [illegible].” Kaminski said, “I didn’t expect this to be the top lot, but there was some information on the back that stated how it was given to an Earl and things like that. It was a very nice painting, and a private, local individual buyer ended up with it.”
Sterling silver, as usual, found its place in this sale, with four of the top 10 prices coming from that category. The highest price, $8,125, was attributed to a swan-form centerpiece by English silversmiths C. J. Vander and will be returning to London where it was made. Inset within the swan’s body was a mesh basket for flowers. Other silver from the same maker included a tea set that sold to an online buyer for $3,360. It comprised a sterling silver teapot, coffee pot, cream pitcher, sugar bowl and a silverplated tray. C. J. Vander was also the maker of a sterling silver serving tray that was bid to $2,640, selling to an in-person buyer.
A set of Wallace sterling silver flatware in the Grand Baroque pattern sold online for $6,250. Comprising 198 pieces in a wooden chest, the set had some less-common utensils such as a grated cheese spoon, tomato slice, nut spoons and lasagna spoons.
This Nineteenth Century Persian Sarouk rug measured 20 feet 3 inches by 11 feet 10 inches and sold to Anchorage House’s new owner for $7,500.
Other successes include rugs from the Anchorage House. Leading at $7,500 was a Nineteenth Century Persian Sarouk rug. It was cataloged as “exceptional” and “palace size” and was mostly dark blue with red and light blue flowers. Kaminski said that this beautiful big blue rug actually sold to the buyer of the house. Going out at $4,063 was a Persian Keshan rug, several feet shorter than the Sarouk. The color scheme of this example was opposite the Sarouk with blue and cream details on a red ground.
While most of the estate collection was of decorative arts or furnishings, some accessories and jewelry crossed the block as well. Selling to an internet buyer for $2,750 was a 14K yellow gold men’s Nicolet wristwatch. In a sleek classic design, the watch’s white dial had Roman numerals and was marked “Nicolet,” all in black, and it was on a braided mesh bracelet.
“Furniture also did well, and I always say, if you buy a house you can always furnish it for under $10,000 from an auction,” commented Kaminski.
In closing, Kaminski noted, “This was a unique auction, so we put the estimates at around $100-$10,00. It was successful when we conducted our monastery sale a couple weeks back, so we thought we would try it again. On unique occasions like this we put the range like that, but our next auction on Thanksgiving weekend we will be going back to our typical estimate style.”
Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house. Kaminski’s Late November Estates Auction will be conducted on November 30. For information, www.kaminskiauctions.com or 978-927-2223.
