Devin Moisan Auctioneers June 21 auction featured a diverse selection of American and Continental furniture, silver, coins, fine art and decorative accessories. Included in this auction was property from a Concord, Mass., estate as well as property from various other New England homes. Attendance was strong with more than 200 registered bidders in attendance and approximately 100 more participating as absentee and telephone bidders.
Divided into two sessions, the auction commenced with the numismatic portion of the sale with approximately 100 lots of US and foreign coins and paper money. Highlighting the coin session of the sale was a 1797 $10 gold large Eagle, XF-45, which drew a great deal of interest. The coin had been consigned in an ungraded state. As is the practice with Devin Moisan on more valuable coins, the coin was sent to a leading national grading firm for grading before it was offered at auction. Opening at $12,000, it finally sold to a determined telephone bidder for $27,025.
The antiques and fine art session of the auction began with a rare early American silver spout cup by Samuel Edwards (Boston, 1705‱762). Standing less than 5 inches in height, this small piece of silver had garnered a great deal of preauction interest. Opening at $8,000, it sold in the room for $57,500, against numerous telephone and absentee bidders, and proved to be the top lot of the sale.
Among many other lots of silver included in the sale was a Zachariah Brigden silver caster, which sold for $1,955; an English Victorian silver flatware set, which brought $4,600; and a Quaker Silver Company sterling water pitcher, selling for $1,265.
Among the art offered in this auction was a John Fery (1859‱934) Western landscape depicting an elk at Jackson Lake, Wyo. In untouched condition and retaining its original frame, the several scuffs and small hole in the canvas did not deter bidders, selling in the room for $18,975. A John Wells James Pennsylvania autumn landscape sold to a telephone bidder for $8,625.
Found in a closet of the Concord, Mass., estate was an early view of the City of Boston, engraved by P.C. Canot. Despite some discoloration, it sold to a telephone bidder for $7,475. Also from the same closet, a small unsigned Max Weber color woodcut depicting a woman sold to the phones for $1,955, a view of New Hampshire’s Mount Monadnock by Lila Cabot Perry sold to a bidder in the room for $5,290 and a large oil painting depicting what appeared to be a European view of figures and cattle by Thomas Truman Spear (American, 1803‱882) made $6,325.
Other items of interest included a pair of Nineteenth Century carved marble urns, from an estate in Bedford, N.H. Despite one urn having a large repair they sold to a bidder in the room for $7,187.
From a descendant of John D. Black came several Civil War-related items. John D. Black served under Brigadier General Nelson Miles at Fort Monroe, where Jefferson Davis was held as a prisoner after the Civil War. Included in the items was a letter from Miles to his commanding general, in which he referenced the condition of “the prisoner Davis.” Miles had drawn national criticism over his mistreatment of Jefferson Davis during the postwar era, most notably his order to place shackles on the former president of the Confederacy. The letter sold to a telephone bidder for $1,495. Also included was a GAR medal belonging to John D. Black, which sold for $1,092.
All prices given include the 15 percent buyer’s premium charged. Devin Moisan Auctioneers is at 67 Venture Drive. For information, 603-953-0022 www.MoisanAuctions.com .
