Litchfield Auctions – The Prindle Collection
September 20 & 21 at 10 am
425 Bantam Road Litchfield, CT 06759
www.LitchfieldCountyAuctions.com
860-567-4661

LITCHFIELD, CONN. — Litchfield Auctions will offer modern art and design from the Prindle collection of Boston in the firm’s upcoming September 20-21 auctions.

John “Parker” Prindle Jr of Boston was an avid collector of Twentieth Century decorative arts, furniture, fine art and tribal art, amassing one of the most extensive collections of studio glass and ceramics that one will ever find, in his duplex apartment in Beacon Hill, Boston.

Born in 1941, in Wilmington, Mass., Prindle graduated Harvard College in 1962 and then joined the US Navy, stationed in San Francisco, eventually attaining the rank of ensign. Following his stint in the Navy, he spent a lifelong career in banking. With his deep love and appreciation for history and art, combined with his business expertise, Prindle’s collecting regimen grew over time to incorporate a wide range of media and diversity of styles. His impressive library contained hundreds of books on glass, pottery, Art Deco and modern design, fine arts, ancient arts, tribal art, Asian art and more, speaking to his interest not only to collect but to learn.

As it was thoughtfully expressed in his obituary that ran in The Boston Globe, September 18-21, 2021: “Parker had an extraordinarily discerning eye, and he approached his collecting as exciting opportunities: opportunities to learn something new, opportunities to discover ‘hidden treasures’ and opportunities to share his collection with the larger world.”

In his decades of collecting, Prindle formed ongoing relationships with countless antiques dealers, galleries and institutions worldwide and was also known for his perseverance as an early morning shopper at the Brimfield Flea Market. Prindle’s legacy will continue to endure through his support of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Harvard Art Museums from donations he has made of objects remaining on view and in their permanent collections.

Headlining the fine art category of this sale is a Roy Lichtenstein “Entablature Xa” embossed screenprint and collage from the 1976 “Entablature” portfolio edition ($6/9,000). Various prints by other artists further illustrate Prindle’s eye for quality artwork such as oworks on paper by Howard Hodgkin: “In Tangier” ($2/3,000), “Black Blush” ($1/1,500), “Blue Listening Ear” ($1/1,500) and “Birthday Party” ($1/1,500).

Other artworks such as Sol LeWitt’s “Tondo 2” ($1/1,500), “Los Angeles” by Victor Vasarely ($1/1,500), Richard Estes’ “Pressing Machinery” screenprint from the “Urban Landscapes II” series ($800-$1,200), Mark Tobey’s “Summer Joy” and “Awakening Earth” color aquatints ($800-$1,200), as well as several prints by Romare Bearden: “Cattle of the Sun God,” “Slave Ship” and “Siren”s Song” ($1/1,500) round out the art category.

Prindle’s distinct style aesthetic allowed him to also incorporate unique design elements into his furniture choices. Topping this list is a Paul Evans for Directional “Cityscape” chrome and brass credenza ($5/7,000) and “Cityscape” side table ($1,5/2,500), as well as a Frank Lloyd Wright cherry dining table ($1/2,000) and set of six Coonley dining chairs ($1/2,000).

Other modern design includes a John Widdicomb ash and brass desk ($1/2,000), Herman Miller Eames lounge chair and ottoman ($1/1,500), a 1984 Robert Venturi for Knoll Sheraton chair ($1/2,000), 1960s Olivier Mourgue for Airborne Djinn chaise lounge ($700-$1,000), Raymond Loewy DF2000 chest of drawers, circa 1965 ($600/800), pair of LC2 armchairs by Le Corbusier, Jeanneret & Perriand by Cassina ($500-$1,000), pair of Warren Platner for Knoll chrome side tables ($500/800) and a near pair of 1930s Wolfgang Hoffmann Art Deco side tables ($400/600).

A complement of decorative arts features a pair of 1975 Paul Evans “Cityscape” floor lamps ($2/3,000), single “Cityscape” lamp by Directional ($600/800), Eduardo Paolozzi for Wedgwood dinner plates ($2/3,000), marble vases by Angelo Mangiarotti for Knoll ($700-$1,000), a Fritz Brehaus Art Deco nickel plated chandelier, circa 1925 ($500/800), a Muncie “Ruba Rombic” lamp, ($500/800) and a Wally Wieselthier-Wiener Werkstatte lamp ($300/500).

Prindle’s adoration for studio ceramics and art glass is illustrated through the prime examples in his collection. Glass features a 1960s Tobia Scarpa Venini “Occhi” vase ($1,5/2,000), 1952 Fulvio Bianconi Venini “Fasce Orizzontale” bottle ($800-$1,200), an Alfredo Barbini glass vase with tri-color center ($600/900), Bertil Vallien for Kosta Boda ship hull sculpture ($600/900) and an Antonio Da Ros “Momento” vase ($500/800).

A selection of ethnic, tribal and Asian arts comprises a Pre-Columbian jaguar effigy vessel ($600/800), Japanese Meiji Imari palace vessel ($500-$1,000), pair of Japanese cloisonne vases ($400/600), a Mali Dogon carved wood post ($300/400) and Chinese Neolithic period ceramic vase ($200/400).

An in-person preview will be conducted Sunday, September 18, from noon to pm and Monday, September 19, from 10 am to 5 pm at Litchfield’s gallery at 425 Bantam Road. For more information, 860-567-4661 or www.litchfieldcountyauctions.com.

PREVIEW:
Sunday, September 18th, 12 PM – 4 PM Monday, September 19th, 10 AM – 5 PM
Roy Lichtenstein Entablature Xa $6,000-9,000
Paul Evans Cityscape Credenza $5,000-7,000
Howard Hodgkin In Tangier (1991) $2,000-3,000
Davide Salvadore Sahara vase $3,000-5,000
UPCOMING AUCTIONS:
C2: September Art & Design, September 28th (Capsule) Fine Art, October 18th (Litchfield)
Antiques & Asian Art, October 18th (Litchfield)
20th Century Art and Design, October 19th (Litchfield) Jewelry & Luxury, Fall 2022 (Litchfield)
Capsule, NYC 212-353-2277 | CapsuleAuctions.com
Paul Evans
Cityscape Credenza $5,000-7,000
Howard Hodgkin
In Tangier (1991) $2,000-3,000
Davide Salvadore
Sahara vase $3,000-5,000
Valentin Carron, Le Dédain (2005) $20,000-30,000
LX: October Fine Art (Capsule)
European Art, Fall 2022 (Capsule)
American Art, Fall 2022 (Capsule)
Postwar and Contemporary Art, Fall 2022 (Capsule) Part II of the Prindle Collection, Fall 2022 (Litchfield)