Sotheby’s – Visions Of America
Auctions 15-23 January
1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
Sothebys.com/visions

NEW YORK CITY — Now in its second year, Visions of America expands upon the solid foundation laid by its inaugural auction and event series, further elevating the celebration of American artistry and craftsmanship. Comprising over 500 exceptional examples of American art and objects spanning from the Seventeenth Century to the present day, the event offers both new and established collectors an opportunity to experience a diverse range of outstanding American works. This year’s monumental sales — held both live and online in January at Sotheby’s New York — will feature fine furniture, fashion, decorative arts, folk art, paintings, silver, Chinese export ceramics, prints, historic maps, books and manuscripts, among other treasures.

A thoughtfully curated selection of important American paintings, drawings, photography and sculpture will be featured in this year’s Visions of America week. Titled “Art of the Americas, Featuring the American West,” the live auction on January 24 will celebrate prominent artists of American, Canadian and Latin American descent.

With a focus on Nineteenth Century landscapes, still life, portraiture and historical subject matter, this sale will highlight a wide array of artistry and innovation across the Americas. Through the inclusion of a dedicated session of American Western art within this year’s sale, we will showcase important artworks by Frederic Remington, Albert Bierstadt, Eanger I. Couse and many others whose illustrations and sculptures honor the beauty and grandeur of the Western frontier.

On January 25, the Americana department has a tremendous assortment of property on offer. The headlining piece is a mid Eighteenth Century Philadelphia Queen Anne mahogany dressing table that was declared by Albert Sack as a “Masterpiece of late Baroque design.” Another highlight is the incredible, newly discovered Reynell-Coates family Philadelphia Chippendale high chest of drawers, which has remained in the family for 275 years until offered this January and has astonishingly survived in an untouched condition. The third exceptional piece of American furniture is a yet another important Philadelphia object, The Laird family Chippendale high chest base elaborately carved by John Pollard, which has never been publicly offered or exhibited and for nearly a century was only known about from its illustration in the seminal publication on Philadelphia furniture, Blue Book: Philadelphia Furniture, William Penn to George Washington, where it was declared by the author as “The Ultimate as Produced in Philadelphia.”

It is with tremendous honor that Sotheby’s is offering the outstanding folk art and furniture collection of Leslie and Peter Warwick of Middletown, N.J. A lifelong passion for both, they were admired scholars in the folk art and stoneware fields and greatly advanced the study of New Jersey art. The auction will also include the lovely collection of American folk art and furniture from Mr Vance Peacock and Darren Bryenton of Savannah, Ga., as well as the Southern furniture collection of Jodi White Wenzl and Daniel Wenzl.

Lastly, Sotheby’s will be offering an important, newly discovered Edward Hicks painting of George Washington passing the Delaware.

The silver being offered during Visions of America is led by an impressive group by the American patriot and silversmith, Paul Revere, which include a coffee pot, teapot and creamer, each with known provenance going back to their original owners. Another American Patriot, Benjamin Franklin, is represented this season with a pair of English silver candlesticks he gave to his close friend Polly Stevenson upon her wedding. Highlights from the great makers of America’s Gilded Age, Tiffany and Gorham, include a mixed metal “American Indian” loving cup by Tiffany and an ewer and plateau from Gorham’s Martelé line that was exhibited at the Saint Louis Exposition in 1903.

The Important Americana sale includes a wide array of Chinese export art made for the Western market and is led by two rare finely decorated Yongzheng period ruby-back Ladies and Children pattern dishes, and an eggshell porcelain Pheasants pattern dish, all from a private collection. Additionally, the sale also includes two large Chinese Export Famille-Verte Provinces pattern chargers from the Kangxi to Yongzheng period and decorated with the coat of arms of Amsterdam and Luxembourg respectively.

The books and manuscripts department presents a curated selection of rare and significant material, with highlights including a world-class Jewish baseball card collection featuring more than 190 major league players, and a unique exploration of American literary culture through Great Writers/Great Drinkers. These examples showcase the department’s focus on important and distinctive collections, from sports history to literary treasures, offering a rich perspective on American heritage and culture; this sale will close on January 29.

Sotheby’s is at 1334 York Avenue, at East 72nd Street. For information, 212-606-7000 or www.sothebys.com.

Art. Luxury. Culture.
Exhibitions Free and Open to the Public January 17-24
Americana@sothebys.com
Scan Code Or Visit Sothebys.com/visions To Learn More