BOSTON, MASS. – Grogan and Company’s June 5 sale included a Chinese Export plate from a tea service specifically designed for Martha Washington in 1796. The 93⁄8-inch plate, decorated with a linked chain with the names of the 15 states in the union, a serpent swallowing its tail, symbolizing eternity and strength, and Martha Washington’s monogram, surrounded by a laurel wreath, symbolizing victory. The service originally comprised approximately 40 pieces. Today, less than 20 pieces in the service survive, mostly in public collections, while shards have been dug at Mount Vernon. There were several phone bidders competing with bidders in the room and the plate sold to one of the phone bidders for $244,000.
Not far behind was a portrait by Mary Stevenson Cassatt at $231,800 and a fine desk/bookcase attributed to Calvin Willey that tripled its high estimate. The bookcase was termed “truly magnificent, a Connecticut masterpiece,” by a knowledgeable dealer in the room. Other furniture, paintings and jewelry did well.
A complete report on the auction will follow.
