Many serious bidders examined the Salem Federal mahogany sofa carved by Samuel McIntire up for sale June 12 at Landry Auctions, but in the end only one bidder could take it. The sofa, which had a replaced rear leg but was otherwise untouched, brought $167,250 from Bill Samaha.
The sofa was carved with a basket of fruit and flowers on a star punched field, and had scrolled arms with waterleaf carving and rosettes, design elements illustrated in the London design books from when McIntire took some of his ideas. The price appears to be an auction record for a McIntire sofa since 1997, when Sotheby’s sold one with similar carving for $156,500.
It was purchased in early Nineteenth Century Salem by a local family for their home in nearby Boxford and has remained in the family since then. Speaking after the sale, Robert Landry said, “Surface is what people love!” The sofa, which generated much excitement, is similar to one that will be on view in the major exhibition “Samuel McIntire, Carving an American Style,” opening October 13 at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem.
An Eighteenth Century Chippendale maple chest-on-chest from a North Shore Massachusetts home went to the opening bidder for $6,043. The same house was the source of several lots of books that interested buyers who paid $316 for 16 volumes of work by James Russell Lowell and Maria Lowell, $431 for 17 leatherbound Waverly Novels , $253 for an 1827 gentleman’s diary and $115 for The Temple of Flora .
The Lamont family Federal mahogany secretary with inlay and astral glazed doors over two drawers, supported by slender tapered legs, went to a Connecticut collector for $7,590.
Furniture highlights include an imposing late Boston Federal mahogany library cabinet with three glazed doors above six drawers that sold for $4,255; an assembled set of ten Georgian dining chairs in the Hepplewhite style, two of which were armchairs, that brought $4,810; a Chippendale tiger maple slant lid desk at $4,255; and a Georgian walnut desk that fetched $3,220.
What was described as two-fifths of an Italian desk, as it had no base, sold for $575 to an area dealer, who also got a mahogany whale-form shelf for $575.
Tables were well represented at the auction when a late Federal mahogany card table with rope twist legs sold for $518, a Hepplewhite card table fetched $288 and a Pembroke table realized $316.
Other highlights included a Nineteenth Century drafting table that attracted $431, an upholstered Mission footstool that realized $115 from a dealer and a one-drawer mahogany canterbury that sold for $316.
Enough teak garden furniture to furnish several gardens was broken into four lots with a total of 24 substantial pieces. The entire assemblage sold to various buyers for $4,025.
Artwork attracted international interest and at least four phone bidders chased a 1794 Neapolitan painting of Vesuvius erupting that brought $4,945 from an English dealer.
A trompe l’oeil painting by Italian artist Aurelio Zingoni of fruit hanging from some rough boards was signed and inscribed “Firenze.” It went to a New York dealer for $4,025.
Landscapes include a winter scene by German artist Anton Doll with figures skating and a town beyond an icy river that sold for $3,680 to an English dealer on the phone, a view of the Amalfi coast by S. Agostini that realized $2,415, and a painting of a house in a landscape in an elaborate frame was $1,725.
Two etchings of cowboys by John Edward Borein had high appeal and garnered energetic bidding: one with three figures astride their horses sold for $2,300, and the other of a single cowboy aboard his horse realized $2,185 from the same phone buyer.
Art offerings were rounded out by a landscape with a house, dories and lobster traps by Cape Ann artist Paul Strisik at $2,185; an unidentified Nineteenth Century portrait of a gentleman that realized $690; a watercolor on silk scene with figures realized $1,035; and a still life with gladioli by Ipswich, Mass., artist Edna Ellis Baylor was a good buy at $403.
A Georgian repousse silver coffeepot drew $1,265, while another lot of silver that included five sterling salts and 24 spoons realized $575. A three-piece urn-form Georgian-style coffee service went for $345. Two Sheffield wine coasters realized $173. Among a selection of estate jewelry across the block, a Grand Tour micromosaic brooch and earrings in the original case sold for $719.
Two Rose Medallion shell-form dishes attracted $805, while a Rose Medallion covered brush box on stand with a brush pot realized $523. A Rose Medallion temple jar brought $575, while a small Rose Medallion teapot drew $115. A soft blue and white Chinese garden barrel realized $345.
Two Meiji period Imari porcelain objects were in fine condition and sold accordingly. A large hall vase fetched $1,840 from an area dealer, and a nice garden seat brought $1,380 from a phone buyer.
Four Dedham pottery cereal bowls attracted $230 and four Dedham pottery dinner plates sold for $345, while a lot of Dedham cups and saucers and a creamer was $173.
An early Nineteenth Century mahogany tall clock with a brass dial and a scalloped base was made in the Jersey Islands by Jean Gruchy and realized $1,380, and a Chelsea mantel clock in a brass case brought an impressive $2,990.
A pair of owl form stone andirons attracted curiosity and $2,070, while a pair of Hessian andirons fetched $748.
Other offerings included a pair of brass and glass chandeliers with amber glass that went for $490, a Nineteenth Century signal lamp with a red globe by Peter Gray of Boston brought $230, and a pair of spurs drew $431, while a bayonet was $604.
For information, www.landryauctions.com or 978-768-6233.
